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Bright Citrus, Mixed Greens, and Avocado Salad

January 9, 2020 by Marilena Leavitt 6 Comments

Citrus and mixed green salad

Hello friends!  Happy New Year, and Happy New Decade to you all!

With the season of indulgence behind us, a refreshing citrus and mixed greens salad seems like the perfect antidote to brighten these cold and dreary winter days.  Winter is citrus season and every year I Iook forward to the abundance of juicy and colorful citrus fruits that show up at the market, especially the pinkish-red Cara Cara oranges and the crimson-fleshed Blood oranges.

How to Make this Citrus, Mixed Greens, and Avocado Salad

To make this salad, I use tender mixed greens as a base, then I add slices of Cara Cara oranges, some ripe avocado, pomegranate arils for their sweet burst of flavor, and toasted nuts for their crunch.  There is nothing difficult about this salad; the only thing that takes some time is removing the skin and the pith of the oranges to avoid any bitterness.  Use your favorite orange, or, a combination of oranges.

A bright shallot vinaigrette brings this salad together and balances the sweet and sour flavors of its components.  This is a quick weeknight salad to enjoy on its own, or, with a simple, citrus-themed Mediterranean meal, but it is dressed up enough to have at your next dinner party too!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Refreshing Citrus, Mixed Greens, and Avocado Salad
 
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Prep time
10 mins
Total time
10 mins
 
A flavor-bursting citrus and mixed greens salad with a refreshing vinaigrette
Author: Marilena Leavitt
Recipe type: Winter Salad
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • For the salad:
  • 2 cups mixed tender greens
  • 2 medium, sweet Cara Cara oranges
  • 1 small avocado, sliced thinly
  • ¼ cup toasted hazelnuts, chopped (or almonds)
  • ¼ cup pomegranate arils
  • --- black & white sesame seeds (optional)
  • For the vinaigrette:
  • 5 TBSP. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 TBSP. white balsamic vinegar
  • 2 TBSPS. fresh orange juice
  • 1 TBSP. shallot, minced
  • ½ tsp. honey
  • --- sea salt
  • --- freshly ground pepper
  • ¼ tsp. finely grated lemon zest
Instructions
  1. Peel the oranges with a sharp knife, removing as much of the pith as possible. Remove any seeds and slice the oranges very thinly. Peel and slice the avocado.
  2. To make the vinaigrette, combine all the ingredients in a mason jar and shake well. Dip a piece of the greens into the mixture to taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary.
  3. Divide the salad greens among four plates (or use a large shallow bowl for group service). Place the sliced oranges and the avocado slices on top of the greens. Add the pomegranate arils and the toasted nuts. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on the avocado slices (if using).
  4. Drizzle some of the vinaigrette over the salad or serve.
Notes
The vinaigrette can be made several days ahead of time. Cover and chill. Shake before using.
3.5.3240

A few more salads to enjoy this winter:

Mixed Green Salad with Beets, Goat Cheese and Rosemary Walnuts

Salad with Beets, Goat Cheese and Walnuts

Arugula Salad with Figs and Prosciutto 

Arugula Salad with Fresh Figs and Prosciutto

Mediterranean Orange and Olive Salad 

Winter Citrus Salad

citrus and mixed greens salad

 

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Filed Under: Salads Tagged With: avocado, citrus salad, healthy, no-cook, orange vinaigrette, quick and easy, salad, salad dressing, simple salad, vegan, vegetarian, winter salad

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Comments

  1. Kathe Graham says

    January 10, 2020 at 12:56 PM

    This is exactly what we need! I love pomegranate seeds.

    Reply
    • Marilena Leavitt says

      January 10, 2020 at 11:24 PM

      I hope you try it Kathe – I know you will like it!

      Reply
  2. Marianna Athanasopoulou says

    January 10, 2020 at 5:58 PM

    Thank you Marilena! A lovely mix of ingredients and an opportunity for me to use my newly acquired oranges from Crete. I will certainly try it this weekend!

    Reply
    • Marilena Leavitt says

      January 10, 2020 at 11:26 PM

      So glad you like it, Marianna! Oranges from Crete are so delicious and super sweet – they will make a great citrus salad! ??

      Reply
  3. Ratatouille says

    February 18, 2024 at 6:38 PM

    Marilena,
    Your pictures in this post are just stunning! The first one on the blog –oranges against the dark background–is like a beautiful still-life painting! The recipes, as always, look delicious and healthy, but the photos blew us away.
    Perfect timing, too; the Cara Cara oranges and several other special citrus fruits are easy to find now. I’ll be making your featured salad tomorrow.
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Marilena Leavitt says

      February 21, 2024 at 10:40 PM

      Thank you so much for your kind words! You are going to love this salad!

      Reply

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