This Blood Orange Salad is paired with fennel, avocado, and chopped walnuts over greens with a simple blood orange vinaigrette that combines the flavors for a bright and vibrant salad.
It’s the season for blood oranges! When you’re in the dark days of winter, this beautifully tart citrus fruit brings a hint of sunshine and color to these dreary days.
We’re approaching the end of January, so our days are cold, dark, and cloudy. I’m already itching for spring, but I’ve been through enough winters to know I have a long road ahead before the seasons shift.
Luckily for me, it’s blood orange season! My boys and I went to one of my favorite local grocery stores the other night. I love it because their produce area is booming with colorful organic fruits and veggies that I can’t find in most other grocery stores.
We passed by the blood oranges, and I HAD to pick them up! They were gorgeous with their purple/red rind. Then we rolled past the greens, and I saw some fennel and a spring mix, and just like that, this salad was born!
Paired with some avocado slices for natural creaminess and a few chopped walnuts for crunch, this salad will make you feel like you’re sunning yourself in Florida, even if you’re stuck inside watching the snowfall.
The kids enjoyed this vegan salad recipe too! They weren’t sure what to think of the fennel, but they tried it. I love the licorice flavor of fennel, but the kids, not so much! Oh well, more for me! I even had a little leftover. I plan to sauté with some salt and pepper and eat it as a snack!
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Why This Salad Works
- It’s quick and easy
- Vegan and Gluten-Free
- It takes under 10 minutes to pull together
- Simple oil-free citrus vinaigrette
- Avocado and walnuts provide healthy fats
- Full of color
- Bright flavors
- A great way to serve the kids some greens!
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Salad
Spring Greens: You can use any kind of greens or lettuce that you like. I like the delicacy of spring greens.
Blood Oranges: They are in season during the winter months. They have reddish-purple skin and a tart flavor with hints of raspberry.
Fennel: Adds a hint of licorice flavor that pairs nicely with blood oranges.
Avocado: The creaminess of the avocado adds healthy fats.
Walnuts: For added crunch. However, you can use any other type of nuts that you like, such as pecans or almonds.
Blood Orange Vinaigrette
Blood Orange Juice: Use fresh blood orange juice.
Lemon Juice: Adds a bit more tart flavor to the vinaigrette.
Garlic: Minced
Dijon Mustard: For a hint of spice.
Maple Syrup: Balances out the tart and spicy flavors with a hint of sweetness.
Salt and Pepper to taste.
Blood Orange Salad Instructions
Prepare the Vegetables
Step 1: Wash the greens and pat dry.
Step 2: Cut three blood oranges into rounds. (Note: I left the rind on some of my oranges because I liked the look of it. You can remove the peel on all the oranges to make them easier to eat.)
Step 3: Chop the fennel bulb into thin slices—roughly chop walnuts. Cut avocado into thin slices.
Step 4: Lay out the greens on a large platter. Top with fennel, orange slices, avocado, and walnuts. Set aside.
Prepare the Blood Orange Vinaigrette
Step 1: Squeeze the juice of one blood orange into a bowl. I used my measuring cup to see how much juice I was getting. You’ll want about ¼ cup of juice. If you have a little more or less from your orange, that’s fine.
Step 2: Squeeze 2 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice into the container with orange juice.
Step 3: Add minced garlic clove, dijon mustard, maple syrup, and salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.
Prepping the Salad
When you’re ready to serve the salad, drizzle the vinaigrette over the top.
Blood Orange Salad FAQS
Slice the peel off of the blood orange from top to bottom. Then cut the orange down the center to create rounds, removing any seeds. Another option is to segment the oranges. The first step is to slice the ends off of the oranges. Then cut the peel off. Cut away each segment inside of the membrane lines.
Health Benefits of Blood Oranges-They are particularly rich in vitamins A, C, and folic acid. Vitamin A helps with healthy skin. Vitamin C is known to help boost the immune system, and folic acid helps reduce the risk of some cancers and heart diseases.
Health Benefits of Fennel-High in vitamin C and antioxidants, beneficial to heart health, and has cancer-fighting properties. It’s also known to reduce inflammation.
Omega-3s-The fats in avocados and walnuts are monounsaturated healthy fats or Omega-3 fatty acids. These fats help regulate blood sugar and blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
This beautifully bright citrus salad pairs well with a light vegan pesto pasta or this Sweet Potato and Red Pepper Soup. It would also pair well with toasted whole-grain bread.
This salad is best enjoyed fresh and not as leftovers. The avocado browns quickly, and the spring greens wilt after the dressing is poured over. Try to enjoy the salad right away. However, if you have leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container, and enjoy the rest within the day.
Expert Tips
- You can use any lettuce or leafy green you choose in this salad. I recommend using spring greens, spinach, romaine, or bib lettuce.
- When preparing your blood oranges, you can cut them into rounds, removing the peel, I think this shows off their beautiful color the best, but you can also cut the oranges into sections or bite-sized pieces.
- Remove nuts if you prefer, or substitute another nut. Pine nuts would work well too. I had walnuts on hand, so that’s what I used.
- When preparing your fennel, remove the long stems, cut the bottom of the bulb, and remove the core. Then cut thin slices lengthwise.
More Salad Recipes!
Recipe
Winter Blood Orange Salad with Fennel
Ingredients
Blood Orange Salad
Blood Orange Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup blood orange juice or juice from one blood orange
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- pinch of salt
- pinch of pepper
Instructions
Salad
- Wash greens. Pat dry.
- Cut three blood oranges into rounds. I left the rind on some of my oranges because I liked the look of it. You can remove the rind on all the oranges to make it easier to eat.
- Chop fennel bulb into thin slices. Chop walnuts. Cut avocado into thin slices.
- Lay out the greens on a large platter. Top with fennel, orange slices, avocado, and walnuts. Set aside.
Blood Orange Vinaigrette
- Squeeze the juice of one blood orange into a bowl. I used my measuring cup so I could see how much juice I was getting. You'll want about ¼ cup of juice. If you have a little more or less from your orange, that's fine.
- Squeeze 2 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice into the container with orange juice.
- Add minced garlic, dijon mustard, maple syrup, and salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.
- When you're ready to serve the salad drizzle the vinaigrette over the top.
Video
Notes
- You can use any lettuce or leafy green you choose in this salad. I recommend using spring greens, spinach, romaine, or bib lettuce.
- When preparing your blood oranges, you can cut them into rounds, removing the peel. This best shows off their beautiful color, but you can also cut the oranges into sections or bite-sized pieces.
- Remove nuts if you prefer, or substitute another nut. Pine nuts would work well too.
- When preparing your fennel, remove the long stems, cut the bottom of the bulb, and remove the core. Then cut thin slices lengthwise.
Michelle
Perfect winter salad. I love the gorgeous fresh ingredients
Andrea Metlika
This salad looks wonderful. Love the combination of flavors in it.
Denisse Salinas
YES! This one looks like it needs to find its way onto next weeks dinner menu! LOVE all the colors and that you are using seasonal produce!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
I tried your recipe last night and loved it! Can’t wait to make it again!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
I’m making this for the weekend, I bet everyone is going to devour it!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
Can’t wait to try this recipe, I know my family will love it!
Kiki Johnson
What a gorgeous winter salad! Blood oranges are a genius addition!