Pomegranate Walnut Salad (Printable)

Vibrant winter fruit salad with juicy pomegranate seeds, crunchy walnuts, and fresh citrus for a refreshing boost.

# What You'll 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 pomegranate seeds, orange segments, diced apple, and diced pear.
02 - Add chopped walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds to the fruit mixture in the bowl.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and sea salt until thoroughly combined.
04 - Drizzle prepared dressing over fruit and nut mixture. Gently toss to evenly coat all ingredients.
05 - Sprinkle fresh mint leaves over salad if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you can pour a cup of coffee, yet tastes like you've been in the kitchen all morning.
  • The combination of textures and flavors feels fancy enough for guests but simple enough for a solo lunch that doesn't feel lonely.
  • This salad actually tastes better the next day as flavors meld, so meal prep becomes your secret weapon.
02 -
  • If you add the dressing too far ahead, the salad will start to weep and become soggy—wait until just before serving unless you're planning to refrigerate, in which case the liquid mingles beautifully over time.
  • Toasting the nuts and seeds changes everything; the flavor becomes deeper and more prominent, making the whole salad feel less like raw chopped ingredients and more like a considered dish.
03 -
  • If you're prepping this ahead, keep the dressing separate and dress the salad only when you're ready to serve or within two hours of serving—this prevents the fruit from releasing too much liquid and creating a soggy mess.
  • The cinnamon is doing more work than you think; it bridges the gap between sweet and tart and makes each ingredient taste more distinctly like itself, so don't be tempted to skip it.
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