We’ve all been guilty of unintentionally banishing the sad, soggy Christmas salads to the forgotten end of the table. But with this creative collection of Christmas salad recipes, vegetables will be the first thing you’ll want to pile onto your plate come Christmas Day.
Toss together a simple leafy Christmas salad using leftovers from the festive fridge, or go for something more classic like the roast vegetable salad topped with candied nuts. Plus, we share perhaps the pinnacle of Christmas salads to serve with ham: our ultimate potato salad.
If you’re known to add seasonal fruits to your leaves, turn to our eggplant and grilled peach tabbouleh, luscious fig salads or vibrant salad of cherry and spiced duck. Or maybe you like to toss fresh seafood through your bowl, in which case Mike McEnearney’s prawn, watermelon and tomato salad is a perennial crowd-pleaser. Whichever many Christmas salads catch your eye, we know they’ll be the talk of the table (and not just another ordinary side dish) come Christmas dinner.
And if you’re in the market for some other big-ticket items to go with your holiday salad, here’s our collection of Christmas mains, from sticky glazed ham to sides of fresh salmon. No Christmas meal would be complete without a showstopper dessert, so we’ve pulled together our best Christmas desserts, too. But really, you already know these salads will be the star of your feast.
Best Christmas salads to make on Christmas Day 2024
Eggplant tabbouleh salad with grilled peaches and pomegranate
This inventive dish reimagines the traditional tabbouleh salad, pairing the savoury aromat of za’atar with the sweetness of grilled peaches and fresh pomegranate.
Woodcut’s white peaches and cherries with walnut tarator
Seasonal white peaches make the perfect addition to this summer salad.
Fig and radicchio salad with pancetta, spiced nuts and labne
A summer salad that doubles as a festive side.
The ultimate potato salad recipe with egg, apple and watercress
This potato salad is creamy, dreamy and easy.
Grain salad with dukkah and pickled pomegranate
A festive favourite that’s quick and easy.
Beetroot and ham salad with sour cherry dressing
This is the ideal Boxing Day salad when you need to use up any leftover ham.
Brown butter roasted carrot salad with chickpeas
This roasted carrot salad works perfectly as a festive side dish, too.
Poached chicken asparagus salad with blue cheese
This is an ultra-elevated take on a chicken salad — with bite.
Hot-smoked ocean trout and pearl barley salad
This hot-smoked ocean trout recipe makes for a delicious and easy weeknight dinner.
Seared tuna salad with radish, finger lime and citrus vinaigrette
This zingy seared tuna salad, topped with citrus vinaigrette and finger lime, will be a crowd-pleaser at your next lunch party.
Woodcut’s cos lettuce with kimchi and sesame dressing
This colourful dish adds a variety of flavour and texture to the holiday table.
Warm mixed bean, chickpea and mozzarella salad
This quick and easy dinner-worthy salad comes together in minutes, making it perfect for warmer weather.
Mike McEnearney’s grilled prawn, watermelon and tomato salad
Summer’s greatest hits, all in one bowl.
Fig, pomegranate and burrata with Sherry vinaigrette
Sherry vinegar adds brightness and depth to the winning combination of figs, pomegranate and burrata.
Heirloom tomatoes and peaches with white bean and hazelnut tarator
A modern day tarator paired with peaches and heirloom tomatoes makes this the perfect starter for a festive lunch.
Zucchini, guanciale, mozzarella and fregola salad
Australian Gourmet Traveller fast recipe for zucchini, guanciale, mozzarella and fregola salad.
Roasted cauliflower, Brussels sprout and chickpea salad
A warm roast vegetable salad, brightened with chimichurri.
Roasted cauliflower salad with yoghurt dressing and almonds
Roasted cauliflower adds extra depth of flavour to this hefty salad.
Goat’s cheese and potato salad
A fast and fresh take on the classic potato salad, with creaminess from goat’s cheese and crunch from roasted almonds.
Spiced lamb larb with crisp vermicelli
This fragrant salad works beautifully with lamb but the fresh mint, basil and coriander will go just as well with beef, chicken or duck.
Bitter green salad with apple and walnut
The bitter leaves and tart green apples in this classic salad perfectly complement the more decadent flavours of a Christmas menu.
Cherry and Chinese spiced duck salad
Australia’s cherry season takes a detour through China with this fresh twist on classic duck, hoisin and stone fruit.
The Agrarian Kitchen’s quinoa tabbouleh
This light and bright side adds a spice kick to festive feasting.
Freekeh and shaved cauliflower salad with herb dressing
While we love cauliflower roasted, using it raw and shaved whisper-thin adds a lovely textural element to salads.
Beetroot salad with barley and hazelnut
Using a mix of raw and roasted vegetables in salads is a simple way to add different textures and flavours to a dish. Beetroot works particularly well.
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Prawn and avocado salad with spiced tomato dressing
How to improve on fresh prawns with avocado? Adding a smoky, spicy tomato dressing to the mix.
Salade printemps with goat’s curd and herb vinaigrette
Creamy goat’s curd and crisp spring vegetables come together in this herbaceous French salad.
E’cco’s zucchini salad with pecorino, currants, sunflower seeds and lemon
A spring-ready salad with the added crunch of sunflower seeds.
Prawn, cabbage and soba noodle salad
A quick and easy salad that sings with that sesame-miso dressing.
Louis Tikaram’s cucumber and snow pea salad
A refreshing side to a banquet, or a worthy snack on its own.
Grilled peppers and flatbread salad
Eat a rainbow with this rustic summer salad.
Mike McEnearney’s fig salad with roast onions, walnuts and radicchio
A purple-hued salad that celebrates the best of fig season.
Beetroot, chickpea and za’atar salad
Roasted beetroot. Tender chickpeas. The zing of za’atar. It’s a combination that just works.
Harissa-roasted cauliflower with preserved-lemon dressing
A warm vegetarian salad that punches above its weight in the flavour stakes.
Italian antipasti salad with sopressa dressing
Pair this salad with some chargrilled chicken or some fresh tuna to turn this salad from a side dish to a winning main.
Baby vegetable slaw with grapefruit and tarragon
This elegant no-fuss slaw will bring colour and freshness to any feast.
Peach, basil, jamón and pumpernickel salad
Peach, basil, jamón and pumpernickel salad recipe – Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat, add pumpernickel and fry, turning with a spatula, until crisp (6-8 minutes). Drain on paper towels and leave to cool.
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