fresh cranberry mandarin nut salad

Holidays just got more delicious with this cranberry mandarin nut salad. Full of healthy ingredients and certain to be popular on your table!

Thanksgiving Salad Recipes

Some dishes just bring back vivid and warm childhood memories. Food has a way of being that for me. A memory maker. That’s the magic of Thanksgiving salad recipes.

Christmas Salad Recipes

But, wait, this recipe will be one of your favorite Christmas salad recipes, too! 

Of course, I was always in the kitchen with Mom, watching, helping and learning more than I ever imagined. Holidays were always festive in our postage stamped size little West Virginia holler home. Thanksgiving meant Mom got up at the crack of dawn and started cooking. The aromas that would waft through the five little rooms were intoxicating!

Fresh Cranberry Salads

One thing that Mom always made during the holidays, both Thanksgiving and Christmas, were fresh cranberry salads. 

Recipes for Cranberry Salad

I can’t remember her recipes for the cranberry salad precisely, but I do know that there were lots of walnuts, celery and cranberries in it. While we didn’t have a food processor, Mom did have a meat grinder that attached to the side of the dining room table. And, this is where she’d put those little cranberry marbles in and grind away.

Cranberry Salad with Pecans

Cranberry salad with pecans seems to be the norm. But, I love walnuts, so that’s what’s in this recipe. And, Mom always used walnuts, too. 

Healthy Cranberry Salad

Why’s this healthy cranberry salad? Well, other than the sugar, all of the ingredients are pretty darn healthy. If I didn’t have to use sugar, I wouldn’t. But, if you’ve ever tasted cranberries without some sugar, well, then get ready to pucker up. They’re pretty tart! 

Salad with Mandarin Oranges

I know Mom didn’t use these mandarin oranges, but I know she’d totally approve. They had a juicy sweetness to the salad that’s just even more happy.

You can use canned or frozen.  You could also try using fresh ‘Cuties’ separating the sections. Be sure to remove all the skins and strings. Next time I’m going to use Dole Sunshine’s frozen mandarin orange sections for even more freshness! 

Cranberry Walnut Mandarin Orange Salad

This cranberry walnut mandarin orange salad has lots of redeeming values. You can make a day or two ahead of time. If you’re doing this, omit the celery until you’re ready to serve. You want it vibrant and green. 

Healthy Holiday Salads

Need more healthy holiday salads inspiration?

Chard Apple Pineapple Salad

Crunchy Pineapple Blueberry Slaw

Celery Olive Salad

Blue Cheese Coleslaw

Cranberry Mandarin Pineapple Salad

fresh cranberry mandarin nut salad

Yield: About 6 servings

Holidays just got more delicious with this cranberry mandarin nut salad. Full of healthy ingredients and certain to be popular on your table!

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Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh cranberries, washed well
• 2 cups celery, sliced thinly
• 1 can (15 oz.) mandarin orange slices, drained well
• 1/8 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1 lemon, juice and zest
• 2 Tbl. fresh thyme leaves, roughly chopped + more for garnish
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped

Instructions

1. Put the cranberries in the food processor and pulse about 30 seconds into a ground mixture. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
2. Add the celery, drained oranges, salt, sugar, lemon juice/zest and chopped thyme. Toss and blend folding together all the ingredients. Refrigerate a couple of hours before serving.
3. When ready to serve, fold in the chopped walnuts.

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