Easy, Elegant Holiday Salads

Add zip to this pretty holiday salad with a simple, yet irresistible, mustard vinaigrette.

For a fresh and flavorful holiday salad, toss persimmons, pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, olive oil, and cilantro in lime juice.

Fresh pear slices are topped with tangy blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and a zingy pear liqueur-mustard dressing.

Slices of Brie cheese-topped toast and creamy cranberry dressing give bold flavor to a spinach salad.

We've added a refreshing kick of mint and ginger to an arugula salad and topped it with chopped fresh cranberries.

The peppery flavor of curly endive makes a serendipitous match with sweet fresh pear slices and tangy blue cheese. Pecans cooked with salt, butter, and sugar add delicious crunch.

Scott Peacock's gelatin mold salad is vibrantly fresh and crunchy good -- a celebration of all things deliciously sweet and sour.

Here's a great idea for holiday potlucks. Marinate and tote the cut-up vegetables separately in re-sealable plastic bags, then unpack them in rows on a platter just before serving.

The light dressing for this pretty salad is made with champagne, but sparkling grape juice makes a great substitute. Kumquats add a tangy punch of flavor.

This salad has apples and walnuts, as you would expect -- but bok choy replaces the usual celery, and warm, tangy dressing gently wilts the greens.

Roasting pears intensifies their sweet flavor; Bosc pears are best because they don't lose their shape in the process.

Sesame seed-coated scallops and crunchy pecans top crisp endive and peppery arugula. A spicy-sweet dressing of maple syrup, cayenne pepper, and soy sauce adds zing.

This classic holiday salad is so simple to make. Simply toss toasted walnuts, creamy goat cheese, basil, and fresh beets with your favorite balsamic vinaigrette.

The tart, fresh taste of the grapefruit in this easy salad is a refreshing contrast to rich holiday foods.

Fill martini glasses with a light starter of salmon, avocado, and cucumber, drizzled with a lemon-tinged olive oil dressing.

Gorgonzola cheese, red onions, and pancetta (or bacon) toppers dress up this irresistible salad.

Blood oranges and fresh fennel make this enticing salad sing -- and it all tosses together in just 15 minutes.

Your guests will love this hearty salad featuring pan-roasted potatoes and asparagus topped with prosciutto and Asiago cheese.

This sweet holiday favorite gets spruced up with crushed pineapple and toasted pecans.

This fresh salad makes the most of seasonal pink and white grapefruit. The apricot-and-mint dressing provides a hint of sweetness that complements the tart fruit.

Serve this luscious fruit and cream cheese salad in fancy individual molds if you have them or in a 3-1/2- or 4-cup mold. Another option is to chill it in a 1/2-quart bowl and spoon out individual servings.

Try this versatile salad as a holiday brunch side; serve it with an egg casserole.