Pomegranate and Walnut Salad (Printable)

A vibrant winter salad combining pomegranate seeds, walnuts, and fresh fruits with a light citrus cinnamon dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Fruits

01 - 1 large pomegranate, seeds only
02 - 1 large orange, peeled and segmented
03 - 1 crisp apple, cored and diced
04 - 1 ripe pear, cored and diced

→ Nuts & Seeds

05 - 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
06 - 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
07 - 2 tbsp sunflower seeds

→ Dressing

08 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
11 - 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
12 - Pinch of sea salt

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, chopped

# How to Make:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the pomegranate seeds, orange segments, diced apple, and diced pear.
02 - Add the chopped walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds to the bowl with the fruit mixture.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and sea salt until well combined and emulsified.
04 - Drizzle the dressing over the fruit and nut mixture. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly without crushing the delicate fruit.
05 - Sprinkle with fresh mint leaves for garnish, if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving for enhanced flavors.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • This salad somehow manages to taste luxurious while being incredibly good for your body, like finding out your favorite sweater is actually made of magic fabric that heals you while you wear it.
  • The contrast between jewel-like pomegranate seeds, earthy walnuts, and sweet fruit creates this perfect bite that wakes up your mouth in the most gentle way possible.
02 -
  • The absolute worst mistake I made was dressing this salad too far ahead of time, which made the mint wilt and the fruit lose its perfect crisp texture.
  • Learned that cutting the apple and pear slightly larger than you think necessary helps them maintain their structure better once everything gets mixed together.
03 -
  • Keep your pomegranate seeds in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to five days, which means you can prep them ahead of time.
  • The dressing can be made separately and stored in a small jar, shaken before using to bring it back together.
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