A Winter Citrus Salad to Brighten Cold Days
About this Recipe
By: Rachel
Winter brings weeks of cozy stews and slow-simmered meals. Sometimes, though, we need a break from all that heavy comfort food. This winter citrus salad brings brightness back to the winter table with juicy, seasonal fruit at its peak. Light, vibrant, and refreshing, this easy winter salad contrasts beautifully with rich, cold-weather dishes.
Winter Comfort Food and the Dishes We Crave Most
Warm, filling dishes like beef stew, ragù bolognese, or chicken pie can warm both body and soul when it’s icy, dark, and miserable outside. When the first chilly days of fall arrive, I welcome the season of bubbling casseroles, steaming pots of soup, and rich stews.
Still, after all that heavy food, I begin to miss the bright, fresh flavors of spring and summer. Fortunately, when winter is at its darkest and coldest, citrus is at its bright, juicy peak. A salad of sweet, refreshing citrus fruit is just the thing to break up the monotony of winter.
A Winter Citrus Salad to Balance Rich Seasonal Meals
This salad contains a medley of fruits, each featuring vibrant colors and flavors. A little bitterness from endive, crunch from fresh fennel, and sweetness from honey complete the dish and make it an ideal addition to your winter table, adding lightness and balance even during the coldest months.
Choosing the Best Citrus for a Winter Citrus Salad
One of the quiet pleasures of making a winter citrus salad is letting the season guide you. Winter markets are full of citrus at its peak—make the most of it and start mixing colors as well as varying sweetness and gentle bitterness to shape your very own winter salad.
You can use any citrus you like in this salad. I like to use a combination of pink grapefruit, blood orange, and tangerine for a combination of colors and flavors that make this salad as visually appealing as it is refreshing.
Creative Variations on Winter Citrus Salad
Shaped by what you find, what you love, and what feels right for your table, the magic begins once you begin to create your own winter salad. After you’ve chosen your favorite citrus fruits, the rest of the salad begins to takes shape. You can get creative, playing with the different shapes and colors.
It is also fun to use less commonly-used citrus in this salad—if you can find them, try thinly-sliced kumquats, finger limes, or a few gratings of zest from the Buddha’s hand. To add some richness to this salad, add some diced avocado or chopped pistachios.
Beverage Pairing
By: Olivia
There’s nothing quite like a glass of wine to complement a fresh salad in the depths of winter! Choose a wine with crisp acidity, herbaceous notes, and a touch of minerality, qualities that echo the flavors in the salad itself. Excellent options include Sauvignon Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Vermentino, and Albariño. And if you’re craving a bit of effervescence, I couldn’t recommend Txakolina more: grassy, bright, and delightfully spritzy.
Winter Citrus Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 small shallot minced
- 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspon Dijon mustard
- Juice from ½ small lemon
- ⅓ cup (70g) good-quality olive oil
- 1 pinch Kosher salt
- 2 heads Belgian endive
- 1 small bulb fennel thinly shaved
- 2 blood oranges
- 2 tangerines
- 1 grapefruit
- 1 small bunch fresh mint
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
- Make the vinaigrette by whisking the shallot, sherry vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice together until well-combined. Drizzle in the olive oil while whisking to emulsify the dressing. Add the salt, taste, and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, lemon juice, or olive oil as needed. Set aside.
Step 2
- Prepare the citrus by removing the peel and pith. Slice into rounds and remove any seeds.
Step 3
- On a platter, arrange the Belgian endive leaves, shaved fennel, and citrus. Drizzle the dressing over the top, garnish with mint, and serve immediately.
