Description
This Cranberry Blueberry Salad with Blueberry Balsamic Dressing is a vibrant, refreshing, and flavorful dish that combines the tartness of fresh cranberries and blueberries with crunchy walnuts and creamy feta cheese. Tossed in a sweet and tangy blueberry balsamic dressing with honey and Dijon mustard, this salad makes a perfect light meal or side dish, ready in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Vegetables
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
Nuts & Cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse Berries: Rinse the cranberries and blueberries under cold water and set them aside in a colander to drain thoroughly.
- Prepare Red Onion: Peel the red onion and chop it into small, bite-sized pieces to add a sharp yet mild flavor to the salad.
- Chop Walnuts: If your walnuts are whole, chop them into smaller pieces to add a crunchy texture throughout the salad.
- Prepare Feta Cheese: Crumble the feta cheese into small chunks so it evenly distributes and adds a creamy, salty contrast to the fruits and nuts.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth, flavorful, and well combined.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, gently combine the rinsed cranberries, blueberries, chopped red onion, walnuts, and crumbled feta cheese to ensure even distribution without crushing the berries.
- Toss with Dressing: Pour the blueberry balsamic dressing over the salad mixture and gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly with the dressing.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning by adding more salt or pepper if needed to balance the flavors perfectly.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the salad immediately for the freshest taste or refrigerate it for up to an hour to allow the flavors to mingle and deepen before serving.
Notes
- For extra sweetness, add a drizzle more of honey according to your taste preference.
- You can toast the walnuts lightly to enhance their flavor and crunch.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be prepared ahead and chilled for up to 1 hour.
- Substitute feta with goat cheese for a creamier variation.
- If fresh cranberries are too tart, consider briefly soaking them in warm water with a bit of sugar before preparing.
