When I was growing up, having a winter salad required a trip out in the snow to fetch the kale. From just looking at the twinkling expanse of our snow-covered garden, with its gentle lumps here and there, no one would ever guess there was life underneath. I would kick away the snow with my boots and dig with my woolen mittens until the bright green stalks came into view. There, hiding under the snow, was our daily salad and much-needed vitamin C boost during the long Yukon winters.
Over the winter months, do you find yourself craving the crunch of a Greek salad, full of cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers? What about the tender leaves of baby spinach or arugula? When we strive to eat seasonally, and thus sustainably, these are but just a few of the vegetables we give up, even though they are readily available in supermarkets.
Fortunately there are other fruits and vegetables to include in our diets to help satisfy the need for fresh produce on a cold January day. Apples, kale, pomegranate, grapefruit, cabbage, celery root, and brussels sprouts are just a few ingredients that lend themselves beautifully to the salad bar.
Here are two recipes I’ve been making forever. When the cucumbers and sweet cherry tomatoes of July are but a memory, they both offer that much-needed crunch.
| Apple-Fennel Salad with Pecans & Pomegranate |
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- 1/2 cup pecans, toasted*
- 1 large apple, washed
- 1/2 bulb fennel (or 2-3 stalks celery)
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
- 2-3 Tablespoons Clementine Vinaigrette (recipe below)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Wash and divide fennel, reserving half of it for tomorrow’s salad. Place cut side down on cutting board and slice thinly.
- Chop apple into batonnets (think 1/2-inch thick matchsticks) –or just hack it up any way you like!
- In a medium bowl, combine fennel, apple, pecans and pomegranates and toss to combine.
- Drizzle with clementine vinaigrette, season lightly with salt and pepper and mix well. Serve at once.
Why bother to toast nuts? Well, just like toasting spices, subjecting the nuts to heat brings out their flavors and releases those natural oils. I find it also takes off that ‘fridge taste’. Yes, you should keep your shelled nuts in an airtight container (glass jars work for me) in the refrigerator to keep them as fresh as possible.
| Clementine-Coriander Vinaigrette |
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- 2 ripe clementines
- Pinch of ground coriander
- Pinch of freshly ground pepper
- Pinch of salt
- 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Halve clementines and squeeze juice into a microwavable bowl. Microwave on high for three minutes. (This reduces the juice, making the flavor more concentrated.) Allow to cool for a few minutes.
- Add coriander, salt, pepper and olive oil to the bowl. Whisk together until combined.
- Taste vinaigrette and adjust seasoning as necessary.
| Kale Salad with Maple-Poppyseed Dressing |
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- 1 bunch kale, washed and dried
- 1/4 cup Maple-Poppyseed Dressing (recipe below)
- Add-ins of choice: See notes below
- Tear kale into a large bowl, using only the frilly green parts and discarding the tough stalks.
- Toss kale with vinaigrette and any add-ins you wish. Taste for final seasoning. Add salt and pepper as desired. Serve.
| Maple-Poppyseed Dressing |
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- 1 teaspoon Dijon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup (or honey)
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- In a small glass jar, combine Dijon, salt, maple syrup, vinegar, and lemon juice. Finely chop garlic or grate with a microplane and add to the jar. Top with lid and shake well.
- Add poppy seeds and olive oil, cover and shake well. Refrigerate until ready to use. May keep up to three weeks if kept chilled.
More Winter Salad Links
- Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pecorino Romano and Walnuts :: Culinate
- Lettuce with Oranges, Fennel and Pomegranate :: Good Life {Eats}
- Russian Potato Salad :: Mango & Tomato
- Grilled Shrimp Salad with Savoy Cabbage :: Food & Wine
- Citrus & Pomegranate Salad :: Simple Bites
Do you find January a tough month to eat seasonally?
About Aimee
I am drooling! The salads looked divine and then adding those dressing recipes on top – YUM! I will be featuring one of these recipes in an upcoming weight loss menu plan! We’ve been eating plenty of fruits and veggies even in these winter months many thanks to Bountiful Baskets food co-op. Most of what we get is in season.
Nisha @ Healthy Mom’s Kitchen’s last post: Family Friendly Weight Loss Menu Plan
Thanks for featuring my salads, Nisha. Homemade dressings are the best!
These look gorgeous, especially since salads are a treat for us this time of year. Last night I was desperate for a taco salad so used sprouts as a bed and topped them with a ton of fermented salsa and seasoned chicken. It hit the spot, but wasn’t quite the same. We’re out of olive oil so I am using raw or cultured cream drizzled over our “salads”.
Taco Salad. You got me. Now I won’t rest until I’ve made one too! I throw some beans in mine too, for some extra protein.
DELICIOUS!! It’s 7:30am and now I’m craving salad!
TidyMom’s last post: Skinny Caramel Macchiato Lattes and Weight Watchers iPad app
You had me at Maple-Poppyseed Dressing! I’m with TideMom on the early morning salad craving!
