Vibrant Orange & Arugula Salad

Name: Vibrant Orange & Arugula Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 1/4 cup sliced almonds; 5 to 6 ounces baby arugula; 2 oranges, peeled and sliced into thin rounds; 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup); 1/4 cup thinly sliced and roughly chopped radishes; Pinch of ground cinnamon, to sprinkle on top; 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 3 tablespoons lemon juice; 1 1/2 teaspoons honey; 1/4 teaspoon salt

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Here’s a fresh green salad to brighten up dreary winter days. I’ve been hanging onto this salad recipe until those irresistibly juicy, ripe oranges landed at the grocery store. Winter is citrus season, so the time is now!

I developed this salad for a fun event in New York City a few months ago, with my friends at Osmia Organics. Sarah asked me to develop a recipe around rose geranium essential oil, which had me stumped for a while.

I thought about my trip to Morocco, and all of the rosewater they incorporate in their food. Then I remembered the orange blossoms on the trees, and combined oranges with almonds, goat cheese and radishes. A tiny pinch of cinnamon on top ties in the Moroccan theme, and creates a beautifully vibrant and fragrant salad.

For this blog version, I actually dropped the rose geranium oil, since it’s not an ingredient I expect you to have on hand. I learned from my essential oil experiments that it’s way too easy to go overboard with them. Even one extra drop of oil can turn a hard-earned meal into an inedible concoction. Plus, there are safety considerations with essential oils that I can’t even begin to cover here.

All that said, I loved this salad without the rose geranium, and I hope it brightens and lightens your winter table. It would be a lovely contrast to grilled main dishes, and would also go well with Mediterranean or citrusy meals. Here are even more salad recipes to explore!

Vibrant Orange & Arugula Salad

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Author: Cookie and Kate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: Salad
Method: By hand
Cuisine: Mediterranean

★★★★★

5 from 22 reviews

You’re going to love this beautiful green salad featuring fresh oranges, goat cheese, almonds and radishes! A simple lemon dressing ties it all together. Recipe yields 6 side salads.

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Ingredients

Salad

¼ cup sliced almonds
5 to 6 ounces baby arugula
2 oranges, peeled and sliced into thin rounds
2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (about ½ cup)
¼ cup thinly sliced and roughly chopped radishes
Pinch of ground cinnamon, to sprinkle on top

Lemon dressing

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 ½ teaspoons honey
¼ teaspoon salt

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Instructions

First, toast the almonds: In a small skillet over medium heat, warm the almonds until they are fragrant and starting to turn golden on the edges, stirring frequently (careful, they’ll burn!), about 5 minutes. Transfer them to a bowl to cool.
Place the arugula on a large serving platter or into a large serving bowl. Arrange the oranges, toasted almonds, goat cheese and radishes on top. Sprinkle the top lightly with a pinch or two of cinnamon. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, honey and salt. Whisk together until blended. Taste, and add a little more honey if it’s unpleasantly tart.
Once you’re ready to serve, drizzle the dressing lightly over the salad (you might have a little extra), toss, and serve immediately.

Notes

Storage suggestions: If you intend to have leftover salad, store the salad and dressing separately, and toss individual portions just before serving.

Make it dairy free: Omit the goat cheese.

Make it vegan: Omit the goat cheese and use maple syrup instead of honey.

Make it nut free: Substitute sunflower seeds for the almonds, or omit them altogether.

▸ Nutrition Information

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.

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