Citrus Salad Recipe pairs the sweetness of winter fruit with fresh crunchy greens. Topped with orange slices and crunchy roasted nuts, this salad is a tasty mix of bitter, sweet and crunchy. This bitter greens salad is finished with a delicious homemade salad dressing. It pairs with any meal!
If you're looking for a light side dish be sure and try Steamed Brussels sprouts next!
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Mixed Greens Salad
Why you'll love this salad
✔️ It's the perfect combination of bitter, sweet and crunchy.
✔️ The greens are full of nutrition and a great choice at the market.
✔️ This makes a wonderful side dish with most any meal!
Ingredients
- fresh salad greens - peppery arugula, fresh herbs, fennel fronds, fresh mint leaves, spinach, endive or radicchio use a variety of fresh greens!
- oranges - a variety of oranges will add a pretty color. I used navel oranges and Cara Cara Oranges. Other favorites are blood oranges, red grapefruits - really any sweet oranges are perfect. Use a delicious variety of oranges!
- filberts, also known as hazelnuts - though you can certainly substitute walnuts, pecans or even pistachios.
- for the homemade salad dressing - balsamic vinegar, olive oil, shallot, honey and salt
Instructions
- Dry roast the filberts, allow to cool and loosely chop.
- Clean the greens and place them in a bowl.
- Peel the oranges, removing the pith and then remove the segments. Top the salad with segmented oranges.
- Mix together the salad dressing. Dress the salad five minutes before serving.
FAQ's
Some of my favorites are radicchio, escarole, arugula, frisee and kale. They will have a light to an intensely bitter flavor.
Choose young, tender greens because they won't be as bitter.
Related recipes
I am such a fan of a great salad. It's the best compliment to most any meal AND can be a meal all by itself! I've topped this with grilled chicken breast and grilled salmon.
Here are more of my favorite easy salad recipes!
- Steakhouse Salad Recipe - filled with loads of crunch, this salad is amazing!
- Mayo-free Greek Coleslaw brings the crunch and it's so delicious!
- This Fall Harvest Salad uses yummy fall fruits and vegetables.
- Superfood Kale Salad Recipe - loaded with crispy vegetables. fruit and nuts. Good and good for you!
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If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Citrus Salad Recipe with Winter Greens
Ingredients
- 6 cups bitter greens - recommend arugula endive and radicchio - or a combination of these
- 2 oranges
- ½ cup hazelnuts also known as filberts
- Dressing -
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- juice of the orange
- 1 shallot chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
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Instructions
- Start by toasting the hazelnuts. Use a dry pan over medium heat. Spread the nuts out in the pan so they are one even layer. Stir them or shake the pan every minute or so and keep an eye on them. They can scorch quickly! It will only take about 5-8 minutes.
- Remove the nuts from the pan as soon as you take them off the heat. Roughly chop.
- Prepare the greens, wash and dry thoroughly. Pile them in a large bowl.
- Next, using a knife, peel the oranges. Cut off the peel with a sharp knife, removing all of the bitter white pith. Then cut out each segment of the orange carefully. This is best done over a bowl to catch the juice.
- Mince the shallot. Place all of the salad dressing ingredients in a screw-top jar. Shake vigorously to combine.
- Add the oranges slices and chopped hazelnuts to the salad bowl.
- Dress the salad immediately before serving.
Notes
- Be sure to take a moment and toast the nuts. It will make them a bit crunchy and give them even more flavor!
- When they are crisp and brown, remove them from the pan immediately as they will continue to cook and may burn if they are left in the pan. Set aside to cool.
- When the nuts are cool enough to handle, give them a rough chop.
Nutrition
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Don't worry, we'll never share your email.Recipe backstory
When I was a kid I picked filberts for extra money. They were harvested in August, so I was able to get some extra money before school started.
The nuts would fall and we'd scrounge underneath the trees and pick the ripe nuts off the ground and put them into gunnysacks. Pretty basic stuff, right? But it was a great way to get extra $'s to buy back to school clothes with!
I have always loved filberts (do you call them hazelnuts or filberts?) They are crunchy and rich and so delicious! It doesn't seem like that many recipes include them though until its Nutella, right?
Well in this recipe they are one of the stars of the show!
Kate
Excellent salad! I love bitter greens and the mix of the greens with the citrus is just perfect.
Amy Nash
Wow this salad was good! I think my favorite part were the crunchy nuts but it all went just so well together! I'm already planning to make this again!
Bowl Me Over
Wonderful, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
jennifer stewart
Thank goodness for this recipe! I need something to go with my soup during the winter years!
Erin
We love, love, loved this salad SO VERY MUCH! Perfect for a chilly winter evening. That vinaigrette... I could drink it.. and paired with the bitter greens and oranges, it's utter perfection.
Julie Menghini
This is a beautiful salad! I love them all year round and citrus this time of year is the only sunshine we may have!
Michelle
Such a great combo! I'm always trying new salad combinations and this was a definite winner for our family! 🙂
Debi
This is so good. I have been trying to eat a bit healthier and this was bright and cheery for me. I can't find hazelnuts at the store anymore, so I used toasted almonds. Super yum!
Bowl Me Over
Great substitution Debi! That reminds me to add I find the hazelnuts in the bulk bins rather than the nut aisle. I'll add that to the information in the post - thank you!
Lois
I made this salad this evening. I did use walnuts instead of filberts as that is what I had and didn’t want to go to store. We enjoyed it very much.
Bowl Me Over
Walnuts are delicious too! I think any time you prepare your meal and don't have to go to the store, you've saved at least $40 bucks, nice! I'm so happy you enjoyed this salad Lois!