Winter Citrus Salad with Avocado and Fennel (Printable version)

Sweet citrus meets creamy avocado and crisp fennel in this vibrant winter dish ready in 20 minutes.

# What you need:

→ Citrus

01 - 2 large oranges, peeled and sliced into rounds
02 - 2 blood oranges, peeled and sliced into rounds
03 - 1 grapefruit, peeled and sliced into rounds

→ Vegetables & Fruits

04 - 1 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced (fronds reserved for garnish)
05 - 2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and sliced

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
08 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
09 - 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tbsp toasted pistachios or slivered almonds
12 - Reserved fennel fronds
13 - Flaky sea salt (optional)

# How to make it:

01 - Slice off the top and bottom of each citrus fruit. Using a sharp knife, remove the peel and white pith. Slice into 1/4-inch rounds and remove any seeds.
02 - Arrange the citrus slices on a large serving platter, slightly overlapping to create an attractive presentation.
03 - Thinly slice the fennel bulb using a mandoline or sharp knife. Scatter the fennel slices evenly over the arranged citrus.
04 - Halve, pit, and peel the avocados. Slice them crosswise and arrange atop the salad.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
06 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving to maintain freshness and texture.
07 - Sprinkle with toasted pistachios or almonds, reserved fennel fronds, and a pinch of flaky sea salt if desired.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • Its like eating sunshine on a plate when you need it most
  • The combination of creamy avocado and crisp fennel creates the most satisfying texture contrast
  • You can assemble the whole thing in twenty minutes flat
02 -
  • The dressing can oxidize the citrus if it sits too long, so dress right before serving
  • Room temperature citrus releases more flavor than cold straight from the fridge
  • A sharp knife makes all the difference in how clean your citrus slices look
03 -
  • Toast your nuts in a dry pan until fragrant, it deepens their flavor significantly
  • If your fennel fronds look wilted, revive them in ice water for ten minutes

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