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    Home » Recipes

    Cranberry Walnut Feta Salad

    Published: Dec 5, 2022 · Modified: Jan 27, 2023 by Emily · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    This Cranberry, Walnut, and Feta Salad is the perfect side dish or light meal for any occasion. This salad only has a handful of ingredients but is packed with sweet, salty, and crunchy flavors and textures!

    cranberry feta walnut salad
    Jump to Recipe

    Why I love this Cranberry Walnut Feta Salad

    This Cranberry, Walnut, and Feta Salad is the perfect side dish for any occasion and is so easy to make. I especially love this salad during the holidays because of its festive colors and flavors.

    The great thing about this salad is you can make the salad dressing and candied walnuts, or you can buy them at the store. You can also use any lettuce you prefer so this salad is very customizable.

    Ingredients Needed for a Cranberry and Walnut Salad

    Lettuce

    I used a blend of 50% spinach and 50% spring mix found at my local grocery store. You can use any soft, green lettuce you like for this recipe.

    Feta Cheese

    I buy the pre-crumbled feta from the store as well. It's easy to pour out of the container and you get a mix of crumble sizes.

    Candied Walnuts

    Candied Walnuts (or your favorite nut) are essential to add some sweetness and crunch to this salad. If you don't want to make your own (they only take about 20 minutes), you can find pre-made candied nuts at the grocery store.

    ingredients for cranberry walnut salad

    Dried Cranberries

    Dried cranberries also add a sweet element to this salad and a soft texture. You could also substitute dried cherries or raisins.

    Salad Dressing

    I use my Lemon Herb Salad Dressing because it's my favorite and I knew I wanted a light dressing for this salad. I also love using this dressing because it had a nice tang to it and added garlic to balance out the sweetness from the nuts and cranberries.

    If you have a favorite dressing you want to use, of course, that's fine. Again, I would recommend a lighter dressing for this particular salad.

    How to Make Your Own Candied Walnuts

    As I mentioned, candied nuts are so easy to make, why not make your own? Check out the full recipe and tutorial for Spiced Maple Walnuts to make some at home.

    candied walnuts

    But, if you don't want to make your own, you can also find candied nuts at the grocery store. And, if you want to cut back on sugar or just enjoy regular nuts, that will be delicious in this salad as well.

    Which Salad Dressing to Choose

    I liked my Lemon Herb Dressing for this salad because it's light and easy to make. If you want a different dressing, I would recommend a light honey mustard or a basic balsamic vinaigrette.

    lemon herb dressing poured on walnut cranberry salad

    Tips for Making a Delicious Salad with Candied Nuts

    • You can make this salad ahead of time! If you do, don't add the salad dressing until you are ready to serve the salad so the lettuce doesn't get soggy.
    • Try different flavor combinations like goat cheese instead of feta or dried cherries instead of cranberries.
    • This salad is perfect for feeding a crowd and can easily be doubled or tripled for a large gathering.
    • Store any leftover salad in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. If the dressing is on the salad it will only be good for about 24 hours before the lettuce starts to wilt.
    christmas salad with walnuts and dried cranberries

    Tools To Make a Homemade Salad with Candied Nuts

    This OXO Good Grips Salad Dressing Shaker is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. All you have to do is add your dressing ingredients and shake!

    Buy on Amazon!

    You can use tongs or salad forks to toss a salad. I prefer tongs because they are easier to grab the lettuce and dig to the bottom to ensure everything is coated in the dressing.

    Buy on Amazon!

    I love a good white bowl to serve salad in. White usually goes with all decor on the table and it makes the salad colors pop!

    Buy on Amazon!
    cranberry walnut feta salad recipe
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    walnut, feta, and cranberry salad

    Cranberry Walnut Feta Salad

    This Cranberry, Walnut, and Feta Salad is the perfect side dish or light meal for any occasion. This salad only has a handful of ingredients but is packed with sweet, salty, and crunchy flavors and textures!
    5 from 37 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Candied Walnuts: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 278kcal
    Author: EmilyFabulous

    Equipment

    • 1 large mixing bowl
    • tongs or salad forks
    • salad dressing nixer
    • cookie sheet (for candied nuts)
    • silicone mat (for candied nuts)

    Ingredients

    • 5 ounces lettuce of choice (I used half spinach, half mixed greens)
    • 4 ounces feta cheese
    • 3 ounces dried cranberries
    • 3 ounces candied walnuts
    • ¼ cup lemon herb salad dressing

    Instructions

    • If you are making your own candied walnuts, make those first because they need to cool. Find the recipe link in the ingredients list.
    • If you are making your own salad dressing, make this next while the nuts are baking. Find the recipe link in the ingredients list.
    • Wash and dry the lettuce (or buy lettuce that is already clean!). Add it to a large serving bowl.
    • Top the lettuce with feta cheese, dried cranberries, and cooled candied walnuts.
    • Add the salad dressing and toss to coat all of the ingredients. Serve immediately and enjoy!

    Notes

    • You can make this salad ahead of time! If you do, don't add the salad dressing until you are ready to serve the salad so the lettuce doesn't get soggy.
    • Try different flavor combinations like goat cheese instead of feta or dried cherries instead of cranberries.
    • This salad is perfect for feeding a crowd and can easily be doubled or tripled for a large gathering.
    • Store any leftover salad in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. If the dressing is on the salad it will only be good for about 24 hours before the lettuce starts to wilt.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 15.9g | Protein: 10.1g | Fat: 19.1g | Saturated Fat: 5.8g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 505mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 4.8g | Sugar: 9.4g | Calcium: 331mg | Iron: 3mg

    Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

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    Hi, I'm Emily! I'm excited to share my passions, experiments, and fun with you. I love to cook, bake, create recipes, mix cocktails and try new things!

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