The Perfect Pomegranate Salad

A quick pomegranate salad with spinach, goat cheese, and a raspberry vinaigrette.

Macheesmo’s

The Perfect Pomegranate Salad

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You might have noticed that Thanksgiving is, like, NEXT WEEK. This is obviously a very huge deal for a food writer. I mean, this is one time during the year were all diets get put in suspend mode and food coma levels reach new heights.

Because I care about your Thanksgiving success, I’m only posting Thanksgiving recipes until the big day which means you will get at least 4 and maybe 5 wonderful Thanksgiving recipes to use.

I know that salad is not the first thing that people think of when they think of Thanksgiving and it shouldn’t be. But I guarantee you that if you make this salad, it will be the star of the pre-turkey show. It only includes 4 ingredients and a dressing, but it is mouthwatering.

This is the perfect pomegranate salad:

Perfect Pomegranate Salad

A quick pomegranate salad with spinach, goat cheese, and a raspberry vinaigrette.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Yield 4-6 side salads

Ingredients
  

  • 5-6 ounces baby spinach
  • 1 pomegranate seeded
  • 6 oz. goat cheese
  • ½ cup walnuts toasted

Dressing:

  • 1 heaping cup raspberries
  • 3 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons honey
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions
 

  • Add raspberries to a small food processor and pulse a few times. Then add other dressing ingredients and process until mostly smooth.
  • Seed pomegranate by cutting it into quarters and breaking it apart under cold water. The seeds will sink and the pith will float.
  • Toss greens with a few tablespoons of dressing and coat well. Divide greens between a few plates.
  • Crumble goat cheese on greens and top with pom seeds and toasted walnuts.
  • Serve with extra dressing on the side.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Side SaladCalories: 437kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 12gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 190mgPotassium: 459mgFiber: 5gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 3765IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Goat Cheese Salad, Pomegranate Salad, raspberry balsamic dressing, raspberry vinaigrette, Thanksgiving Salad

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Very simple salad dressing
Very simple salad dressing

I like to make the dressing first which is actually very easy. Just put your raspberries in a food processor:

Don't worry. This won't hurt... FOR LONG.
Don’t worry. This won’t hurt… FOR LONG!

And then add all of your other ingredients!

All Raspberries go to Heaven.
All Raspberries go to Heaven.

Anytime you are making a sauce or dressing or anything really, you should get in the habit of tasting it before you add it to anything. This is a key part to the dressing as the flavors can vary a lot based on your raspberries, balsamic, and honey. If you taste it and it is too sweet, add a dash more balsamic vinegar. If it is really bitter, add a bit more honey. It should be flavorful, but have some tang to it.

If you don’t have a food processor you could mash up the berries with a fork and then mix in all of the other ingredients or you could probably just go buy a raspberry vinaigrette, but it might not be as good.

Next on our list is to take apart a pomegranate. What a mystical fruit the pomegranate is. It is almost like Mother Nature said, “I’m going to give the world the most delicious of treats!” But then maybe she had a migraine or something so she changed it up: “Oh yea. I’ll give you that treat, but I will embed each little nugget of yummy in an impossible to decipher maze of CRAP.”

Luckily, the code has a key and the key is a big bowl of water. Just quarter your disaster fruit and pick it apart submerged in water. The kernels will sink and the crap will rise. Then you can just pour off the water and you are all set.

Breaking the Pomegranate Code.
Breaking the Pomegranate Code.

Now take that dressing that you’ve tasted and perfected and add it slowly to your greens. I keep a big bowl around for this and mix them up well. You want to make sure you have plenty of dressing, but be weary of over-dressing it. When in doubt, I like to put on less dressing and then put a small bowl of it on the table that people can use.

This is pretty good just like this actually.
This is pretty good just like this actually.

Next, just pile on your walnuts, pomegranates seeds, and crumbled goat cheese and you are in for a treat!

Sorry. I don't deliver.
Sorry. I don’t deliver.

I am posting this as a Thanksgiving recipe because it is light and easy, but appears very decadent. It is also beautiful on the table and would goes well with other Thanksgiving foods. Obviously, this is not a Thanksgiving specific recipe though. I make it anytime I can find a good pomegranate.

9 Responses to “The Perfect Pomegranate Salad” Leave a comment

  1. Homemade raspberry dressing! How divine. I haven't cooked with pomegranates as yet but we had a pomegranate tree when I was a child in Thailand. I'd eat them all the time and always have a red face and fingers.

  2. OMGosh!

    Mellie just came home and sent me to your site. Wow, now I'm hungry and want to tear up my prepared menu for Thanksgiving. Say, what are you doing on Thursday?

  3. I just Stumbled Upon this recipe and I am dying to try it out! I work with Chavrie goat cheese (the pyramid shaped cheese) and I am loving this fresh, unique recipe. Thanks!

  4. I really love goat cheese desserts, their are awesome. If I have guests, I just make goat cheese deserts and they love it. Are there any other good uses for goat cheese?

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