The holiday season means it’s pomegranate season! They may take some practice to peel, but pomegranates are so worth the work. With their burst of flavor, beautiful color and juicy texture, they are an amazing addition to tons of dishes this time of year.

We often think of salads as a “have to” or boring go-to, but that’s only the case if we don’t venture into the world of textures and flavors that will make any salad satisfying and delicious. This salad in particular is full of amazing nutrition. You not only get great sources of macronutrients (carbs, protein and fat) but also vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that are hard to beat. Pomegranates provide a special wealth of nutrition known to have some medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory effects and possible blood pressure lowering ability.

Aside from being full of really great nutrition, this salad is satisfying because of the varied textures from the pistachios, apples, and quinoa. Feel free to swap out the goat cheese for feta or any cheese you might like. You can also substitute any greens in place of the spinach. This beautiful salad would make a stunning side dish for any holiday meal!