Arugula, Orange and Pomegranate Salad

This Arugula, Orange and Pomegranate Salad is fancy enough to serve at Thanksgiving dinner but easy enough for any day of the week.  The peppery arugula and sweet fruit make a great flavor combo.  

I have decided to make each day before Thanksgiving and each day between Thanksgiving and Christmas salad days.  There is no other way to survive the season and still fit into my jeans.  Not to mention that the days surrounding the holidays get so jam-packed that I forgo my workout once in awhile.

But I am not willing to give up the cookie swaps and making goodies for my kid’s teachers. I will not “diet” at holiday parties.  There are Christmas traditions of cooking and baking that I want to pass along to my children and all that is way more important than my tight fitting jeans.

So, instead of sharing another pumpkin bread or chocolate pie for the holidays, we are all about a seasonal salad today.  This is such and unusual and flavorful salad, I think you will love it.  It’s got the peppery arugula mixed with some sweet seasonal fruit; pomegranates and oranges.  Add some salty feta and pumpkin seeds and you have a seasonal salad extraordinaire.

This is simple to throw together and holds up well for a few days in the fridge.  Do not add the dressing until right before serving because arugula tends to wilt.  Any type of seed or nut would be a great topper here so feel free to swap the pumpkin seeds for pine nuts, pistachios or almonds.

Part of the magic with this salad is the pomegranate dressing.  I use the Trader Joe’s pomegranate vinegar which is so delicious.  If you can’t find that, it’s okay; just substitute red wine or balsamic vinegar.  I am so excited about the pomegranate vinegar that I am making a pomegranate marinade for skirt steak tonight.  I’ll let you know how that goes.

Did you know that one cup of pomegranate arils contains 7 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein?  And the pomegranate is the most powerful anti-oxidant of all fruits. Bring on the pomegranates. Here’s to your pre-holiday health!

Looking for more yummy recipes with pomegranates?  Try these…

• Festive Pomegranate Guacamole from Cookie and Kate
• Spinach Pomegranate Salad with Pears and Hazelnuts from Sunset
• Pomegranate Jeweled Cheeseball from How Sweet Eats

Arugula, Orange and Pomegranate Salad

Arugula, Orange and Pomegranate Salad is fancy enough to serve at Thanksgiving dinner but easy enough for any day of the week. The peppery arugula and sweet fruit make a great flavor combo.

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Servings: 6

Author: Karen Kelly

Ingredients

• 4 cups arugula washed and dried
• 2 oranges I used Clementines, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch slices
• 1 cup pomegranate arils
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
• Dressing:
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp pomegranate vinegar or red wine vinegar Trader Joe's
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp chopped garlic
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Add all salad ingredients into a big bowl.
• Mix all dressing ingredients in a small jar and shake well.
• Dress the salad right before serving.

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