Pomegranate Walnut Winter Salad

# 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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the pomegranate seeds, orange segments, diced apple, and diced pear.

02 - Add the chopped walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds to the bowl.

03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and sea salt until well combined.

04 - Drizzle the dressing over the fruit and nut mixture. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly.

05 - Sprinkle with fresh mint leaves for garnish, if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving for enhanced flavors.

# Expert Tips:

01 -

Its the perfect antidote to heavy winter food, light and refreshing but still satisfying enough to feel like a real meal
The combination of textures and colors makes it feel festive and special, even though it comes together in fifteen minutes

02 -

This salad needs to be served within two hours of dressing, or the fruit starts to break down and lose its gorgeous texture
Room temperature fruit has significantly more flavor than cold fruit straight from the refrigerator

03 -

Lightly toasting the walnuts and seeds for 3-4 minutes transforms their flavor and makes them even more addictive
Let the dressed salad sit for 5 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld and the fruit release some juices into the dressing