In California, the winter months bring fresh citrus! Grapefruit, oranges, satsumas, mandarins, and tangerines seem to be at every farm stand and market! So when it’s a dreary winter day and we need something bright to remind us the sun will come out again, we make this bright light salad!
This Citrus Salad Recipe is also lovely when:
- We’ve eaten too many heavy meals and need a nice salad to balance those dreaded calories.
- We’re preparing food ahead of time and need a salad that will still be fresh a few days later. Just be sure to add the spinach and pistachios when serving.
- We’re asked to bring a salad to a friend’s home and want to be sure our dish will be unique.
Ingredients
Oil & Vinegar. This winter citrus salad recipe calls for a traditional vinaigrette dressing. We love arbequina olive oil for its pepper fresh bite. A traditional white balsamic adds that classic balsamic sweet and sour flavor without adding the dark color of a traditional dark balsamic. If you’re in Ventura, be sure to stop by SpiceTopia to taste our local olive oils and infused balsamics!
Spices. Oftentimes the difference between an okay salad and a really good salad is the seasoning! Just like any dish, the salad needs a bit of spice to bring together all its flavors.
Minced Dried Garlic. Our Minced Garlic is grown right here in California. It has a rich robust flavor and is a convenient substitute for fresh garlic.
Napa Valley Bread Dip. Our Napa Valley Bread Dip is a custom blend meant to transport you to the rolling hills of wildflowers and grapevines of Napa Valley. A smoky herbaceous flavored blend, this seasoning was created to add to warm olive oil as a bread or veggie dip. It’s equally delicious in a salad dressing!
Ventura Spice. Ventura Spice was SpiceTopia’s first proprietary spice blend. Created with many of Ventura’s quintessential crops, Ventura Spice is our most requested spice! And almost every day, we have new customers ask us, “What do you use Ventura Spice on?” The answer really is everything! But one of our favorite ways to use Ventura Spice is to sprinkle on fresh fruits and salads! This dish brings all three together into one big bite of deliciousness!
Salad Ingredients
Citrus. Our recipe calls for grapefruit, blood oranges, cara oranges, as well as meyer lemon. We love this combination not only for its flavors but also for the pretty colors it brings to the plate! Really any kind of citrus works for this recipe. Use what you love and have available.
Avocado. In California, avocado season hits us right as the citrus season is here. We love the creamy fattiness the avocado adds to this recipe. Be sure to season your avocado with just a bit of salt and pepper.
Pistachios. The earthy crunchiness of pistachios is a nice foil to the sweetness of the citrus in this winter salad.
Spinach. A little crunch and fresh greens are always a good thing!
Olives. Olives may seem odd combined with the sweet citrus fruit, but we find their saltiness a pleasant contrast to the citrus.
Technique
This salad is really about layering everything on a plate to look pretty! Then drizzle with the vinaigrette and sprinkle on the Ventura Spice! Ready to serve!
Citrus Salad Tips
- Leave out the pith. When preparing the citrus, you’ll want to remove as much of the white part of the citrus as possible. This pith can be extremely bitter.
- Make Ahead. This salad makes a wonderful dish for when you want to impress as well as for when you want a fresh bright dish for yourself. Everything except the spinach and pistachios can be combined up to three days ahead of time and stored in the fridge until ready to serve. Add the spinach and pistachios right before serving.
If you’d like to learn more about cooking with different spices, SpiceScription may be for you!
Ventura Spice Citrus Salad
Ingredients
Vinaigrette Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
Directions
Vinaigrette Directions
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Combine all vinaigrette ingredients in a blender and blend until well combined. Or simply shake it up in a jar.
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Set aside.
Salad Directions
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Peel citrus, removing as much of the pith as possible.
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Slice fruit across to create pretty circles of citrus.
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Peel and slice the avocado.
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Slice Olives.
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Use a teaspoon or two of the vinaigrette to dress the spinach.
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Place spinach on the bottom of a platter.
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On top of the spinach, arrange citrus and avocado slices in a pretty pattern.
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Top with olives and pistachios.
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Dress with about ½ of the remaining vinaigrette.
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Sprinkle with Ventura Spice.
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Serve with remaining vinaigrette.
Note
SpiceScription
If you love trying out new spice blends, SpiceScription may be for you! Learn all about flavors from around the world, while trying out exclusive recipes, right in your own kitchen!
I would love to try this recipe! We get great citrus down here in South Texas!!!