Pomegranate and feta salad

Pomegranate and feta salad- a healthy Mediterranean salad with a delicious combination of juicy pomegranate pearls, creamy feta, crunchy salad leaves, and roasted walnuts.

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Pomegranate is my favorite fruit to use in salads. If I have pomegranate in my fridge, I will definitely add a few tablespoons to whichever salad I make.

Surprisingly, the tiny red pearls bursting with juices make every salad taste better.

But today I am sharing a salad recipe in which pomegranate is one of the main ingredients- Mediterranean style pomegranate salad with feta and walnuts.

The delicious combination of juicy pomegranate pearls, creamy feta, crunchy salad leaves, and roasted walnuts is worth trying by every food lover, especially if you like the fresh flavors of Mediterranean food.

What goes in this pomegranate feta salad?

To make Mediterranean style pomegranate and feta salad, the following ingredients will be needed:

1. Pomegranate arils: Use a juicy sweet variety of pomegranate.
2. Crumbled feta cheese. Though cheese is also a key ingredient of this salad if you are a vegan skip cheese.
3. Onion: Red or any other onion type of your choice.
4. Mixed salad greens: I have used store-bought mixed salad greens which has lettuce, baby spinach, arugula, oak leaf lettuce, and baby swiss chard. You can also use store-bought mixed salad greens or make your own with whatever is available to you. Only a single variety like only lettuce or only kale can be used too. Almost every leafy green can be used in this pomegranate salad.
5. Fresh mint leaves. More herbs like basil or my favorite for Mediterranean salads-fresh dill can be used too.
6. Walnut kernels: You can also use any other roasted nut of your choice like almond, pistachio, or pine nuts.
7. Lemon: I have used only the juice of lemon, you can add zest too for extra freshness.
8. Salt
9. Pepper
10. Chili flakes- Optional, if your heat tolerance is very low, skip it.
11. Extra virgin olive oil
12. Honey- Other sweeteners like maple syrup or agave syrup can be used too.
13. Dijon mustard

How to select the best pomegranate?

If picking a sweet, juicy red pomegranate is like winning a lottery ticket for you i.e. depends on luck then the following three simple tips might make you luckier next time:

1. Weight: Pick the heaviest pomegranate that's available when the size is same. Heavy pomegranate will have more juice.
2. Shape: The fully ripe pomegranates have a flatter-slightly square shape, unlike the unripe ones which are completely round.
3. Touch: Always pick a firm pomegranate and avoid the ones which feel soft and pulpy.

How to cut a pomegranate?

Though it may sound quite easy, cutting a pomegranate without wasting a lot of juice and making the kitchen and clothes less messy, is also an art.

To cut the pomegranate like a pro follow these steps:

1. Put a large container on your kitchen counter and do all the cutting inside it. Else, you can also spread a clean kitchen towel and do the cutting on it. It will make your kitchen less messy.
2. Horizontally cut off a little portion from the top side of the pomegranate. It will expose the white pith inside.
3. With a sharp knife vertically cut along the white piths. Now, open the pomegranate with your hands and collect the arils in a bowl.

Recipe tips and tricks

• Use any nut of your choice but do toast them slightly before adding for more flavor and crunch.
• You can also add pepitas and raisins to this Mediterranean pomegranate salad.
• Instead of feta, goat cheese can be used too.
• In the dressing, you can also add around 1 tablespoon of pomegranate molasses. It will make the salad yummier.
• After rinsing the leaves, make sure to drain all the water. Also, pat them dry with a paper towel before adding to the salad. You can also use a salad spinner.
• Roast the walnut kernels on low/ medium flame, on high flame they get burned very easily.

More salads with fruits

Looking for more ideas to make salad with fruits? Do check the following recipes:

1. Quinoa fruit salad
2. Watermelon feta salad
3. Egyptian farro salad
4. Waldorf salad

Step by step photo instructions

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Recipe

Pomegranate salad with feta

Pomegranate and feta salad- a healthy Mediterranean salad with a delicious combination of juicy pomegranate pearls, creamy feta, crunchy salad leaves, and roasted walnuts.

4.47 from 26 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 372kcal

Author: Vandana Chauhan

Equipment

• Salad bowl
• Small pan

Ingredients

Ingredients for salad dressing

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice adjust as per taste
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon chili flakes adjust as per taste
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Other ingredients

• 1.5 cups pomegranate arils
• 4 cups mixed salad greens roughly chopped
• 8-10 fresh mint leaves roughly chopped
• ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
• 200 grams crumbled feta cheese
• ½ cup walnut kernels

Instructions

• Dry roast the walnut kernels in a pan for a few minutes i.e. until they become fragrant and start changing their color. If the kernels are very big in size, you can rough chop them.
• Put all the ingredients of salad dressing in a bowl and mix.
• In another large bowl put all the remaining ingredients and roasted walnuts. Pour dressing and toss. Enjoy!

Notes

1. Use any salad green of your choice. I have used mixed greens but you can use only one type too.
2. After rinsing the leaves, make sure to drain all the water. Also, pat them dry with a paper towel before adding to the salad. You can also use a salad spinner.
3. Instead of walnuts, pecans or almonds can also be used. Even pepitas and raisins taste good in this salad.
4. Roast the walnut kernels on low/ medium flame, on high flame they get burned very easily.
5. Instead of honey brown sugar, agave syrup, or maple syrup can also be used. 
6. You can also add around 1 tablespoon of pomegranate molasses to this salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 590mg | Potassium: 356mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 829IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 282mg | Iron: 1mg

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