Detox with These 13 Healthy Winter Salads

Photo by Athena Concannon

Winter is decidedly the season of indulgence, from sugar-laden treats to stick-to-your-ribs comfort food. All of that richness makes it extra important to get some greens in your life—at least between feasts. To start, look no further than our list of 13 winter salads.

1. Winter Fruit Salad with Feta
via The Recipe Critic

Go ahead, load up on pomegranate and citrus. Adding quinoa, nuts, feta cheese, and a lemony Greek yogurt dressing makes it a filling meal.

2. Quinoa, Sweet Potato, and Kale Salad
via Not Enough Cinnamon

Who says a salad can’t be hearty? Sweet potato and quinoa give your lunch some staying power, without weighing you down.

3. Roasted Acorn Squash Salad
via Foolproof Living

You’ve had butternut squash in salad, but what about acorn squash? This dish combines it with spicy pepitas, greens, farro, cranberries, pomegranate, and goat cheese.

4. Kale Citrus Salad
via the Minimalist Baker

Pack in servings of fruits and veggies with this winter citrus salad. Grapefruit, pomegranate, apple, and pickled red onion are the perfect complements to crunchy kale.

5. Apple Brie Salad
via Lemon Tree Dwelling

Give baked Brie a rest, and swap in this apple and Brie salad for a change. Feel free to add other veggies, such as cucumber, arugula, or beets.

6. Warm Quinoa and Brussels Sprouts Salad
via Sweet & Savory by Shinee

Every salad doesn’t need a bed of lettuce. In this one, shaved Brussels sprouts make a tasty base for chickpeas, squash, cranberries, walnuts, and quinoa.

7. Roasted Cauliflower Salad
via Healthful Pursuit

Warm cauliflower and spicy harissa dressing will bust the winter doldrums. Serve this dish over a bed of kale or spinach to sneak in extra greens.

8. Warm Winter Vegetable Salad
via Food & Wine

Parsnips and celery root may not be on regular rotation in your kitchen, but they should be your secret weapon when the snow falls. Sweet potato, carrot, and beets add some familiar flavors.

9. Fennel, Apple, and Blue Cheese Salad
via the Food Network

This salad’s got it all: candied pecans for sweetness, funky blue cheese, fresh mint and fennel, colorful beets, and crunchy Fuji apple.

10. Winter Kale Salad with Pancetta
via Cooking for Keeps

Load your plate with kale, pancetta, gorgonzola, Brussels sprouts, pears, and a maple Dijon vinaigrette. It’s just the kick of flavor you need on a blustery day.

11. Butternut Squash, Kale, and Wheat Berry Salad
via Eats Well with Others

Wheat berries may become your new favorite salad grain—especially when they’re paired with kale, garlic-roasted butternut squash, pomegranate, Brussels sprouts, and chickpeas.

12. Winter Spa Salad with Lemon Chicken
via Pinch of Yum

Detox from holiday indulgence with this well-rounded bowl. Lemon chicken is accompanied by avocado, pomegranate, oranges, spinach, chickpeas, and fresh herbs.

13. Brussels Sprouts, Kale, and Quinoa Salad with Hazelnuts
via Achieve with Athena

No, hazelnuts aren’t only for Nutella. In this recipe, they add delicious crunch to a simple kale, quinoa, and sprouts salad.