Brighten up those gloomy days with this winter citrus salad! A mixed citrus lettuce salad with the most delicious citrus salad dressing! Use whatever citrus fruits you want!
Hooray, my first post of 2020! I’m sorry to be so cliché and post a salad…but I couldn’t help myself. Honestly, I think everyone’s New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier have less to do with the fact that it’s a new year, and more to do with the fact that they’re so tired of eating sugar and turkey and all of the other holiday foods!
At least, that’s how we always feel come January. Also, I’m SO ready for all of the bright and beautiful citrus! We’ve been blessed with a pretty mild winter so far and as much as I hope that it will continue, the 14-day forecast doesn’t look too promising. Boo! Enter all the sunshine in the form of citrus fruits! And this winter citrus salad.
So, what’s your favourite fruit season? I am 100% a lover of all things berry, but citrus fruits are a close second. I particularly love a big, juicy grapefruit, so when they’re in season I buy them by the bag! If you love grapefruit too, you’ve got to try my grapefruit scones!!!!
Let’s talk about this salad.
What kind of fruit can you use in this winter citrus salad?
I do call this a citrus salad and the dressing has some orange zest in it, but you definitely shouldn’t feel like you need to use oranges and grapefruits in your salad. You could also use berries, avocado and even chunks or slices of apple. For this particular salad, I used:
- blood orange
- cara cara
- navel orange
- grapefruit
If you’re not a fan of grapefruit, just substitute it for a different type of citrus fruit.
Can you make this winter citrus salad ahead of time?
You certainly can, but I would add the dressing no more than 24 hours before you plan to serve and eat it or things will start go get a bit soggy. I like to keep a giant bowl of the salad in the fridge, along with the fruits and pecans, and then add the goat cheese and dressing just prior to serving. That way I can eat it all week long!
As for the goat cheese, if that’s not your thing, you could swap it out for a different cheese or just leave it out altogether. Also, feel free to use this salad as a base and throw in your favorites! Hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds. I love tossing a bunch of texture in my salads!
I used my healthy candied walnuts recipe for this salad and I highly recommend you do the same 😉
So, do you have any New Year’s reolutions?
I won’t judge you if your resolution is to get healthy and exercise. Those are great goals! As for Etienne and I, we dont really have any. We’re trying to cut back on our refined-sugar intake, but that’s mainly due to the overload of sugar in December! Plus, we are chronic late-night snackers. Anyone else!? That’s a tough one for me to cut. I just love vegging out with some munchies!
Anyway, whatever your resolutions are or non-resolutions, you’ll love this winter citrus salad.
Happy New Year my friends!
Since I’ve already professed my love for citrus, I thought I’d share a few other recipe ideas for you:
And if it’s salads that you’re looking for, here’s more:
Or this cauliflower cashew salad from spabettie. Yum!
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Winter Citrus Salad
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Description
Brighten up those gloomy days with this winter citrus salad! A mixed citrus lettuce salad with the most delicious citrus salad dressing! Use whatever citrus fruits you want!
Ingredients
- 6–8 cups mixed greens (arugula, baby spinach, romaine)
- 1 blood orange, peeled and sliced
- 1 mandarin orange, peeled and sliced
- 2 cara cara oranges, peeled and sliced
- 1 grapefruit, peeled and sliced
- 3/4 cup healthy candied walnuts (or other candied nut)
- 1/2 cup goat cheese
Citrus Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 tbsp maple syrup (sub honey)
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large salad bowl, add the mixed greens, followed by the oranges and grapefruit slices. Toss in the candied nuts and goat cheese. Set aside (or store for later)*
- Using a whisk, mix together all of the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over the salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
See notes below about make ahead recommendations. Prepared (with dressing) salad will keep in the fridge for 1-2 days, before the lettuce begins to wilt.
Notes
* If you don’t plan to serve the salad right away, I would recommend not adding the dressing until just before, or no more than 24 hours before. Store the prepared salad, covered, in the refrigerator to keep everything crisp.
**Feel free to customize this to your liking, with different fruits and/or types of oranges! Think about adding avocado, pumpkin or sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, cucumber, etc.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: salads
- Method: refrigerated
Keywords: winter citrus salad // citrus salad dressing // arugula citrus salad
Now who could refuse such a vibrant salad? Resolutions or not (I am of the second kind, my resolution has been to not make resolutions for the New Year because life is what happens to you while you make other plans, lol). But I can easily resolve to make this gorgeous winter citrus bowl of goodness and see that through:) I think that using goat cheese is perfect here.
I like the way you think Milena. My resolutions never last so why even bother making them, right? But making goals to eat delicious food is something entirely different!! Thanks friend. Happy New Year!
Perfect office lunch 🙂
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It would be such a delicious lunch for work!
No resolutions here, but I’m definitely craving salads after all the indulgences during the holidays! Citrus salads are so great this time of year, and I love the variety in this salad. Looks so vibrant and fresh! Happy New Year Katherine!
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I know! I am craving all of the salads and greens after the holidays too. Just give me all the vegetables, please!! Thanks Leanne, Happy New Year to you too!!
