Pomegranate and feta salad- a healthy Mediterranean salad with a delicious combination of juicy pomegranate pearls, creamy feta, crunchy salad leaves, and roasted walnuts.
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases without any extra cost to you.
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.
Jump to:
What goes in this pomegranate feta salad?
To make Mediterranean style pomegranate and feta salad, the following ingredients will be needed:
- Pomegranate arils: Use a juicy sweet variety of pomegranate.
- Crumbled feta cheese. Though cheese is also a key ingredient of this salad if you are a vegan skip cheese.
- Onion: Red or any other onion type of your choice.
- 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.
- Fresh mint leaves. More herbs like basil or my favorite for Mediterranean salads-fresh dill can be used too.
- Walnut kernels: You can also use any other roasted nut of your choice like almond, pistachio, or pine nuts.
- Lemon: I have used only the juice of lemon, you can add zest too for extra freshness.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chili flakes- Optional, if your heat tolerance is very low, skip it.
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Honey- Other sweeteners like maple syrup or agave syrup can be used too.
- 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:
- Weight: Pick the heaviest pomegranate that's available when the size is same. Heavy pomegranate will have more juice.
- Shape: The fully ripe pomegranates have a flatter-slightly square shape, unlike the unripe ones which are completely round.
- 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:
- 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.
- Horizontally cut off a little portion from the top side of the pomegranate. It will expose the white pith inside.
- 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:
Step by step photo instructions
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in the recipe card below. You can also follow me on Instagram, Youtube, and Pinterest.
Recipe
Pomegranate salad with feta
Equipment
- 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
- Use any salad green of your choice. I have used mixed greens but you can use only one type too.
- 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.
- Instead of walnuts, pecans or almonds can also be used. Even pepitas and raisins taste good in this salad.
- Roast the walnut kernels on low/ medium flame, on high flame they get burned very easily.
- Instead of honey brown sugar, agave syrup, or maple syrup can also be used.
- You can also add around 1 tablespoon of pomegranate molasses to this salad.
Great recipe and very well explained. I love the photos. The salad turned out wonderful. Thank you!
Thank you so much 🙂
Everyday temperature is rising here and I wanted a light meal option during this Summer. I tried your pomegranate feta salad and it was refreshing and perfect for hot days.
Thank you 🙂
I am so glad, I found this Pomegranate and feta salad recipe here, before Pomegranates going out of season I had chance to make it last week as we had lovely sunny weather. Going to make it again and again 🙂
Thank you Hayley 🙂
My husband became a big fan of this salad after I made this recipe last evening. He loves Feta and the flavor of pomegranate with Feta works so well. Absolutely brilliant.
Thank you Sandhya, glad to know that 🙂
This Pomegranate feta salad looks looks so delicious. It looks so fresh, juicy and crunchy. I simply loved the salad dressing, it's so easy to make. I just loved how you have given step by step instructions and pictures of the recipe. I am definitely going to try it.
Thank you Anshika 🙂
I am drooling looking at your pomegranate and feta salad. I have always loved watermelon and feta but your version looks super good Vandana.
Trying this soon as we get pomegranate in abundance now a days.
I am going to look for some pomegranates after seeing this recipe. I love the way pomegranate tastes with feta. The combination is made in heaven.
🙂 thank you Seema.
It's shopping day tomorrow and am going to pick the right pomegranates following your tips. I love feta in salads so this delicious looking and colourful pomegranate and feta salad is going to be lunch tomorrow.
Thank you 🙂
I love salad with pomegranate in it. I enjoyed this salad without feta. Thanks for this recipe and I will make this again.
Thank you Uma.