Snowy Winter Greens Salad (Printable)

Hearty winter greens tossed with creamy goat cheese, walnuts, dried cranberries, and a citrus dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Greens

01 - 3.5 oz kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
02 - 3.5 oz Swiss chard, stems removed and leaves sliced
03 - 1.75 oz baby spinach

→ Toppings

04 - 2.8 oz goat cheese, crumbled
05 - 1.4 oz walnuts, roughly chopped
06 - 1.4 oz dried cranberries

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1 tbsp orange juice
10 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tsp honey
12 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
03 - Place kale and Swiss chard in a large bowl and gently massage with clean hands for 1 to 2 minutes until leaves soften.
04 - Add baby spinach to the bowl and toss to combine all greens evenly.
05 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the greens and toss gently until all leaves are evenly coated.
06 - Finish by sprinkling crumbled goat cheese, toasted walnuts, and dried cranberries on top.
07 - Serve immediately for optimal freshness and texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Winter greens become silky when you massage them, making every bite feel luxurious rather than tough.
  • The combination of tart citrus, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy walnuts keeps you coming back for another forkful.
  • It comes together in under 20 minutes, perfect for those evenings when you need something nourishing but won't spend the whole night cooking.
02 -
  • Don't skip the toasting step for walnuts; raw ones taste almost bitter in comparison, and that crunch is what keeps people interested.
  • If you massage the greens and add the dressing more than 10 minutes before serving, the kale will wilt from the salt and acid—timing matters here.
  • The cold temperature of fresh greens actually helps them stay crisp longer, so keep everything chilled until the moment you toss.
03 -
  • Prepare all your ingredients before you start—having the dressing whisked, walnuts toasted, and greens chopped means assembly takes seconds and everything tastes fresher.
  • If you're making this ahead for lunch, dress only the portion you're eating and keep the rest of the greens, dressing, and toppings separate so nothing gets soggy or sad by midday.

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