Evergreen Citrus Greens Salad (Printable)

Crisp greens combined with sweet citrus, creamy avocado, and tangy dressing for a vibrant dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Greens

01 - 5 oz baby spinach
02 - 2 cups arugula
03 - 1 cup chopped romaine lettuce

→ Citrus

04 - 1 large orange, peeled and segmented
05 - 1 ruby grapefruit, peeled and segmented

→ Vegetables & Toppings

06 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
07 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
09 - 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, torn

→ Citrus Vinaigrette

10 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
12 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - 1 tsp honey or agave syrup
15 - Pinch of sea salt
16 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place baby spinach, arugula, and romaine lettuce into a large serving bowl.
02 - Incorporate orange and grapefruit segments, diced avocado, thinly sliced red onion, toasted almonds, and torn mint leaves into the greens.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified.
04 - Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad immediately before serving and gently toss to combine all ingredients evenly.
05 - Present the salad promptly to preserve freshness and vibrant flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in 15 minutes, no cooking required, so it works for rushed lunches and leisurely dinners alike.
  • The citrus vinaigrette actually gets better if you make it ahead—those flavors sit and deepen while you're busy with other things.
  • It's the kind of salad that disappears fastest at potlucks because people don't expect greens to taste this alive.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than 10 minutes before serving, or the greens will wilt and lose that vital crispness you worked for.
  • If your avocado is rock hard, place it in a paper bag with a banana overnight—the ethylene gas ripens it perfectly without mushing it.
03 -
  • Whisk your dressing with a pinch of salt first; salt dissolves better in liquid than when added at the end.
  • If your dressing breaks or looks thin, start with a fresh teaspoon of mustard in a clean bowl and slowly whisk in the broken dressing—this almost always brings it back together.

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