Jewel-Toned Crunch: Ina Garten’s Pomegranate Salad Recipe

Bursting with vibrant colors and a tantalizing mix of flavors, this Ina Garten pomegranate salad recipe promises to dazzle your taste buds.

Sweet, tart, and refreshingly crisp, every bite delivers a delightful culinary experience.

The combination of juicy pomegranate seeds and crisp greens creates a stunning visual feast.

Elegant yet simple, this salad showcases fresh ingredients that sing with brightness and depth.

pomegranate ruby-red gems sparkle against the green backdrop, making this dish a true showstopper.

The delicate balance of textures and flavors will leave you wanting more with each forkful.

Get ready to elevate your salad game with this stunning and irresistible recipe that’s sure to impress at any gathering.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Calories: 230 kcal

Servings: 6

What Goes Into Ina Garten Pomegranate Salad

• Mixed Salad Greens: Crisp base that adds vibrant texture and provides essential nutrients.
• Pomegranate Seeds: Jewel-like bursts of sweet-tart flavor that bring unexpected brightness to the salad.
• Red Onion: Sharp, zesty ingredient that provides a subtle bite and beautiful color contrast.
• Apple: Adds delightful crunch and subtle sweetness with a refreshing undertone.
• Avocado: Creamy element that delivers rich, smooth texture and healthy fats.

• Feta Cheese: Tangy, crumbly cheese that introduces a salty Mediterranean accent.

• Sliced Almonds: Toasted nutty element that provides delightful crispness and earthy flavor.
• Olive Oil: Smooth, heart-healthy base that helps bind dressing and enhance overall flavor.
• Pomegranate Molasses: Deeply concentrated sweet-tart syrup that adds complex depth.
• Balsamic Vinegar: Rich, slightly sweet acid that balances and brightens the entire dish.
• Honey: Natural sweetener that softens the vinegar's sharpness and adds silky smoothness.
• Dijon Mustard: Zingy condiment that emulsifies dressing and provides subtle heat.
• Salt: Essential flavor enhancer that awakens all ingredients' natural tastes.
• Black Pepper: Warm, slightly spicy seasoning that adds gentle background warmth.

Tools That Help Make Ina Garten Pomegranate Salad

• Large Salad Bowl: Spacious container for mixing all salad ingredients.
• Small Mixing Bowl: Perfect for whisking together dressing ingredients.
• Dry Skillet: Used for toasting almonds to golden brown perfection.
• Whisk: Essential for blending dressing ingredients smoothly.
• Cutting Board: Sturdy surface for slicing and dicing vegetables and fruits.
• Sharp Knife: Needed for precise cutting of onions, apples, and avocado.

Instructions to Make Ina Garten Pomegranate Salad

• Salad Preparation

Fresh greens create the foundation of this vibrant dish. Carefully separate and clean the leafy base, ensuring a crisp and clean canvas for the colorful ingredients that will transform this simple salad into a culinary masterpiece.

• Nutty Crunch

Golden almonds add a delightful texture and rich warmth. Carefully heat the sliced nuts in a dry pan, watching closely until they develop a beautiful caramel hue and release their incredible aromatic essence.

• Flavor Symphony

Craft a harmonious dressing that brings together tangy and sweet notes. Blend olive oil with pomegranate molasses, creating a luscious liquid that will dance across the salad’s surface and elevate every single bite.

• Ingredient Celebration

Layer the components with artistic intention. Sprinkle ruby-red pomegranate seeds, scatter crisp apple slices, nestle creamy avocado chunks, and crown with delicate feta cheese, transforming the salad into a visual and gustatory experience.

• Final Touch

Gently drizzle the carefully prepared dressing, allowing it to embrace each ingredient. Softly toss the salad, ensuring every morsel is kissed with the luxurious flavor profile you’ve created.

Creative Add-Ins for Ina Garten Pomegranate Salad

• Swap feta cheese with goat cheese or blue cheese for a different tangy profile that elevates the salad's complexity.
• Replace almonds with toasted walnuts, pecans, or pistachios to introduce unique textures and rich nutty undertones.
• Add grilled chicken, seared salmon, or crispy shrimp to transform this salad from a side dish into a satisfying complete meal.
• Experiment with seasonal fruits like mandarin oranges in winter or fresh berries in summer to keep the salad exciting and adaptable throughout the year.

