Pomegranate and Walnut Salad (Printer-friendly)

A refreshing winter blend of pomegranate seeds, walnuts, orange, apple, and pear with citrus dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Fruits

01 - 1 large pomegranate, seeds only
02 - 1 large orange, peeled and segmented
03 - 1 crisp apple, cored and diced
04 - 1 ripe pear, cored and diced

→ Nuts & Seeds

05 - 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
07 - 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

→ Dressing

08 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 - Pinch of sea salt

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, chopped

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the pomegranate seeds, orange segments, diced apple, and diced pear. Add the chopped walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and sea salt until well combined.
03 - Drizzle the dressing over the fruit and nut mixture. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly. Sprinkle with fresh mint leaves for garnish if desired.
04 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving to enhance flavors.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent way more time cooking than the fifteen minutes it actually takes.
  • The contrast of textures keeps you interested with every bite, from crisp apple to chewy pomegranate to buttery walnuts.
  • It's naturally anti-inflammatory without feeling like you're eating something strictly healthy.
02 -
  • Don't dress this salad too far ahead or the fruit will start weeping and everything gets soggy, so timing is everything here.
  • Toasting the nuts and seeds is the move that transforms this from nice to absolutely unforgettable, so please don't skip it just because the recipe says optional.
03 -
  • Buy pomegranates that are heavy and feel full of juice, not ones that are dried out and rattly, because you can feel the difference in every seed.
  • The cinnamon is doing more work than you think, so don't leave it out just because it seems like an odd addition, because it's the whole point.
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