Fennel and Orange Salad (Italian Style)
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Bright, crisp, and bursting with Sicilian flavor, this Italian-style fennel and orange saladย perfectly blends juicy citrus, crunchy fennel, and a drizzle of golden olive oil. Itโs fresh, vibrant, and ridiculously easyโit comes together in just 15 minutes. Youโll love how every bite tastes like sunshine!
Serve as a side with Prime Rib Roast Recipe and Red Skin Mashed Potatoes.
Quick Look: Fennel and Orange Salad
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Servings: 8 people
- Dietary Info: Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy Free, Gluten Free
- Method: No cooking needed!
- Technique: Shake all the dressing ingredients in a mason jar in combined. Layer the salad ingredients on a platter and drizzle the dressing on top. Serve and enjoy.
- Flavor & Texture: This fennel and orange salad has lots of crunch from the fennel, hazelnuts, and pomegranate seeds, and a zesty fresh flavor from the orange vinaigrette.
Why Youโll Love This Italian Salad Recipe
This fennel and orange salad is light, refreshing, and incredibly simple, yet it has a sophisticated flavor that takes you to Southern Italy. Itโs perfect as an appetizer, side dish, or even a light meal!
This salad is a gorgeous display of simple and fresh ingredients. The pop of color from the citrus adds a bright flavor and an extra punch of vitamin C. You will love the crunch from the hazelnuts and the sweet, fresh fennel. My family loves this as an all-around delicious salad!
If youโre looking for more fresh salad recipes, donโt miss my Arugula, Apple, and Pistachio Salad in Parmesan Cups, Pear Gorgonzola Salad, or Beet Salad Recipe.
Made With Amore,
โPerfect salad! Everyone enjoyed the salad. The crunch with the sweetness of the oranges made this salad delicious! I will definitely making this again.โ
โ Stacey
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
- Italian Salad Mix: Choose a bag of spring greens that are fresh and crisp. Be sure to pick through it to remove any wilted pieces.
- Fresh Oranges: Use any orange of your choice to make this salad; the brighter the color, the better! I recommend using Cara Cara, blood oranges, or navel oranges. Even tangerines work beautifully!
- Fresh Fennel: Start with a fresh fennel bulb that you thinly slice with a sharp kitchen knife or a mandoline if you want extra-thin pieces. (If you have extra fennel on hand, use it in my roasted fennel recipe or roasted chicken with fennel.)
- Olives: I recommend using a type of green olives called Castelvetrano, which originate in Sicily and have an incredible buttery flavor and meaty texture. Theyโre available at most large grocery stores. (You can also use my marinated olives instead!)
- Orange Vinaigrette: This is a simple mixture of olive oil, fresh orange juice, orange zest, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
- Different Citrus: Try grapefruit for a tangy twist or tangerines for extra sweetness.
- Canโt Find Fennel? Swap with thinly sliced celery for a milder crunch.
- Donโt Like Red Onion? Use shallots or green onions for a softer bite.
- Adding Protein: Top with shaved Parmesan, burrata, or Longhorn red rock grilled shrimp.
How to Make Fennel and Orange Salad
This Italian salad is super easy to make! No cooking needed; just slice, toss, and enjoy. See the recipe card for more instructions.
- Make the orange vinagrette salad dressing and set aside. I like to make in a mason jar, or use a small bowl and a whisk. Place the mixed greens in a shallow, wide serving bowl.
- Layer the orange slices and fennel on top of the greens.
- Top with the pomegranates and green olives.
- Lastly, sprinkle the hazelnuts on top.
- Pour the homemade orange vinaigrette salad dressing over the top of the prepared salad.
- Thereโs no need to toss the salad, as the dressing will mix in as itโs served. Serve with oven roasted turkey breast or pesto lasagna and enjoy!
Fennel and Orange Salad FAQs
Yes, fennel pairs beautifully with a variety of different oranges. I particularly love serving it with Cara Cara, blood oranges, or navel oranges. However, you can also try other types of citrus, like grapefruit or tangerine, also.
I think that a zesty orange vinaigrette made with high quality olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, and other flavorings perfectly complements the oranges, fennel, and greens. Thatโs why I show you how to make my easy orange vinaigrette in this recipe to pair with this salad.
Simply place the greens in a wide, shallow serving bowl, then arrange all the other ingredients artfully on top. Drizzle with the homemade dressing and serve. Donโt toss the salad, as the dressing will get mixed in as you serve it. Tossing can actually make the add-ins less evenly combined with the greens!
Make the dressing up to 2 days ahead of time. Store the dressing in the fridge and let it come to room temperature an hour before serving. Shake the jar, and presto! You are ready to dress your salad.
This fresh orange and fennel salad is best eaten and finished immediately. If you suspect leftovers, donโt dress the salad all at once. Instead, dress individual servings.
