Best Southern Salads for the Holidays

Pistachio Ambrosia, Cranberry Salad, Holiday Harvest Coleslaw

Nov 3, 2009

Southern Salads Complement Holiday Feasts, trasomfreak

The best salad recipes for the holidays help lighten the richness of typical southern holiday fare, brighten the meal, cleanse the palate, and entice the eye.

These three easy salad recipes do all of that and more.

Healthy salad vegetables and fruits really help to balance holiday meals that are usually too heavily laden with rich meats, heavy dressings and stuffing, and overly sweet and fatty desserts. These beautiful southern salads are so tasty they may even become children’s favorite part of holiday meals.

So what makes these salad recipes uniquely southern? Each salad recipe incorporates at least a sprinkling of the premier southern nut – fresh buttery flavored pecans.

Easy Salad Recipe for Pistachio Pecan Ambrosia

Ingredients:

1, 16-ounce can pineapple chunks
1, 16-ounce can crushed pineapple
1 cup maraschino cherries, halved or quartered
1, 11-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained
2 small boxes pistachio instant pudding mix
1 cup coconut, shredded
1 cup pecans, chopped
2, 8-ounce containers non-dairy whipped topping
2 cups sour cream
2½ cups miniature marshmallows

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the pineapple, cherries and oranges.
Sprinkle both packages of the pistachio pudding mix over the fruit and allow to stand for several minutes.
Stir in pecans, coconut and sour cream until well combined.
Carefully fold in the marshmallows and whipped topping, being sure not to over-mix.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving with your favorite holiday meal.

Cranberry Holiday Salad Recipe

Salad ingredients:

1, 6-ounce package raspberry gelatin mix
1 cup hot water
1, 16-ounce can whole-cranberry cranberry sauce
1, 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, undrained
1/3 cup white wine or grape juice
½ cup chopped pecans

Topping ingredients:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup dairy sour cream
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

In a large bowl, stir gelatin into the hot water until completely dissolved.
Add the can of cranberry sauce and continue stirring until it is well combined with the gelatin mixture.
Stir in the remaining ingredients and pour into an oblong casserole dish.
Refrigerate until firm.
In another bowl, mix together the sour cream, cream cheese and sugar until thoroughly combined.
Spread the topping mixture over the gelatin.
Garnish with additional chopped pecans.
Return to refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes more before serving.

Holiday Harvest Coleslaw Recipe

Salad vegetables:

4 medium carrots, shredded
1 medium head of cabbage, shredded

Best Salad Dressing for Coleslaw

Dressing ingredients:

2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup Ranch dressing
½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
1 medium Granny Smith apple, chopped
½ cup pecans, coarsely chopped
½ teaspoon cinnamon, ground
¼ teaspoon garlic salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

Combine the salad vegetables in a large salad bowl and set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the salad dressing ingredients until they are well combined.
Taste the coleslaw salad dressing and adjust the seasonings if necessary. Add additional garlic salt or pepper for more intense flavor. If the seasonings seem too strong add more mayonnaise. If the dressing tastes too sweet add a little more vinegar.
Fold the dressing into the shredded carrots and cabbage.
Chill for six to eight hours to let the salad dressing flavors meld.
Stir again immediately before serving.

Enjoy More Holiday Meal Ideas in Southern Cuisine

Crock-Pot Southern Beef Roast in Beer Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Dinner Meal with Garlicky Beans and Rice
Oven Baked Beef Brisket, Slow Cooked Texas Style: Slow Roasted Smoked Beef Brisket – Easy, Spicy, Melts in Your Mouth
A Southern Thanksgiving - Celebrate Muscadine! – Scuppernong Grapes Highlight a Thanksgiving Feast

HOL101

The copyright of the article Best Southern Salads for the Holidays in Southern Cuisine is owned by Maria Blanco. Permission to republish Best Southern Salads for the Holidays in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.