Winter is here, and with it comes a craving for food that warms and satisfies without weighing you down. For me, this salad is everything I love about winter — cozy, hearty ingredients paired with fresh, crisp flavors that bring life to the darker days.
As someone who believes in food as more than just fuel, I see every dish as an opportunity to nourish my body, celebrate the season, and enjoy the moment. This Winter Leaf Salad does exactly that. It’s packed with rich, comforting elements like matjes herring, crispy bacon, and warm potato crumble, balanced by the brightness of pear and winter greens.
This isn’t about eating “light” or “healthy” in the usual sense — it’s about embracing food for what it offers: flavor, nourishment, and joy. Your body deserves that.
A Closer Look at the Ingredients
Each element in this salad plays a role in highlighting the season:
• Matjes Herring: If you’re not familiar with it, winter Matjes is a thing of beauty. It’s young herring, traditionally cured and smoked, and the winter version is fattier (hello, flavor!) and a total game-changer. Why is it so special? Well, besides the fact that it tastes like heaven, it’s also packed with omega-3 fatty acids that help your heart stay strong and your skin glow. And since we’re in the middle of winter, we could all use a little extra mood boost, right?
• Pear: Juicy and sweet, pears are one of my favorite fruits to feature in winter. They’re a little burst of freshness amidst all the hearty dishes of the season. Choose a ripe, firm variety like Bosc or Anjou for the perfect balance.
• Bacon: Smoky, crispy, and oh-so-comforting, bacon adds richness and texture that balances the lightness of the greens and pear.
• Crispy Potato Crumble: Winter and potatoes are made for each other. Grating and crisping them turns them into an irresistible topping that adds warmth and crunch to every bite.
• Winter Greens: Think bitter radicchio, peppery arugula, or sturdy kale. These greens thrive in the colder months and bring a fresh, earthy contrast to the richer components of the salad.
I love how this dish combines the best of the season — cozy, vibrant, and deeply satisfying. Now, this salad doesn’t just deliver on flavor, it delivers on texture too. We’ve got crispy bacon (because let’s be real, everything’s better with bacon), and we’ve got crispy smashed potatoes that are oven-baked to golden perfection. And just when you think this dish can’t get any better, we’ve got thinly sliced pear, marinated in apple cider vinegar and maple syrup, to bring a delightful sweetness that cuts through the richness.
And the dressing? Oh, it’s the perfect blend of grainy mustard, a splash of pickle water (trust me, it’s magical), and a drizzle of maple syrup that ties everything together with a savory-sweet finish. It’s got that little bit of sass that elevates this salad from “meh” to “I’ll have seconds.”
Garnish the salad with pink pickled onions – they’re a symphony of flavors that add a tangy, vibrant kick to this salad, perfectly balancing the richness of the smoked Matjes and crispy bacon. It’s that extra layer of deliciousness that makes every bite unforgettable. Get the recipe here.
Why This Salad is Perfect for Winter
For me, winter cooking is about embracing what feels good. There’s no need to chase perfection or follow rules about what you “should” or “shouldn’t” eat. Food is here to nourish you and bring you joy. This salad does both, celebrating the beauty of the season and the body that carries you through it.
Whether you enjoy it as a main course for lunch or pair it with a hearty soup for dinner, this Winter Leaf Salad is a simple, delicious reminder to honor yourself and savor the moment.
What are your favorite winter dishes that bring you comfort and joy? I’d love to hear your thoughts or how you make this recipe your own.
Winter Leaf Salad with Matjes, Pear, Bacon, and Crispy Potato Crumble
Ingredients
- 200 g Winter Matjes smoked and fatty, trust me, the good stuff!
- 4 slices of bacon crispy, because bacon should always be crispy
- 2 medium potatoes
- A handful of winter-specific leaf salads think hearty choices like frisée, red leaf lettuce, arugula, spinach, and kale
- 1 pear go for a sweet kind
- A handful of edible flowers optional, but why not? They’ll make your salad look like a masterpiece
- 2 tbsp pink pickled onions
- Multiple dashes of apple cider vinegar
- Multiples tbsp maple syrup
- Crushed black pepper freshly ground, to taste
- 3 tbsp mild olive oil
- 1 tbsp grainy mustard
- Salt & pepper
- 1 tbsp pickle water don’t skip this – it’s the secret ingredient!
Instructions
- Marinate the Pear: Thinly slice that pear! You’re going for paper-thin slices, so bust out your sharpest knife or a mandolin to get them perfect. In a small bowl, combine 1 tsp apple cider vinegar and 1 tbsp maple syrup and toss the pear slices in the mixture. Add a generous crack of freshly ground black pepper to the pears for an extra kick. Let it sit while you work on the rest – the longer it sits, the more flavor it absorbs!
- Prepare the Crispy Potatoes: Boil your 2 medium potatoes, skin on, until they’re al dente (about 10-12 minutes). Once they’re cool enough to handle, smash them using the bottom of a glass jar (trust me, it’s fun and gives them the perfect rustic texture). Spread the crumbles out on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Roast them in the oven at 200°C (400°F) for 20-25 minutes, until crispy and golden. Try not to eat them all before they get to the salad!
- Cook the Bacon: While your potatoes are getting crispy, throw those bacon slices into a pan and cook them until they’re golden and crispy. You want that perfect crunch. Once done, set them on a paper towel to soak up the extra grease, then break them bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 5 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp grainy mustard, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add in the secret ingredient: a dash of pickle water. Whisk it all together until smooth and delightful. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and give everything a gentle toss. Let that tangy mustard dressing coat everything perfectly.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large salad bowl, toss together your winter leaf salads – a mix of hearty, bitter greens like frisée, red leaf lettuce, spinach, and / or kale. Add in the marinated pear slices. Coat evenly with your dressing. Plate the dressed salad on a nice, large plate and sprinkle with crispy bacon. Then bed the matjes on the soft salad bed.
- Top with Crispy Potatoes and Flowers: When your crispy potato crumbles are done, sprinkle them on top of the salad for that perfect crunch.
- Finally, finish with a handful of edible flowers for the ultimate presentation. This salad isn’t just delicious – it’s gorgeous.
Don’t let the holidays make you choose between flavor and health. You can have both – and this Winter Leaf Salad with Matjes, Pear, Bacon, and Crispy Potato Crumble proves it. It’s delicious, it’s flavor-packed, and totally indulgent. So, go ahead, enjoy your holiday feast, and make sure this salad makes it to your table.