Jamie | My Baking Addiction’s last post: Giveaway- Blendtec Total Blender
That first picture just made me happy. I love the idea of the crisp crunch combined with the sweetness, all cut buy the fennel. Adding this to the list of things I must make soon.
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I’ll trade you a big bowl for a slice of pie. Deal?
oh it looks so yummy! We are trying to incorporate salads in our winter diet so I will have to try this!
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Both of these salads look amazing, though I adore the simplicity of the kale salad, and the mention of local honey in your mom’s poppyseed dressing nearly started me drooling. Which is super-classy, of course. Also, you’ve given me some hope that the kale might be alive under the foot of snow in our garden. Must check on that now!
Amy @ Poor Girl Gourmet’s last post: Charcutepalooza- Duck Prosciutto
So? Did you have a peak at the kale? And? That could be an exciting discovery.
I’m always looking for a great salad recipe! And now I have TWO!!!
These look amazing! Love the apple and fennel combination
Thanks Alison! It’s pretty hard to resist.
How crunchy and delicious! I’ve got to try that vinaigrette…
Crunch is one of my favorite parts of eating salad – these are beautiful and look so delicious. The best part – my kids would adore the top one, especially!
Michelle (What’s Cooking with Kids)’s last post: How NOT To Give a Cookbook As A Gift and cake!
My two year old dove in while I was trying to photograph the salad and ate all the pecans and apples out of it. Doh!
I especially love the apple and fennel salad… Perfect flavors, and I am a big fan of the crunch, too!
My favorite of the two is the fennel and apple and for sure! I love that combination and you made it even better with the addition of the pomegrante. Great flavor profile, and to boot, the pomegrante adds such a nice pop in color.
Thanks, Naomi. Not bad for just a handful of ingredients, eh? It’s wonderful with celery, too.
Madly in love with the apple-fennel combo this time of the year. A little bit of celery root is nice as well. Cheers!
Steve @ HPD’s last post: The Accidental Kitchen Gadget Designer
I do find winter, specifically, more challenging to eat fresh/seasonal foods. At least we have those fabulous Texas Ruby Star Grapefruit to brighten our winter though!
Melissa’s last post: Sometimes You Just Need A Quickie Wild Mushroom Agnolotti
Oh, I hear you! I’m craving grapefruit this time of the year.
Delicious, Aimee! I am definitely making that maple poppy seed dressing, and apple and pomegranates with clementine? Perfect for a refreshing start to a meal in the middle of winter.
Shaina’s last post: Mini Lemon Dill Cheesecake Bites with Lox
I keep a stash on my mom’s vinaigrette around in summer and winter. It livens up pretty much any salad greens.
What a beautiful and appropriate post! This definitely is the hardest part of the year for me trying to eat locally. We’re lucky to have winter lettuce, but lose most of the creative combinations to go with it. I think the family is tired of lettuce with carrots and purple onions, even with different vinegars.
Thanks for the great ideas.
I almost posted a carrot salad! But I’m not a huge fan, no matter how their dressed up.
I hope you try the salads.
What a beautiful salad! And that maple-poppyseed dressing – wow! I can’t wait to try that!
Aimee, the maple-poppyseed dressing looks so yummy. Actually, all of it does. What a nice addition to the dinner table this time of year.
I LOVE the sounds of these!!!!! They sound absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to try them!
I also had no idea that kale would grow that well in cold climates. It is definitely going on my seed list for next year’s garden now. Thank you!
PS Instead of discarding the stems from the kale, put them in your green smoothies. We use kale, spinach, etc. in our smoothies and the stems get lost in the fruit and still add to the nutrition.
Thanks again for the perfect winter recipes!
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Great tip! I’ve been thinking about a kale smoothie. That just might happen today!
I was so excited to see this post. I try to buy seasonal produce,so I picked up some fennel today but had no idea what to do with it! This looks lime a wonderful salad. I know what we’re having next to dinner tomorrow! Thanks!
Rivki Locker’s last post: Yes- you can Stay Fit in the Winter! Eat Live Be WEEK 3
I’ve def added this to my online cookbook (cookmarked.com)! I love the dressing. Great points about season eating.
laura’s last post: Cooking for A Cold
Both of these look great and I just love kale! It is so hard to walk past tomatoes in Jan. and stay on the path of eating seasonably but I’m doing it.
Tickled Red’s last post: I misplaced my mojo!
those photos are just beautiful! YUM
Great ideas for vinaigrette, I will definitely try them.
The salads do look excellent in the middle of winter. However, I have found that I cannot tolerate raw kale. Has anyone else found that about kale?
Everything is stunning as usual, but I’ve got to say, that apple fennel salad is just gorgeous! I am literally drooling as I imagine that first decadent bite!
Wenderly’s last post: P B & J Snowman Sandwiches
We eat salad every night with our dinner, but I have a hard time getting creative this time of year. Thanks for the yummy ideas!
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