Romaine Lettuce Salad Christmas Tree
This salad uses romaine lettuce leaves arranged in a Christmas tree shape and decorated with vibrant toppings like pomegranate, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, nuts, and a simple lemon-herb dressing. It’s quick, healthy, and perfect for a holiday appetizer platter.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Assemble Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
For the Salad:
2–3 heads Romaine lettuce, whole leaves kept intact
8–10 cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup pomegranate seeds
½ cup cucumber slices or mini cucumber stars
¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled
¼ cup roasted almonds or pistachios, chopped
¼ cup dried cranberries
Small star-shaped cheese or yellow bell pepper for the top
For the Dressing:
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
1 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp dried oregano
Salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Romaine Leaves
Wash and pat dry the romaine lettuce.
Keep leaves whole and flat (these form the “tree branches”).
Step 2: Assemble the Christmas Tree
Arrange romaine leaves on a large platter:
Start with the largest leaves at the bottom.
Layer upward with smaller leaves to form a triangle/tree shape.
Place a short piece of cucumber or celery stick as the tree trunk.
Step 3: Decorate the Tree
Sprinkle these “ornaments” all over:
Cherry tomatoes
Pomegranate seeds
Cucumbers
Feta
Nuts
Dried cranberries
Place the cheese or bell pepper star at the top.
Step 4: Prepare the Dressing
Mix olive oil, lemon juice, honey, mustard, oregano, salt & pepper in a small bowl.
Whisk until creamy.
Step 5: Serve
Drizzle dressing right before serving OR serve it on the side.
Tips
You can replace feta with mozzarella pearls or skip cheese for dairy-free.
Use green grapes, strawberries, or blueberries to add more color.
Make ahead: Prepare platter 2–3 hours earlier and keep covered in fridge. Add dressing last.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use iceberg or butter lettuce instead of romaine?
Yes, but romaine holds the best shape for the Christmas tree.
Q: Can I make this fully sweet?
Yes! Add apples, grapes, blueberries, and skip feta.
Q: How to serve for guests?
Simply let guests pick leaves from the platter and drizzle dressing.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 120
Carbs: 12g
Protein: 3g
Fat: 7g
Fiber: 3g