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Salad orange fennel pomegranate

Orange and Fennel Salad Recipe (Italian)

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5 from 2 reviews

This Italian Winter Salad with fresh Fennel, Citrus, and Hazelnuts is sure to brighten your table this season! It is a gorgeous display of simple and fresh ingredients. The pop of color from the citrus add a bright touch with an extra punch of vitamin C. You will love the crunch from the hazelnuts and sweet fresh fennel. It’s an all around delicious salad!  

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale

Orange Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

  • 1/2 cup good quality olive oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh squeezed orange juice + zest of one orange
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon salt (more to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 2 cloves of garlic cut in quarters

Salad

  • 2 bags (510 g) Italian lettuce mix or spring greens
  • 2 medium oranges, skin removed and cut in thin slices (see notes)
  • 4 tablespoons hazelnuts
  • 1 fennel bulb, thinly slices
  • 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 1/4 cup olives of choice- I love green Castelvetrano Olives
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)

Instructions

Vinaigrette

  1. 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 one week in the refrigerator.

Salad

  1. In a large salad bowl or platter, add the mixed salad.  Add the rest of the ingredients on top of the salad. Do not toss.
  2.  Add 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. The salad will toss naturally as it is served. Mangia!

Notes

Tips for cutting the oranges for the salad. I use a serrated knife and cut off the top and bottom of the orange so it can stand flat. Then,  take off the peel by slicing it from top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit. Take off only the peel and the white pith, as much as you can see, leaving the flesh naked, then turn the fruit on its’ side and carefully slice crosswise. That’s it!

Leftovers and Storage

This fresh orange and fennel salad is best eaten and finished immediately. If you suspect leftovers, don’t dress the salad all at once. Instead, dress individual servings.

Store leftover salad in an airtight container for 2 days. The remaining dressing should be stored, covered, in the fridge for up to 5 days.

  • Author: Elena Davis
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: N/A
  • Category: Savory
  • Method: Italian
  • Cuisine: Italian