Start with a Holiday Salad

Updated October 22, 2008

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Prep your palate for the main course with a fragrant and flavorful salad course loaded with seasonal fruits and vegetables.

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Mesclun Greens with Dried Figs and Goat Cheese

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Mesclun Greens with Dried Figs and Goat Cheese Recipe

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.

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Roasted Root Vegetable Salad

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Roasted Root Vegetable Salad Recipe

Colorful, earthy root vegetables look beautiful when piled atop peppery arugula in this substantial holiday salad.

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Winter Citrus, Escarole, and Endive Salad

Credit: José Picayo; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite

Winter Citrus, Escarole, and Endive Salad Recipe

This bright, fresh salad of winter greens and sweet-tangy citrus is studded with red pomegranate arils: It's a dramatic, holiday-worthy plate and a welcome course for vegetarians.

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Spinach, Pear, and Pancetta Salad

Credit: Leo Gong

Spinach, Pear, and Pancetta Salad Recipe

Crisp pancetta and juicy pears make this salad special enough to earn its spot at the holiday table.

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Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprout Salad

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprout Salad Recipe

Instead of roasting Brussels sprouts, try a different approach by using their leaves in a salad. Tender Brussels sprout leaves, crisp radishes, and a sweet-and-sour vinaigrette are sure to keep guests coming back for more of this healthful salad.

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Fizz Kale Salad with Roasted Garlic-Bacon Dressing and Beets

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl, Cindy Barr

Fizz Kale Salad with Roasted Garlic-Bacon Dressing and Beets Recipe

Fizz kale boasts delicate cabbage flavor and hearty crunch in this stunning salad. Use a mixture of baby beets for extra color and top it all off with an incredible garlic-bacon dressing.

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Make-Ahead Layered Salad

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Make-Ahead Layered Salad Recipe

Prechopped veggies and precooked bacon and eggs help you pull this charmingly retro dish together in a flash.

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Spinach Salad with Figs and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Andrea Steinberg

Spinach Salad with Figs and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette Recipe

Crumbled bacon, chickpeas, dried figs, and blue cheese give this salad bold flavor and a variety of textures. Tie it all together with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette.

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Warm Walnut Spinach Salad

Credit: Yunhee Kim; Styling: Kevin Crafts

Warm Walnut Spinach Salad Recipe

There are many kinds of spinach salads, but we dressed this one with honey, mustard, mirin, and walnut oil to create something unique.

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Bitter Greens Salad with Spiced Mirin Dressing

Credit: Rob Culpepper; Styling: Cindy Barr

Bitter Greens Salad with Spiced Mirin Dressing Recipe

It's common to add a touch of sweetness to salad dressings for bitter greens. Instead of sugar or honey, here we use the richness of mirin.

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Crispy Goat Cheese-Topped Arugula Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Credit: Jim Franco; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Crispy Goat Cheese-Topped Arugula Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette Recipe

Crispy goat cheese rounds, orange segments, pomegranate arils, and Pomegranate Vinaigrette shine in this seasonal salad.

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Chickpea, Red Pepper, and Arugula Salad

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chickpea, Red Pepper, and Arugula Salad Recipe

Make an easy Mediterranean salad by combining canned chickpeas, jarred roasted red peppers, and olives and tossing with arugula and a tangy vinaigrette.

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Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey Recipe

Use any combination of citrus on hand to compose this vibrant, fresh salad, and present it however you like. No matter how you serve it, sweet and sunny citrus complements any roast or fish.

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Kale-and-Collards Salad

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Kale-and-Collards Salad Recipe

When making this bracing salad, dress the kale and collards in advance to tenderize them. Pears, cranberries, avocado, pecans, and bacon are an unexpectedly delicious combination.

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Fall Salad with Beets and Apples

Credit: Helen Norman

Fall Salad with Beets and Apples Recipe

Perfectly balanced with different flavors, textures, and colors, this salad is a colorful addition to any fall spread.

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Warm Frisee Salad With Crispy Kosher Salami

Credit: Oxmoor House

Warm Frisee Salad With Crispy Kosher Salami Recipe

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.

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Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad Recipe

Jerk seasoning adds a hit of spice to Roasted Sweet Potato Salad. Mango and avocado add more island flavor in this unique dish.

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Autumn Salad

Credit: James Carrier

Autumn Salad Recipe

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.

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Warm Lentil-and-Potato Salad

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Warm Lentil-and-Potato Salad Recipe

French green lentils add flavorful texture. They remain firm after cooking, while traditional brown lentils turn soft. Red potatoes, bacon, and fresh parsley add color and heft to this satisfying salad.

