This Roasted Sweet Potato Spinach Salad with Maple-Glazed Walnuts, Pomegranate and Bacon makes a wholesome lunch or a festive salad for a holiday dinner. 
I’m making room amid all the cookies and tarts for some healthy greens this week with this Roasted Sweet Potato Spinach Salad!
These last few days before Christmas are my favourite days of the year. They’re filled with checklists of all the things we like to do . . . and bake . . . and eat! Sweets and chocolate seem to creep in to our diet. While we love our traditional Christmas favourites (butter tarts, I’m looking at you) a nutritious bowl of greens is always a good idea. This Roasted Sweet Potato Salad topped with maple-glazed walnuts, pomegranate and a sprinkle of bacon bits was a welcome lunch today.
While it was an appetizing lunch, it would also be an ideal salad to include in one of your holiday dinners in the next few weeks.
Top a bed of tender baby spinach and crisp chopped romaine with rounds of roasted sweet potatoes, maple-glazed walnuts, pomegranate arils and crumbled bacon. This salad has a beautiful balance of savoury and sweet. It’s tossed with my favourite lemony Honey-Dijon Dressing that you’ll find on more salad recipes on this blog than I can count! It’s my go-to dressing that seems to go well with almost any salad.
How to caramelize sweet potatoes
Caramelizing sweet potatoes by roasting them in the oven makes them incredibly flavourful. I’ve found the best way to get that crispy exterior is to roast them in a very hot oven. Heat an empty baking pan in the oven for 5 minutes. Toss the sweet potatoes in a little olive oil (not too much) and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Dump them on to the hot pan, listen to them sizzle, then roast in the oven for 20 minutes, turning once half way through.
Meanwhile, heat walnuts (or pecans if you prefer) in a skillet over medium heat on the stove top. Toast for 4-5 minutes or just until they become fragrant, then toss with a little maple syrup. Spread them on a small piece of parchment paper to cool, then break apart. 
Assemble this Sweet Potato Spinach Salad, either in individual bowls or in a large serving bowl or platter.
Layer the greens, sweet potatoes, maple-glazed walnuts, pomegranate arils, and crumbled bacon bits, then drizzle with a light, lemony Honey-Dijon dressing just before serving. (Omit the bacon to keep this salad vegan.)
A nourishing wholesome salad to keep you healthy at this busy time of year!
This Roasted Sweet Potato Spinach Salad with Maple-Glazed Walnuts, Pomegranate and Bacon makes a nutritious lunch or a festive salad for a holiday dinner.
- 2 small sweet potatoes
- 2 cups baby spinach leaves
- 2 cups chopped romaine
- 1/2 cup walnuts, glazed with 1 1/2 tsp maple syrup
- 1/2 cup pomegranate arils
- 2 slices bacon nitrate-free, cooked and crumbled
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients for Honey-Dijon Dressing in a small jar. Set aside to allow flavours to blend.
Preheat oven to 400°F. When hot, place a baking tray in the oven to heat. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into rounds 1/2 inch thick. If potatoes are large, slice into half circles. In a medium bowl, toss with 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil, sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Remove hot tray from oven using oven mitts, arrange sweet potatoes so they don't touch each other and return to the oven. Roast for 15 - 20 minutes or until tender, turning over half way through roasting time. For crispy edges, place under the broiler for 2 - 3 minutes, watching carefully.
Toast walnuts in a small skillet for 4 - 5 minutes, just until they become fragrant. Toss with 1 1/2 teaspoons pure maple syrup. Let cool on a sheet of parchment paper and break apart when cool.
Wash and dry spinach and chopped romaine. Arrange in bowls or on a serving platter, topping with maple-glazed walnuts, pomegranate arils, roasted sweet potatoes and crumbled bacon bits. Drizzle with dressing and serve immediately.
You might also like this Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries and Feta
Love Sweet Potatoes? Try these recipes, too.
Chipotle Chili Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet Potato Frittata with Fresh Salsa
Hoisin Orange Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes
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Ayngelina says
I just looked in our pantry at sweet potatoes and was thinking it was time to do something with them!
Flavour & Savour says
Hope you get a chance to try this salad, Ayngelina–it’s almost a meal all by itself!
Denise from Urb'n'Spice says
As soon as I saw your photograph of this beautiful salad, I knew I was going to add it to my menu plan for the holidays. The ingredients you have used are all favourites of ours – it looks delicious – and, I have everything I need to make it 🙂 Thank you for the inspiration, Elaine. Happy Holidays!
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks Denise! We love this salad, and those little pomegranate jewels add some holiday flair to it! Have a wonderful Christmas!
Colleen says
I especially crave healthy salads at this time of year, and this one is perfect. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!
Lily {Gastro Senses} says
Wow, it looks so yummy! My mouth is watering now. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks Lily!
Terri@foodmeanderings says
I love this flavour combo and the idea of sneaking in some greens amidst the indulgence!
Sean@Diversivore says
That is one gorgeous looking salad. Love the way you’ve incorporated roasted root veggies in a salad. It’s a wonderfully filling way to add substance while keeping things healthy, and it’s not something I think I’ve ever encountered before. Fantastic work, and fantastic flavours!
Cathy says
I like this so much that I’m making it for dinner guests tonight and posted about it in my Instagram stories!
Flavour & Savour says
Thanks Cathy! Enjoy your dinner!