How to Serve Ina Garten Pomegranate Salad Gracefully

• Elevate Presentation: Arrange the salad on a large white platter, creating colorful layers that showcase the vibrant pomegranate seeds, creamy avocado, and golden almonds for a stunning visual appeal.
• Pair with Protein: Complement the salad with grilled chicken, seared salmon, or pan-roasted shrimp to transform it into a satisfying and nutritious meal that balances flavors and textures.
• Wine and Dine: Match this fresh salad with a crisp white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Grigio to enhance the bright, tangy notes of the pomegranate and dressing.
• Perfect for Gatherings: Serve this salad at summer brunches, potlucks, or dinner parties as a crowd-pleasing dish that looks elegant and tastes incredibly refreshing.

Storing Ina Garten Pomegranate Salad the Right Way

• Maximize Freshness: Store salad components separately in airtight containers to prevent wilting and maintain crisp textures.
• Refrigerate Wisely: Keep prepared dressing in a sealed jar for up to 5 days, and chopped ingredients in separate containers for quick assembly.
• Prep Ahead Strategy: Wash greens, slice vegetables, and toast almonds in advance, storing each ingredient separately to streamline meal preparation.
• Quick Serving Tips: Assemble salad just before eating to preserve the crunch of ingredients and prevent soggy textures from early dressing contact.

Vibrant Pomegranate Salad Recipe

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4.8 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s pomegranate salad blends crisp greens with tangy fruit and creamy goat cheese. Delicate flavors and contrasting textures invite you to savor each refreshing bite of this elegant dish.

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Ingredients

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• 6 cups (1.4 liters / 1.4 L) mixed salad greens (spinach, arugula, or mix)
• 1 cup (150 grams / 5.3 oz) pomegranate seeds
• ½ cup (75 grams / 2.6 oz) feta cheese, crumbled
• ¼ cup (30 grams / 1 oz) sliced almonds, toasted
• 1 apple, thinly sliced
• 1 avocado, diced
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters / 2 fl oz) extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsps (30 milliliters / 1 fl oz) pomegranate molasses or balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp (15 milliliters / 0.5 fl oz) honey
• 1 tsp (5 milliliters / 0.2 fl oz) Dijon mustard
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Prep Greens: Thoroughly cleanse salad leaves using a salad spinner or kitchen towel, removing all excess moisture to maintain crispness.
2. Seed Preparation: Split pomegranate and extract seeds by tapping the skin with a wooden spoon over a bowl, catching all jewel-like kernels.
3. Vegetable Cutting: Slice red onion into translucent rings and apple into fine matchsticks with precision, creating uniform texture and visual appeal.
4. Avocado Technique: Halve avocado, remove pit, and cube flesh into neat, bite-sized pieces using a sharp knife for clean cuts.
5. Almond Toasting: Gently toast almond slices in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring continuously until achieving a rich, golden-brown color and releasing a nutty aroma.
6. Dressing Creation: Whisk extra virgin olive oil, pomegranate molasses, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until the mixture transforms into a silky, well-integrated vinaigrette.
7. Salad Assembly: Layer mixed greens in a spacious serving bowl, then artfully distribute pomegranate seeds, onion rings, apple slivers, avocado cubes, crumbled feta, and toasted almonds across the verdant base.
8. Final Touch: Delicately drizzle prepared dressing over the salad, using a gentle tossing motion to ensure light, even coating without compromising the ingredients’ delicate structure.
9. Serving: Present immediately to showcase the salad’s vibrant flavors and pristine textures.

Notes

• Greens Preparation: Thoroughly dry salad greens to prevent diluted dressing and soggy texture, ensuring crisp and fresh foundation.
• Pomegranate Seed Extraction: Tap fruit gently over a bowl to cleanly remove seeds without crushing, preserving their delicate jewel-like appearance.
• Toasting Almonds Technique: Watch carefully during toasting process, stirring continuously to achieve golden color without burning, which can create bitter taste.
• Dressing Emulsification: Whisk ingredients vigorously to create smooth, well-blended vinaigrette that evenly coats ingredients without separating.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 230
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 20 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg