The end of February is the time of year when I become incredibly thankful for citrus fruits. They bring a welcome freshness to late-winter fare, while giving us a foretaste of spring.
Today’s salad is so simple that it can be assembled in minutes. After trimming and slicing the oranges, all you need to do is arrange them with baby greens on the plate – then drizzle them with a luscious olive vinaigrette, which spikes the sweet-and-sour orange slices with bits of briny saltiness.
A beautiful contrast of flavors that enlivens the taste buds!
This salad makes a perfect first course, but you can also serve it tapas style for a casual and fun gathering.
Two stunning sherries that are exquisite with tapas: Valdespino Inocente Fino Sherry and Deliciosa Manzanilla
Blood Orange and Valencia Orange Salad with Olive Vinaigrette
serves 4
active time: 20 min
For the vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped kalamata olives
- 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest (use microplane grater)
- 1/2 garlic clove – skinned and crushed (use microplane grater)
- 1 tablespoon aged sherry vinegar (preferably 50 years old)
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 4 tablespoons Spanish extra virgin olive oil
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the salad
- 1 Valencia orange (or navel orange)
- 2 blood oranges (or tangerines)
- 1 large handful baby arugula or mâche
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Step 1: For the vinaigrette – Place all ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk and set aside.
- Step 2: Cut the peel off the oranges down to the flesh. Cut each orange in half, remove the pitch and cut crosswise in 1/8” slices. Set aside.
- Step 3: Divide the arugula or mâche onto four plates. Top with the orange slices. Drizzle with the vinaigrette. Finish with freshly ground black pepper and serve.
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Disclaimer: As always, my point of view is my own. I do not accept samples, and have no commercial relationship with any product, food or wine company.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Gorgeous! That is one beautiful salad – looks so delicious!
Olive vinaigrette on citrus, how interesting! Such a fan of blood oranges. Looks delicious.
Sara, Evelyne, Thank you so much!
This is a beautiful salad! I love a salad with citrus fruits.
Spring is in the air I can see feel it in this salad. It’a a beauty and that vinaigrette sounds wonderful with the citrus and kalamata olives. Very nice.
Your salad is beautiful and the flavors from the vinaigrette must make it pop.
I love it Viviane. So simple yet elegant. The minced olives in the vinaigrette is a nice touch.
I so agree about citrus…it is like adding sunshine to the plate. And I love the idea of olive vinaigrette…such a lovely idea. Beautiful…as always…
We are definitely on the same culinary wavelength! Your salad looks fresh and delightful.
Have a great weekend!
Simple yet inviting salad!
I just love the combination of beets, blood orange and olive vinaigrette. Can’t wait to try this for lunch tomorrow. Thanks!
How do you grate a half garlic clove using a Microplane? I foresee lots of shredded knuckle!
Cathie, No skin is lost when using a microplane grater, I assure you. That magical little tool is made just for this task. Use your finger tips and go slowly if you are nervous, but I predict you’ll soon get the hang of it and grate everything with it… except your knuckles :) Happy cooking!
Another delicious vinaigrette! My favorite salads have citrus as an ingredient so I love where you’ve made it the main component with some simple greens! Great salad!
A huge thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments – they always warm my heart!
sounds wonderful – will try this with some of the blood orange infused olive oil that a friend just gave me, but don’t think I can afford or even find 50-year old sherry vinegar in St. Petersburg.
Nancy, The blood orange infused oil will be perfect here. What a pity about the vinegar though. Aged sherry vinegar is actually not that expensive in the US. Here’s one from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Vinegar-Aged-Years-8-33/dp/B001UOU4Q0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1333150351&sr=8-4 Although I can get the same brand at my local store for less than $10. Bon appétit!
Looks delicious! I love some citrus in my salad. Thank you Viviane.
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