A fresh and healthy spring salad that is perfect as is or topped with grilled chicken or shrimp. The zesty citrus vinaigrette is so tasty that you’ll be making it for all sorts of salads!
I have discovered a new vegetable that I love… fennel! Thanks to our CSA we received a bulb and though I have had fennel in the past, it’s not something I routinely buy. I have always used fennel in italian cooking – sautéed and tossed with pasta or in soup. I’ve seen tons of recipes using it raw, but never tried it. For some reason I was always afraid to.
Well, it turns out that I love it raw! It has a mild, slightly peppery flavor with a hint of licorice. It’s also super crunchy and pairs amazingly well with oranges. My original thought was to put the fennel and oranges over arugula, but since I received romaine in the CSA too, I decided to use that. You can use your favorite lettuce – spring mix and arugula would be fantastic.
I’m obsessed with raw onions. I love them on a burger, on top of enchiladas, and sliced in a salad. So, I threw some red onions in here for added flavor. You can certainly leave them out if you aren’t a raw onion fan. Kyle informed me that he “isn’t a fan” of raw onion in salads, so I guess I’ll be leaving them off of his from now on!
Anyone else have a picky eater in their life? I’ve gotten so used to altering dishes so that we can both enjoy them that it doesn’t even bother me anymore. He’s really not that picky and will try everything once, which is good because I have NO patience for a picky eater! I will eat anything – even things I don’t like (cilantro) without complaint. I may not care for it, but I can still eat it.
Ok back to this delicious salad…
I added some walnuts on top for more crunch and because I just love nuts on salads. The cheese addition was for Kyle because he can’t have a salad without cheese. I went with pecorino romano because it’s his favorite for topping his pasta and because I knew it would pair perfectly with all of the other flavors. He then informed me that though he likes that cheese, he doesn’t really like it in a salad. Oy!
We ate this salad for dinner as is. While we were eating I realized grilled chicken or shrimp would be fantastic to top it off! So, next time I’m definitely doing that. This recipe will yield 4 entree servings, or 8 starter salad portions.
If you’ve never tried fennel raw, I highly suggest you try this salad. The sweet oranges go so well with the fennel. Oh, and the vinaigrette is so simple – it’s made from the orange juice from the leftovers of the segmented orange. I just add in some mustard, vinegar, season it with salt and pepper and shake it up with olive oil. It’s easy, but so good that you’ll want to make it and use it for other salads too!
This salad is the perfect spring dish and the best part is that it’s good for you!
- 1 Large Head Romaine Lettuce, Spring Mix, or Arugula
- 1 Fennel Bulb, thinly sliced
- ½ Small Red Onion, thinly sliced
- 3 Small Oranges, peeled and cut into segments, save the rest for the dressing
- ¼ Cup Toasted Walnuts
- ¼ Cup Pecorino Romano Cheese, shaved with a peeler
- Orange Juice, squeezed from the body of the orange after you segment
- 1 Tablespoon White Wine Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- ¼ Cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- Place the lettuce in a large salad bowl and toss in the fennel and red onion. Top evenly with orange segments, walnuts, and cheese.
- Combine the vinaigrette ingredients in a small mason jar. Put the lid on tightly and shake until well combined. Serve the salad drizzled with the vinaigrette.
- You can top each portion with grilled chicken or shrimp to make it an entrée salad.
- This recipe will yield 4 servings as an entrée and 8 as a starter salad.
What a gorgeous salad, Keri! I love the pretty colors! And I love fennel too, though I always forget about it. Sounds like it pairs perfectly with these fresh flavors. Love!!
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Thanks Gayle!
I love fennel too! I sure don’t buy it enough. I love the flavors of this salad! Orange and fennel sound like a winning combination : )
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely recently posted…Blackberry Mint Mojitos
It must be the forgotten vegetable – ha! Thanks, Natalie!
I love fennel too! It’s great in soups and salad, that licorice flavor is just so delicious in savory meals. I bet it is a wonderful compliment to the orange. YUM!
Jessica | A Happy Food Dance recently posted…spaghetti and meatballs
I just love that flavor! Thanks, Jessica!
Very bright and beautiful spring salad, Keri! Combo of fennels and oranges together is my favorite!! thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Savita! I love the combo too!
What a beautiful and colorful salad, Keri! You are having such an adventure with your CSA box!
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks recently posted…Saturday Night Special: Freebird
Thanks Rachelle! I really am loving it!
Haha! I am cracking up at Kyle’s pickiness – doesn’t like red onions, doesn’t like the cheese on salad. That is hilarious. Seth hates goat cheese…which is one of my favorite things ever! I always try to sneak it into recipes and subconsciously make him learn to love it…no luck so far. This salad looks SO good! I love raw fennel. Especially when it is paired with orange. Yum!
Annie @ The Garlic Diaries recently posted…Fudgy Gluten-Free Brownies
Kyle also hates goat cheese and I’m obsessed with it! Every time I sneak it into a recipe he always says “there is something I don’t like in here” ugh! Thanks Annie!
Such a pretty salad! I love putting oranges in my salads and the pecorino romano is one of my favorite cheeses! Pinned!
I have put oranges on so many of my salads lately – I just can’t get enough! Thanks Mariah!
Yum! Love the combination of fennel and orange this salad sounds so refreshing!
Kelley Simmons recently posted…Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Barbecue Sandwiches
Refreshing is a great way to describe it, Kelley!
We love fennel in this house, have for a long time. The orange fennel combination is superb.
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic recently posted…Dilled Baby Potatoes
I’ll definitely be buying fennel more often, I’m so glad i got it in my CSA otherwise I’d be missing out!
This is so pretty Keri! I love fennel in salads so this sounds perfect. Yum!
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Yum – that salad looks so light and refreshing!! 🙂
Christina @ Bake with Christina recently posted…Death-By-Chocolate Layered Cake.
Thanks, Christina!
That’s why I loved the CSA box too- you try things you will never buy otherwise! I’m always so intimidated by fennel, but this looks easy and fresh. I think I’ll try it…but for lunch without my husband. He has taste buds of a little kid.! He will eat most things I made but I usually have to hide veggies so he doesn’t notice them!
Caitlin @ teaspoon recently posted…friday fünf {zürich life}
This Fennel and Orange Salad recipe combines delicious flavors and bright colors that will make your spring meals even better.The crisp and slightly peppery fennel, paired with the sweet and citrusy oranges, creates a harmonious balance of tastes. The star of this recipe, however, is the zesty citrus vinaigrette. Made with the orange juice from the segmented oranges, along with a touch of white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and extra-virgin olive oil, this dressing is refreshingly tangy and incredibly easy to make. This dressing can be used to make other salads taste even better, not just this one.
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