A festive salad featuring feta, dried cranberries, nuts, and fresh herbs, shaped like a holiday tree centerpiece.
# Components:
→ Base Salad
01 - 2 cups baby spinach, finely chopped
02 - 1 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
03 - 1 cup fresh dill, finely chopped
04 - 1 small English cucumber, diced
05 - 1/2 cup scallions, thinly sliced
→ Toppings
06 - 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
07 - 1/2 cup dried cranberries
08 - 1/3 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
09 - 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds (optional)
→ Dressing
10 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish & Serving
15 - Fresh rosemary sprigs for tree trunk and decoration
16 - Assorted crackers, pita chips, or vegetable sticks for dipping
# Preparation steps:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped spinach, parsley, dill, cucumber, and scallions.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the chopped greens and toss gently to combine evenly.
04 - On a large serving platter, shape the salad mixture into a large triangle resembling a holiday tree.
05 - Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese evenly over the tree shape to mimic snow.
06 - Garnish with dried cranberries, toasted nuts, and optional pomegranate seeds to resemble ornaments.
07 - Arrange fresh rosemary sprigs at the base of the triangle to represent the tree trunk.
08 - Serve immediately accompanied by assorted crackers, pita chips, or vegetable sticks for dipping.
