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Best Bright Cranberry Orange Thanksgiving Side Salad

cranberry orange Thanksgiving side salad - featured image
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A bright, tangy, and sweet salad with fresh cranberries, oranges, crunchy almonds, and creamy feta, perfect for cutting through the richness of a holiday meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries, roughly chopped
  • 2 medium oranges (one for zest and juice, one for segments)
  • 6 cups mixed salad greens (about 5 ounces)
  • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • ½ cup sliced or slivered almonds, toasted
  • ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Optional: ¼ cup pomegranate arils, goat cheese instead of feta, pumpkin seeds

Instructions

  1. Rinse the fresh cranberries under cold water and pat dry. Roughly chop into halves or quarters.
  2. Wash one orange thoroughly and zest it. Cut the same orange in half and squeeze out 2 tablespoons of juice. For the second orange, cut off the top and bottom, slice off the peel and pith, then cut between the membranes to release the segments. Alternatively, slice into thin rounds and quarter.
  3. In a small bowl or mason jar, combine olive oil, orange juice, orange zest, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake until well combined. Taste and adjust sweetness or tanginess as desired.
  4. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add sliced almonds and toast, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Transfer to a plate to cool.
  5. In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, chopped fresh cranberries, orange segments, sliced red onion, dried cranberries, and toasted almonds. Toss gently to distribute.
  6. Drizzle dressing over the salad, starting with about half and adding more as needed. Toss gently again, then sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on top. Serve immediately.
  7. Right before serving, add optional garnishes like pomegranate arils or extra orange zest.

Notes

Keep dressing separate until serving to prevent wilting. Soak red onion in cold water for 10-15 minutes for a milder flavor. Toast almonds fresh for best crunch. Dressing can be made a day ahead.

Nutrition

Keywords: cranberry orange salad, Thanksgiving side salad, holiday salad, fresh cranberry salad, orange salad, easy salad recipe

Find it online: https://cookdella.com/best-bright-cranberry-orange-thanksgiving-side-salad/