Nutty Bright Citrus Salad (Printable)

Crisp greens mixed with juicy citrus and crunchy nuts for a fresh, vibrant dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 3.5 oz baby spinach leaves
02 - 3.5 oz arugula (rocket)
03 - 2 medium oranges, peeled and segmented
04 - 1 large pink grapefruit, peeled and segmented
05 - 1 small fennel bulb, thinly sliced
06 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 2.6 oz toasted mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios), coarsely chopped
08 - 1 oz crumbled goat cheese (optional)

→ Dressing

09 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
10 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - 1 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
12 - 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
13 - ½ tsp Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, toss together baby spinach, arugula, fennel, and red onion.
02 - Gently fold in orange and grapefruit segments to evenly distribute.
03 - Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
04 - Drizzle dressing over the salad components and toss gently to coat uniformly.
05 - Sprinkle toasted mixed nuts and crumbled goat cheese if using, over the dressed salad.
06 - Plate immediately on chilled dishes to preserve freshness and texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 15 minutes, which means you can make it while your guests are still arriving.
  • The combination of bitter greens, sweet citrus, and savory nuts feels sophisticated but tastes like pure joy.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so you're not scrambling to accommodate dietary needs.
02 -
  • Don't make this more than 30 minutes before serving or the greens will wilt and the nuts will lose their crunch.
  • If you're at all uncertain about your citrus, taste a segment first because a mealy orange will ruin the entire dish.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts in a dry pan for about 3 minutes if you can, stirring constantly, because the difference in flavor is remarkable and immediate.
  • Segment your citrus over a bowl to catch the juice, then use some of that juice in your dressing for maximum citrus intensity.

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