Why serve a boring salad, when you can create a beautiful, stunning Christmas Wreath Salad served with a dairy-free ranch dressing? This is a healthy, super easy and fun holiday party dish!
Holiday food should be FUN, right?
Even salads. Salads should POP with festive vibes and make you smile!
At Christmas time, it's so much fun to make a Christmas Wreath Salad like this one. I love how EASY it is to make a basic everyday salad look super festive for the holidays. This salad will look absolutely stunning at your holiday table!
Table of contents
Kitchen tools and equipment
For this recipe, you just need a few basic kitchen tools:
Cutting board and knife - you'll need a sturdy cutting board and sharp knife to chop the veggies.
Mandoline - Alternatively, you can use a mandoline to create even slices of cucumbers, radishes.
Mason jar or mixing bowl - Use either a large mason jar or a mixing bowl to add all of the ingredients to make the dairy-free dressing.
Whisk - to whisk together the ingredients to make the salad dressing
Basic ingredients to start a Christmas salad wreath
Lettuce - Use a variety of mixed greens for a beautiful salad.
Tomatoes - Cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes
Cucumbers - Slice the cucumbers thinly. It's up to you if you want
Other optional ingredients to add
Some fave veggies that would be terrific in this salad:
- Radishes
- Bell peppers
- Snap peas
- Broccoli
Also consider adding any of these ingredients for texture:
- Nuts - sliced almonds, cashews, or pecans would be delicious!
- Croutons
- Cheese - if you're not dairy-free, go for some crumbled feta or gorgonzola. If you are dairy-free, try this dairy-free feta cheese.
Ingredients for the dairy-free ranch dressing
Mayonnaise - Most mayo is dairy-free, but I also prefer to use this vegan mayonnaise.
Sour cream - I use my fave dairy-free sour cream to thicken up the dressing. You could use your favorite dairy-free plain yogurt instead, if you prefer.
Almond milk - You can use almond milk or you can try to substitute oat milk or coconut milk if you like those flavors more.
Apple cider vinegar - this adds tang to the dressing.
Parsley - Fresh chopped parsley adds a bright freshness to the dressing,
Garlic - The recipe calls for one minced garlic clove, but you can add more if you prefer. Alternatively, you could use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder instead, if you prefer.
Onion powder - Just for a little hint of onion flavor.
Salt and pepper - Use kosher salt and ground black pepper to season to taste.
How to make this Christmas wreath salad
- Choose a large round serving platter. Place the bowl of salad dressing in the middle. Place the star bowl of tomatoes at the top middle space.
- Start to layer mixed greens in the empty space around the bowl of dressing.
- Then layer on the tomatoes and cucumbers. Add in any other vegetables, nuts, or cheeses you would like to add.
How to make the dairy-free ranch dressing
- In a large mason jar, whisk together all of the ingredients for the dairy-free ranch dressing. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- When you are ready to use the dressing, shake the jar or use a spoon to stir the ingredients up, and serve with the salad.
Recipe FAQs
If you have a vacuum sealer you can vacuum seal the veggies separately to help them stay fresher for longer. Then simply open and assemble when you're ready. Or you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before you are ready to assemble. Keep in mind that fresher ingredients in great shape when you store them will last longer than veggies that aren't super fresh.
Depending on the salad ingredients, most salads will stay fresh at room temperature for up to two hours.
This dressing can stay out at room temperature for up to two hours.
What to serve with this festive holiday salad
Serve this salad with any of these delicious holiday appetizers:
- Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
- Cranberry Meatballs
- Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
- Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
And for the main course? Consider one of these delectable entrees:
- One Pan Garlic Rosemary Beef Roast
- Dutch Oven Pot Roast
- Spatchcock Roast Turkey
- Air Fryer Lobster Tail
- Citrus Herb Turkey Roast
Best wine pairings for salad
White wines, rosé wines, and sparkling wines all pair beautifully with salads like this. The richness of the salad dressing goes best with a wine that has a bit more body to it, like this Hazelfern Cellars Winter Rosé. It would also pair well with a Chardonnay or a Viognier.
Christmas Wreath Salad with Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Christmas Wreath Salad
- 4-6 cups mixed greens
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
- 2 medium cucumbers, sliced
For the Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup dairy-free sour cream
- 2 Tablespoons almond milk
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried chives
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper
Instructions
Make the Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing
- In a large mason jar, whisk together all of the ingredients for the dairy-free ranch dressing. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- When you are ready to use the dressing, shake the jar or use a spoon to stir the ingredients up, and serve with the salad.
Make the Christmas Wreath Salad
- Choose a large round serving platter. Place the bowl of salad dressing in the middle. Place the star bowl of tomatoes at the top middle space. Or, alternatively, place the tomatoes in the form of a ribbon at the top. Start to layer mixed greens in the empty space around the bowl of dressing. Then layer on the tomatoes and cucumbers. Add in any other vegetables, nuts, or cheeses you would like to add.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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