Warm Winter Green Salad with Apples, Pecans and Pomegranate Seeds

winter_green_salad_landscape_hero_web-1
Winter greens are a great addition to your diet. Not only are they full of health benefits, but they’re a real joy to prepare. We put together this delicious Warm Winter Green Salad, complete with healthy portions of apples and pomegranate seeds for a burst of fruitiness. These may be known as winter greens, but we can enjoy this recipe all year long!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

For the Salad:

  • 1 medium head / 1 lb / 454 g radicchio, washed, dried and cored
  • 111 g / 5 cups baby kale, washed and dried

For the Warm Apple Cider Vinaigrette:

  • 60 ml / 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 45 ml / 3 tbsp pomegranate juice, unsweetened
  • 30 ml / 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
  • 22 g / 2 tbsp minced shallots
  • 2 cloves / 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 10 ml / 1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard, smooth or grainy
  • 3 g / 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 g / 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
  • 57 g / 1/4 cup Crystal margarine, melted

For the Garnish:

  • 166 g / 1 medium Gala apple, washed and cut into thin slices
  • 56 g / 1/2 cup toasted pecans
  • 87 g / 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

Directions

For the Salad:

  1. Roughly chop the head of radicchio into bite-sized pieces.
  2. winter_green_salad_howto_web-1

  3. In a large salad bowl, toss together the radicchio and the baby kale. Set aside.

For the Warm Apple Cider Vinaigrette:

  1. In a small saucepan, combine the apple cider vinegar, pomegranate juice and maple syrup. Place over medium heat, stirring in order to dissolve the maple syrup. Add in the minced shallots and minced garlic, lower heat and simmer; 2 minutes.
  2. winter_green_salad_howto_web-2
    winter_green_salad_howto_web-3

  3. Remove saucepan from heat. Whisk in the dijon mustard, salt and black pepper until thoroughly combined. Drizzle in the melted Crystal margarine, whisking constantly, until combined.
  4. winter_green_salad_howto_web-4
    winter_green_salad_howto_web-5

  5. Pour the warm vinaigrette over the winter greens. Toss to lightly coat the greens.
  6. winter_green_salad_howto_web-6

For the Garnish:

  1. Sprinkle the salad with the sliced apple, toasted pecans and pomegranate seeds.
  2. Toss just before serving.

Chef’s Note

  • Unsweetened apple cider can be used in place of the pomegranate juice.
  • Instead of apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar can also be used.
  • Any winter greens (escarole, endives, swiss chard, collard greens) can be used in place of the kale or radicchio.

winter_green_salad_portrait_hero_web-1