Hahahahahaha! I’m cracking up about the flying cars!!!! I crack myself up when I answer a phone call with my watch!!! Maxwell Smart style!!! great salad.
Hahah the year 2000 me was convinced we’d have it by 2020! Isn’t that nuts, talking through your phone!?!? Haha Mimi!
I love salads, literally love them! This salad has all the good feels for winter! Pinning! xo
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I love, love them too Kim!!! So fresh and crisp and just make you feel good, overall! Thanks lady. Happy New Year!
This is beautiful! And so necessary after a December full of indulging. . .Have a great week, Katherine!
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Thank you Kelsie!! Definitely necessary. I survived on treats over the holidays, haha! Happy New Year!
I loooove summer fruits!! All the strawberries and melons! But this citrus is perfect to brighten up a winter salad. So yum!
I love it too, Kelly! It’s definitely my favorite, but citrus is up there too!! Thanks lady!
That particular photo of the fresh bright citrus = swoon/heart eyes! This salad looks insanely refreshing and delicious…SO yummy and perfect for the New Year!! Awesome recipe, my friend!
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Yeees I love how bright and beautiful citrus is!!! Thanks Haylie!! It is incredibly refreshing. Happy New Year!
This salad is truly one big bowl of sunshine!! Perfect for the cold and dreary days!! I am not a make resolutions kind of girl, but I would like to work on de-cluttering our home this year (hellooooo major toy clean out!!). Wishing you a wonderful week Katherine!
Thanks Tasia!!! All of the citrus these days is definitely keeping me happier during the chilly January days we’ve had! I would really love to de-clutter our house too, especially after the influx of new things for Christmas!!! Thanks girl!!
Salads aren’t cliche after the holidays, they’re necessary! Truly, I’ve been eating a lot to try and feel better after all of the sugar. I love all the bright, beautiful citrus — this is a salad I would love!
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Yes, you feel me! I only want vegetables and salads these days. Thanks Marcie!! You would definitely love this one!
I love citrus season Katherine! The flavors, the colors! Just what winter needs. And this salad is just perfect!
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YES! Me too, Mary Ann. So refreshing, and the bright colors are much needed, especially in January! Cheers!
As always, I want to read more! This looks like such a delicious salad, Katherine, and talk about gorgeous! Love all that citrus in there! Perfect for lunch today 🙂 Happy New Year! XO
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I’ve been reading a lot the past few months and really enjoy it. A great way to wind down after the day/evening! Thanks my friend!! It makes for a terrific lunch!! XO
I never really think about salad in the winter but citrus really does brighten the dull days.
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It’s certainly less comforting than a bowl of chili, but definitely makes you feel good!!
Fantastic salad idea for winter. Your photos make me want to jump right in!
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Yay! Thanks Vanessa. I had fun taking these photos!!
Ah yes! One of the best things about January is the citrus!! It certainly brightens up those dreary days.
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It really does, doesn’t it? Thanks Bernice!! Happy New Year!
Beautiful looking salad! The citrus and goat cheese combo sounds divine. This is going on my “must make” list!
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Thanks Kate!! Goat cheese is so perfect with the citrus. I hope you love it!
Such a beautiful salad, Katherine! I love citrus in salads!
For me, my absolute favorite fruit season is the height of stone fruits: nectarines, peaches, plums, apricots… But citrus is a very close second and exactly what I’m craving this time of year.
Keith and I have big dreams for the year, but not resolutions per se. I did read some advice to “treat your body like a friend” and I really like that idea. So I guess that’s mine.
Happy New Year, lovely!
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I love stone fruits, too! It’s so hard to decide on an actual favourite. I just love berries but citrus and stone fruits are close behind!! I really like the whole treat your body like a friend idea, I’m going to have to remember that! Happy New Year to you!
Yes to this salad! This bright salad hits the spot after the holidays. So fresh and I love this dressing, thanks!
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Thanks Sabrina!! Gotta get in all those greens after the holiday eating!!
I have been eating spinach and cranberry salads for the last couple weeks. Switching over to citrus would be a good change of pace. And it looks so pretty too!!
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Haha I know what you mean! I’ve been eating a ton of greens too. My body was crying out for them after Christmas!!
Funny how we are all about salads this time of year! This is gorgeous. I love winter citrus too. I’m gonna use this for my lunches next week.
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It is kind of funny, I think everyone is just tired of all the overeating!! Thank you Trish, hope you enjoy it!
its always been delightful to see your recipes i was a daily watcher but because of my busy schedule i check out every wek and i tried every of your recipe on weekends thanks for the reason i get compliments every weekend lol. gonna try this one tomorrow look so yumm!
I love this salad and it’s inspired me to switch my New Year’s resolution to ‘eating healthier’. My resolution is always “be a more courteous driver”, which is pretty challenging in Calgary. Plus, my kids say I’m not doing that great so far haha!
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Hahah Terri! It’s pretty tough to be a courteous driver in Calgary, so I completely understand! I think “eating healthier” is always a good resolution.