Winter Citrus Avocado Salad
Salads tend to be associated with summer for some reason—but it may be time to change that. And what better way to create a bright and satiating winter salad than with plenty of winter citrus fruits, right? Because citrus is in season during the winter months, the combination of grapefruit and blood oranges (or tangerines) is a perfect winter pairing for our Organic Honey Citrus Chopped Salad Kit. This salad kit features chopped green leaf lettuce, kale, radicchio, dried cranberries, crisp, cooked quinoa, tender feta cheese, and our bright and vibrant honey citrus vinaigrette. Toss in a few slices of avocado, and you have suddenly (and easily) created a magnificent winter salad that is perfect for a holiday dinner or any occasion.
Ingredients
- 1 Taylor Farms Organic Honey Citrus Chopped Salad Kit
- 2 Avocados, sliced
- 1 Grapefruit, cut into disks
- 2 Blood Oranges or Tangerines, cut into disks
Directions
- Assemble just the greens from the salad kit on a platter.
- Slice the citrus fruits into disks and slice the avocado.
- Top the salad greens with avocado slices and citrus fruit slices.
- Pour the Honey Citrus Vinaigrette from the salad kit over the salad and top with the enclosed feta, cranberries, and quinoa from the kit. Enjoy!
Wait… Why is the orange bloody?
Ever wondered what makes a blood orange, well, bloody? The dark red color actually has to do with the cold temperatures in which they are grown—a primary reason why these deliciously sweet oranges are associated with the winter season. A deeply-hued relative of the orange, the pomelo, and the tangerine, blood oranges contain anthocyanins, which is a long word for pigments found in several varieties of flowers and fruit but aren’t very common for citrus fruits. The black sheep of citrus? We’re a fan!
Blood oranges are primarily grown in Spain and Italy under the names of sanguina and sanguinella, respectively. The anthocyanins that give blood oranges their deep color also gives them a distinctively sweet flavor, along with hints of raspberry.
Like their more orangey cousins, blood oranges are fantastic for juicing and have many different culinary uses ranging from baking to cocktails. Due to their hints of raspberry, blood oranges pair especially well with bitter greens and cheeses like feta and mascarpone. (Look no further than this recipe for that winning combo!)
Or you can just get right to it and enjoy a slice (or three or four) of blood orange on its own. And bonus: the anthocyanins in blood oranges are a potent type of antioxidant as well! However you enjoy these juicy citrus fruits, you’ll love making this winter salad a seasonal favorite.
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