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Ensalada de Noche Buena

Credit: Douglas Merriam; Jan Gautro

Ensalada de Noche Buena Recipe

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

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Apple, Almond, and Endive Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Apple, Almond, and Endive Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing Recipe

We enjoyed this dish with widely available Fuji apples. Slightly bitter endive, toasted almonds, and Creamy Herb Dressing make this salad one to remember for holiday seasons to come.

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Pineapple and Orange Salad with Toasted Coconut

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Heather Chontos

Pineapple and Orange Salad with Toasted Coconut Recipe

Serve this all-purpose side with holiday casseroles or roasts. Bright flavor, tantalizing colors, and nutty coconut will make this a holiday favorite.

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Avocado-Citrus Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette

Credit: Fran Gealer

Avocado-Citrus Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe

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.

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Fresh Pear-and-Green Bean Salad with Sorghum Vinaigrette

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Fresh Pear-and-Green Bean Salad with Sorghum Vinaigrette Recipe

Green beans are a classic side dish at the holiday table, but have you ever thought about putting them in a salad? Here, blanched green beans join juicy pears, sweet-and-spicy pecans, Gorgonzola cheese, and Sorghum Vinaigrette for one delightfully new salad.

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Carrot-Cauliflower Salad

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Carrot-Cauliflower Salad Recipe

We created this crunchy, sweet side as an update of the classic mayonnaise-laden carrot-and-raisin salad. Save time and make it ahead--it tastes even better the next day.

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Butter Lettuce Salad with Parmesan Tuiles and Almonds

Credit: Victor Protasio

Butter Lettuce Salad with Parmesan Tuiles and Almonds Recipe

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.

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Harvest Salad with Cider Vinaigrette

Credit: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Leslie Byars Simpson

Harvest Salad with Cider Vinaigrette Recipe

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.

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Belgian Endive and Apple Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

Credit: Jan Smith

Belgian Endive and Apple Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette Recipe

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.

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Beet-and-Citrus Salad

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Beet-and-Citrus Salad Recipe

Play with different citrus here, such as tangelos, blood oranges, or clementines. Chopped pistachios add nutty depth to this stunning salad.

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Belgian Endive Salad with Stilton and Apples

Credit: James Carrier

Belgian Endive Salad with Stilton and Apples Recipe

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.

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Harvest Salad with Roasted Citrus Vinaigrette and Spiced Pecans

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Harvest Salad with Roasted Citrus Vinaigrette and Spiced Pecans Recipe

Grainy Creole mustard adds texture and a delightful kick to the dressing, and roasting the lemons and oranges heightens both the sweet and sour flavors, creating a wonderfully nuanced balance. If you can find satsuma oranges, definitely use them to add a bright sunshiny tang. You can make the vinaigrette and pecans several days ahead.

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Radicchio Waldorf Salad with Cider Dressing

Credit: Thomas J. Story

Radicchio Waldorf Salad with Cider Dressing Recipe

Crisp bites of bitter radicchio make an excellent match for dressing sweetened with a drizzle of reduced cider.

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Roasted Mushroom Salad with Hazelnuts

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon

Roasted Mushroom Salad with Hazelnuts Recipe

Roasting mushrooms deepens their flavor and makes them almost baconlike. Any mushroom is good in this salad, but cluster types like maitake (aka hen of the woods) and oyster have frilly edges that crisp up nicely.

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Watercress Endive Salad with Blood Oranges and Pomegranates

Credit: Lisa Romerein; Valerie Aikman-Smith

Watercress Endive Salad with Blood Oranges and Pomegranates Recipe

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.

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Christmas Ribbon Salad

Christmas Ribbon Salad Recipe

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.

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Start with a Holiday Salad

1 of 42

Mesclun Greens with Dried Figs and Goat Cheese

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Roasted Root Vegetable Salad

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Winter Citrus, Escarole, and Endive Salad

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Spinach, Pear, and Pancetta Salad

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Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprout Salad

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Fizz Kale Salad with Roasted Garlic-Bacon Dressing and Beets

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Make-Ahead Layered Salad

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Spinach Salad with Figs and Warm Bacon Vinaigrette

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Warm Walnut Spinach Salad

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Bitter Greens Salad with Spiced Mirin Dressing

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Crispy Goat Cheese-Topped Arugula Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

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Chickpea, Red Pepper, and Arugula Salad

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Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey

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Kale-and-Collards Salad

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Fall Salad with Beets and Apples

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Warm Frisee Salad With Crispy Kosher Salami

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Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

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Autumn Salad

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Warm Lentil-and-Potato Salad

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Ensalada de Noche Buena

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Apple, Almond, and Endive Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing

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Pineapple and Orange Salad with Toasted Coconut

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Avocado-Citrus Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette

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Fresh Pear-and-Green Bean Salad with Sorghum Vinaigrette

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Carrot-Cauliflower Salad

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Butter Lettuce Salad with Parmesan Tuiles and Almonds

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