Ensalada de Nochebuena is a traditional Mexican Christmas Eve salad that is made of beets, lettuce, oranges, lime, pomegranate, and jicama. This festive salad is very popular to serve at holiday dinners because it symbolizes the bright colors of the Mexican flag. It can also make for an excellent appetizer if you are hosting a party this season! This Christmas eve salad is bursting with festive colors that feed your body with rich nutrients. It's a fruity concoction everyone loves.
I didn’t know about this salad when I was growing up. It was until 30 years ago when a young couple invited us for dinner on Christmas Eve that I first heard of it. This colorful Christmas salad was the first dish to be served on the table, and I, of course, asked about it right away.
How do you make it?
Does it have a name?
Can you write down the recipe for me?
But now I realize that you don’t actually need a well-structured recipe to make this salad. Eating fruits and veggies isn’t rocket science, right? It’s even easier if the fruits are in season when their flavor and nutrients are at their prime. So, play around with the ingredients and enjoy your own version of Ensalada Navideña and make it a traditional part of your Christmas menu, as many do in Mexico!
Traditional Ingredients Needed To Make Christmas Salad
Traditional Christmas salad (or, as we call it, “Ensalada Nochebuena” or “Ensalada Navideña”) is made with seasonal fruits from this time of the year. Some of the most common ingredients are:
- Beets
- Lettuce
- Orange slices
- Sweet lime
- Pomegranate seeds
- Jicama
- Peanuts
- Sugar cane
- Apples
But, every region has a different recipe based on what they have available. So, you will find that some recipes call for ingredients such as plantains, pecans, pineapple, papaya, guavas, and even shredded coconut. The end result is a vibrant, colorful, and tasty salad!
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Eve Salad
Before I share my salad recipe, here are a few questions I’ve been asked about homemade Christmas salad.
What is the best way to peel beets?
The best way to peel beets is to boil them for about 15 minutes. This is about how long it takes for them to become nice and tender. It might take a bit longer if you have larger beets or ones that aren't as ripe.
After they are nice and soft, just use a paper towel to gently remove the skin. It will peel off like magic!
Can I use any kind of fruit in the Christmas salad?
Yes, the beautiful thing about this recipe is that you do not have to follow my exact recipe. Use your favorite type of fruit and leave out the ones you don't like as much. If you can't find a certain fruit, then don't worry, just leave it out.
Can I make this ensalada de nochebuena ahead of time?
Yes, you can definitely make this salad ahead of time and store it in your refrigerator. I suggest adding fruits that might turn brown last minute and store the dressing in a separate container. For example, apples will turn brown when they are exposed to air, so chop them up and add them to the salad right before you serve it.
Mexican Christmas Eve Salad
Here is a list of ingredients you will need to make this dish…
- Romaine Lettuce Leaves ( The crispier the leaves the better)
- Beet ( I show you how to cook them below)
- Plantain
- Jicama
- Apple ( Red or Golden delicious is OK)
- Orange
- Roasted Peanuts
- Orange Juice ( Is Ok to use store bought)
- Sugar
Please note: For exact measurements of the ingredients listed above, scroll down to the recipe card located at the bottom of this post!
How To Make Christmas Eve Salad: Step By Step Tutorial
To make things easier for you, I am going to break down the directions to this recipe into sections.
Prepare The Beets
- If you are using fresh beets, do not peel them before cooking. Cook in a small amount of water until tender about 15-18 minutes. Cooking time will depend on the size and how fresh the beets are.
- After cooking, reserve ½ cup of the cooking water.
- When beets are slightly cooled, remove the skin by gently peeling it using a paper towel. You will see that the skin comes off really easy.
Arrange The Layers
- For the first layer, arrange in a large plate 3 large romaine lettuce leaves. Thinly slice the other 3 leaves and reserve.
- Arrange the sliced (or diced) beets, plantain, jicama, and apples.
- Top with orange wedges, finely sliced lettuce, and roasted peanuts.
Make The Dressing
- For the dressing, mix the reserved ½ cup of the beet cooking water, orange juice with sugar to taste, mix and drizzle over the salad.
- Serve immediately.
Enjoy!
Cooking Tips:
The cook's creativity with this salad is endless, like in this presentation above where all the ingredients (minus the orange) are diced, and the dressing consist of the beets’ cooking water, sugar, and Mexican crema. You can use sour cream or also heavy cream.
If you prefer this chopped version, don't use orange or orange juice.
Whatever way you try it, this salad will be a festive addition to your Christmas Party. I love it both at Christmas time and during the rest of the year!
What To Serve With This Ensalada Navideña
This salad tastes great as an appetizer or even as an after-dinner treat. Take a look at some more traditional Christmas recipes that taste perfect with this fruit salad.
Authentic sopapillas are always a huge hit at the dessert table - be sure to make enough! Chocolate tamales are another sweet dish that is a fun dessert. For something savory, make some Cochito al horno and tamales.
More Authentic Mexican Recipes To Enjoy
If you enjoyed this recipe for Christmas eve salad, take a look at some of these other authentic Mexican recipes:
- Mexican Christmas Apple Salad
- Hearts of Palm Salad
- Bionico
- Xec (Yucatan Jicama and Citrus Salad)
- Raw Nopales Salad
I hope you make this Christmas salad recipe! If this recipe was of any help to you, come back to let me know your experience. Please leave us a comment done below and tell us all about it!
¡Buen provecho!
Mely
Mexican Christmas Eve Salad
Ingredients
- 6 large romaine lettuce leaves washed
- 1 medium size beet cooked and sliced
- ½ cup of beets cooking water
- 1 ripe plantain but still firm diced
- 1 cup of jicama peeled and sliced
- 1 apple diced
- 1 large orange peeled and sectioned
- ⅓ cup roasted peanuts
- ¼ cup orange juice
- Sugar to taste
Instructions
- If you are using fresh beets, do not peel them before cooking. Cook in a small amount of water until tender about 15-18 minutes. Cooking time will depend on the size and how fresh the beets are. After cooking, reserve ½ cup of the cooking water. When beets are slightly cooled, remove the skin by gently peeling it using a paper towel. You will see that the skin comes off really easy.
- For the first layer, arrange in a large plate 3 large romaine lettuce leaves. Thinly slice the other 3 leaves and reserve.
- Arrange the sliced (or diced) beets, plantain, jicama, and apples. Top with orange wedges, finely sliced lettuce and roasted peanuts.
- For the dressing mix the reserved ½ cup of the beet cooking water, orange juice with sugar to taste, mix an drizzle over salad. Serve immediately.
Carob Cherub
Do you cook the plantain before adding it to the salad?
mmartinez
Hello Carob Cherub,
It's not cooked, just look for a ripe but still firm plantain.
Nammi
wow lovely salad, love the sight of all the fresh fruits. hope you had a lovely christmas
Prieta
Mely, I make this salad with jicama, beets, orange and nopalitos. It is very tasty! Yours looks delish! Feliz Navidad!
Mely
Hola Prieta,
I never heard of adding Nopales but it sounds really good.
Feliz Navidad para ti tambien.