, and indeed, the festive season is the perfect time to celebrate with food that’s as vibrant and joyful as the occasion. Whether you’re or looking for lighter, refreshing dishes to balance the holiday indulgence, Christmas salads offer endless possibilities.
Featuring seasonal produce, bold flavour combinations, creative twists and plenty of colour, these Christmas salad recipes are sure to impress.
For an Aussie twist on the classic Italian caprese salad, combine fresh tomatoes and creamy mozzarella with local ground pepperberries and Tasman smoked sea salt.
Heirloom tomato, mozzarella and basil salad with sourdough Credit: Kitti Gould
This festive and fresh twist on classic coleslaw makes the most of the summer cherry season. Juicy, tart cherries give a pop of flavour to the cabbage and pairs well with Christmas mains like roasted meat or fish.
Cherry coleslaw Credit: Kitti Gould
This fresh take on a adds radish, green apple and snap peas into the potato mix. The vibrant ‘Green Goddess’ dressing is made with fresh herbs with yoghurt, feta, mustard and lemon.
Mint and parsley potato salad Credit: Kitti Gould
A medley of flavours and textures, this Christmas salad recipe combines roast cauliflower with vibrant Mediterranean ingredients and a tangy and creamy tahini dressing. It’s a summery take on roast vegetables.
A drizzle of creamy tahini sauce finishes off this vibrant cauli salad Credit: Feast / Ben Dearnley
The pickled fennel for this recipe can be made ahead of time – then, the salad comes together in a matter of minutes. Salted ricotta (‘ricotta salata’) is a sharper, firmer version of regular creamy ricotta and tastes more like a salty cheese such as feta.
Heirloom tomato, pickled fennel and salted ricotta salad Credit: Kitti Gould
A salad that could also work as an entree – it’s an elegant and unexpected combination of flavours. Grilled rockmelon is combined with a dressing infused with fresh ginger, turmeric and honey, then topped with feta and mint – and a squeeze of lime if you like extra zing – to serve.
Credit: Ben Fogarty
Gremolata is a punchy Italian condiment of parsley, garlic, and lemon zest – but in this recipe, it’s added in a deconstructed way, tossing the individual elements through the creamy cannellini beans. Green olives and parmesan bring extra depth to this protein-packed side dish.
Credit: Rob Palmer
A fiesta of colours and textures, this nutrient-packed salad combines the ancient South American grain with bright, Mexican-inspired ingredients and a smoky-tangy lime dressing.
Mexican quinoa salad Credit: Smith Street Books
Prawns are a festive season staple, and when you’re done cooking them on the barbecue, try this sweet-sour-savoury Vietnamese salad. To get the full flavours of the salad, you'll need to start it 2 days ahead to make the pickled carrot and daikon.
Credit: Chris Middleton
Choose your favourite grain or mixture of grains for this wholesome, hearty salad. A couple of quick tricks bring extra flavour depth and texture – spring greens (or cabbage) are charred and feta is marinated in a bounty of herbs and aromatics.
Credit: Donal's Meals in Minutes
A warm-weather reinvention of roasted Brussels sprouts, featuring crunchy kale, caramelised brussels sprouts and a creamy, tangy Caesar dressing. The dressing is made with blended cashew nuts in place of cream, making it dairy-free but still delivering the briny, lemony, creamy, umami-rich elements of a Caesar salad.
Credit: Abrams
Curious about this combination? You’ll need to try it to believe it! The sweet, tropical flavours of the mango plays to the nutty sweetness of pumpkin and bothare balanced by tangy goat’s cheese and peppery rocket. An impressive Christmas salad surprise for guests.
Credit: Adam Liaw
Want to bring some green to the table, but tired of a regular green salad? This one combines charred asparagus, creamy avocado and crispy chickpeas for a delicious flavour combination. Make extra of the sumac-fried chickpeas for snacking!
Credit: Cooking with Curtis / Wonho Frank Lee
A crunchy rainbow salad to brighten up any festive table. Finely shredding all the ingredients gives it a sophisticated look. If you can't get your hands on celeriac, use extra carrot or beetroot. Alternatively, substitute turnip, swede or kohlrabi. They have a different flavour, but similar colour and texture.
Bursting with Mediterranean ingredients like shaved zucchini, pomegranate, pine nuts and goat’s cheese, this salad is a dining table stunner – and ready in under five minutes.
Zucchini, pomegranate & goat’s cheese salad Credit: Jiwon Kim
A showcase of summer seasonal produce, this Christmas salad idea leverages the sweet and savoury elements into a sunny and festive-feeling side.
Credit: Danielle Abou Karam
If you’re looking for a new take on a potato salad – this is it. This version is a fusion of a creamy classic potato salad and the Indian aloo chaat, infused with a blend of aromatic and tangy spices.
Credit: Anjum's Australian Spice Stories
MORE SALAD IDEAS
Blue cheese with green apple salad
