Cranberry Vinaigrette – With cookies and candy abounding during the holidays, take a healthy break and enjoy a sweet and tart cranberry vinaigrette with some spicy winter greens.
Now that I’m beginning to come out of my sugar stupor from my latest cookie and scone recipes, I think it’s time to talk salad. Amongst all of the holiday parties and the tradition of baking cookies galore with the kids or grandkids, it’s important to plan some healthy meals. Doing this is necessary in the spirit of staying healthy and energized over the next couple of weeks leading up to Christmas.
I developed today’s recipe for Cranberry Vinaigrette with the intent of having a festive dressing that pairs well with some of the spicy greens my husband and I have been getting from our local farm. Things like mustard greens, mizuna, mache, tatsoi, arugula and frisée. Discovering new salad greens has been part of the fun of being part of a CSA, but it also presented a challenge on how to prepare these less familiar salad makings. In the case of this dressing, the medley of sweet and tart tames the bitterness of the greens without masking their spicy and unique flavors.
Below is a shot of this fresh, winter salad dressing pictured with my upcoming Spicy Greens, Delicata, and Crunchy Pork Salad recipe. Stay tuned for the recipe for this healthy, seasonal yumminess this weekend!
- ½ C pure no-sugar-added cranberry juice*
- ⅓ C vegetable oil
- ¼ C thawed frozen cranberries
- 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp dijon mustard
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 1 tsp finely minced red onion
- In a food processor combine everything except the red onion. Process on low until all of the ingredients have emulsified (a.k.a. turned creamy and even in texture) and the cranberry is broken up into pieces that are about the size of fresh ground pepper.
- Pour the vinaigrette into a dressing bottle, add 1 tsp of finely minced red onion and lightly shake to combine.
- Serve immediately or store up to one week in the refrigerator. Shake vigorously between uses.
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Megan | BeetsNotMeats says
December 12, 2015 at 7:29 pmThis looks great! Perfect for all the salads I’ve been making lately! Saving this post to try soon – thanks for posting! 🙂
Rachel says
December 14, 2015 at 10:13 amThanks Megan! I hope this recipe make your salad nice and festive for the holiday season.
Sandhya says
December 14, 2015 at 11:36 pmRachel,
Love the color and creaminess of the dressing!
Rachel says
December 17, 2015 at 9:45 amThanks Sandhya!
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says
December 15, 2015 at 8:01 amRachel–this looks liek the perfect winter salad dressing. I pinned to make ASAP
Rachel says
December 17, 2015 at 9:45 amThanks Kristen! You’ll have to tell me how you like it. I hop you find it festive and nourishing!
Platter Talk says
December 15, 2015 at 12:25 pmLove the originality of this vinaigrette; perfect for this holiday season! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Rachel says
December 17, 2015 at 9:46 amThanks guys!
LydiaF says
December 15, 2015 at 1:04 pmThis vinaigrette has such a lovely color. I’ll bet it’s good over a salad full of winter fruits and vegetables.
Rachel says
December 17, 2015 at 9:49 amIt is! I’ve been pairing it with various greens, apples/pears, pecans/walnuts/almonds, and sharp cheeses. So good and nourishing!
Tracy @ Served from Scratch says
December 15, 2015 at 7:53 pmThe color of that vinaigrette is just divine!!!
Rachel says
December 17, 2015 at 9:50 amThanks Tracy! I was going for that. Something festive for this time of year!
Nellie says
December 15, 2015 at 9:43 pmYum! I’m loving that color! It’s a perfect addition to a festive table!
Rachel says
December 17, 2015 at 9:50 amThanks Nellie!
Sara @ Life's Little Sweets says
December 16, 2015 at 12:43 amI love cranberries, what a great idea to have it as an ingredient in a dressing! Thank you for sharing!
Rachel says
December 17, 2015 at 9:51 amThanks Sara! I found adding the cranberries and cranberry juice made it easier to cut added sugars.
Claudia | Gourmet Project says
December 16, 2015 at 9:19 amwhata beautiful color & great idea. This vinaigrette will be on my Christmas table for sure!
Rachel says
December 17, 2015 at 9:52 amThanks Claudia!
Choclette says
December 16, 2015 at 4:00 pmI am in love with your festive vinaigrette – what a splendid idea. Love all those greens and I bet this goes very nicely with them.
Rachel says
December 17, 2015 at 9:53 amThanks Choclette! It’s good to throw some festive salad in with all of the holiday cookies around this time of year 😉
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
December 16, 2015 at 4:10 pmAwesome idea. I seriously would not have dream to make a cranberry vinaigrette but of course it is perfect for this time of the year.
Rachel says
December 17, 2015 at 9:54 amThanks Bintu!
Abida says
December 18, 2015 at 6:55 amSuper seasonal indeed! Love the colour of this too, so pretty
Rachel says
January 7, 2016 at 11:42 pmThanks Abida!