Start with a Holiday Salad

Plate a beautiful salad course of cheese-stuffed endive leaves, sliced Granny Smith apples, and mesclun greens, all dressed with a five-ingredient red wine-balsamic dressing. Sprinkle with dried cranberries for a pop of color and a hint of sweetness.

Recipe: Mesclun Greens with Dried Figs and Goat Cheese

This five-star salad is the perfect accompaniment to any holiday entrée. Top a blend of Bibb and romaine lettuces with pear quarters, crumbled bacon, fresh raspberries, and a dressing made from sour cream, raspberry preserves, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard.

 

Recipe: Pear Salad with Raspberry Cream

Serve a simple salad with a creamy Parmesan dressing and dress it up with cheese tuiles, crisp cookie-like edible garnishes. Make the tuiles by melting little piles of Parmesan cheese in the oven for about five minutes. They make any dish look gourmet and take only minutes to prepare.

Recipe: Butter Lettuce Salad with Parmesan Tuiles and Almonds

Packed with the best flavors of autumn, this salad is sure to be a winner on your holiday buffet. Hazelnuts, tangerines, dates, and butter lettuce get a flavorful treatment from fruit juice, olive oil, and a little salt and pepper. It's a great way to add bright color to the table.

Recipe: Autumn Salad

Roast and chop the shallots for this salad up to one day ahead to save time, then mix with other bold ingredients including red wine vinegar and Dijon mustard to make a sassy vinaigrette. Serve with crumbled cheese, endive, and green apple slices.

Recipe: Belgian Endive Salad with Stilton and Apples

If your day-of cooking schedule is packed, choose a make-ahead salad that works in the fridge while you go about your holiday preparations. This dish can be made in either a regular Bundt cake pan or a decorative mold. The eye-catching dual layers transform this salad from a simple side to an edible table centerpiece.

Recipe: Christmas Ribbon Salad

The night before your holiday meal, toss together this salad's fruity vinaigrette, made from red pears, apricots, figs, and raisins. Before sitting down to dinner, simply drizzle the dressing over fresh spinach and top with nuts and cheese for a quick and easy salad course.

Recipe: Harvest Salad with Cider Vinaigrette

Serve delicate baby greens topped with grapefruit, navel oranges, and creamy avocados for a sweet and tart citrus salad. Chill the salad plates before plating the salad to keep the greens crisp after being tossed with the lemon and Champagne vinaigrette.

Recipe: Avocado-Citrus Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette

Prepare the individual components of this salad up to two days in advance so you have more time during the holiday to visit with friends or family. Reduce preparation time even more by using bagged Italian blend greens.

Recipe: Belgian Endive and Apple Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

Plate a delicate display of watercress, endive, and peeled and seeded blood oranges. Drizzle with a Champagne vinaigrette and top with pomegranate seeds and slivered almonds. It's sure to wow your dinner guests in both presentation and taste.

Recipe: Watercress Endive Salad with Blood Oranges and Pomegranates

Add a little meat to the salad course by serving pan-fried kosher beef salami over crisp greens. A warm mustard vinaigrette adds bold flavor to the fresh dish.

Recipe: Warm Frisee Salad with Crispy Kosher Salami

Spice up the holiday spread with a Tex-Mex-inspired salad featuring pomegranate seeds, pumpkinseed kernels, and fresh cilantro.

Recipe: Ensalada de Noche Buena