Store the leftover salad in an airtight container for 2 days. The remaining dressing should be stored, covered, in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Serving Suggestions
This fennel and orange salad brings a refreshing and colorful touch to any meal. Our family enjoys it with Pork Tenderloin with Fennel, Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs, Baked Flounder, or Lasagna Bolognese with Bechamel. All you need is a side of Italian brioche bread or focaccia, and a slice of Italian Apple Cake for dessert!
My Pro Tips
Expert Tips
- Use oranges like blood oranges, Cara Cara, or navel for sweetness and color contrast.
- How to prep the oranges for the salad: Use a serrated knife to cut off the top and bottom of the orange so it can stand flat. Slice off the peel and white pith from top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit. Turn the fruit on its side and carefully slice crosswise.
- Slice the fennel thinly with a mandoline for the best texture.
- Sprinkle with flaky salt to enhance the saladโs natural sweetness and depth.
- Serve immediately. If you think youโll have leftovers, donโt dress the salad all at once; only dress individual servings. Leftover salad will keep in an airtight container for 2 days, and the dressing should be stored covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Other Salad Recipes Youโll Love
๐ MADE THIS RECIPE AND LOVED IT? ๐ Please leave a โญ๏ธSTAR rating and COMMENT below- I love connecting with you! Tag me with your creations on Instagram and find me on Pinterest.
Fennel and Orange Salad (Italian Style)
Ingredientsย
For the Orange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
- ยพ cup good quality olive oil
- ยฝ cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
- zest from 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- ยฝ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 2 cloves garlic, cut in quarters
For the Salad
- 2 bags spring greens, about 18 ounces
- 2 medium oranges, peeled and thinly sliced (see notes)
- ยฝ cup chopped hazelnuts, plus more if desired
- 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced, preferably with a mandoline
- ยฝ cup pomegranate seeds
- ยฝ cup olives of choice, such as green Castelvetrano olives
- ยผ cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
Instructionsย
Making the Vinaigrette
- Place all ingredients in a mason jar and shake vigorously. The dressing can stay at room temperature for up to two hours, and up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Assembling the Salad
- Place the salad greens in a large salad bowl or platter.ย Carefully arrange the rest of the ingredients on top of the salad. Do not toss.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing evenly on top of the salad 10 minutes before serving. Do not toss, or all the ingredients will fall to the bottom. (The dressing will eventually coat the bottom of the salad as it sinks, and it will toss naturally as it is served.)
- Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- Use oranges like blood oranges, Cara Cara, or navel for sweetness and color contrast.
- How to prep the oranges for the salad: Use a serrated knife to cut off the top and bottom of the orange so it can stand flat. Slice off the peel and white pith from top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit. Turn the fruit on its side and carefully slice crosswise.
- Slice the fennel thinly with a mandoline for the best texture.
- Sprinkle with flaky salt to enhance the saladโs natural sweetness and depth.
- Serve immediately. If you think youโll have leftovers, donโt dress the salad all at once; only dress individual servings. Leftover salad will keep in an airtight container for 2 days, and the dressing should be stored covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So good. Followed the directions exactly with the exception of pistachios instead of hazelnuts. Restaurant quality.
Yay! SO happy you loved it. Here’s to many more delicious recipes. I can’t wait to see what you try next time.
Perfect salad! Everyone enjoyed the salad. The crunch with the sweetness of the oranges made this salad delicious! I will definitely making this again.
Yes, I find this combo irresistible. I am happy you want to make it again and again.
So good, so fresh! All the different flavours and texture. Even my husband just said โthis is a good salad.โ He doesnโt like salad. lol
Having it with BBQ Chicken. *chefโs kiss*
YUM! Love pairing this with grilled meats. For a man to love a salad says it all ๐ . Thank you!
This salad is delicious, everyone went back for seconds. I forgot a pomegranate, but I had some raspberries and threw those on instead. I also already had a partial bag of slivered almonds , so used those instead of hazelnuts. Even changing those out, it was still amazing. The dressing and slices of orange are what really make it yummy. I will definitely be making this again!
This salad is not only beautifully visually appetizing, it and its dressing ๐คฉ are delicious! And being a โcomposedโ salad on a platter not only gets high marks for presentation from your guests, it also keeps all the โgoodiesโ on top for serving. ๐ Brava, Elena. ๐๐๐ Grazie.
I’m thrilled everyone loved it! Yes, it makes a difference to serve it that way. Enjoy.
Hi….. The salad looks amazing! Where do you get the castelvetrano olives?
Karen
Hi Karen, you can find them at any grocery store in the olive section. You will notice their bright green color and name on the bottle. You can also find some in the deli section or olive bar.
This salad was so delicious. I made it for Christmas Eve and everyone loved it so much ! Itโs so fresh and the dressing was amazing. Thank you Elena for sharing !
Highly recommended.
So happy the family loved it! It is one to make again and again.