Provençal Orange Salad

The citrus season is here and it’s juicy and sweet . This winter citrus salad is a combination of a few recipes and they work well together.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

½ small red onion

3 seedless oranges, such as Cara Cara or navel

3 blood oranges

3 mandarins, peeled and segmented

½ fennel bulb, top and core removed

10 large green olives, such as Picholine or Castelvetrano, pitted

1½ tablespoons julienned fresh mint leaves

1½ tablespoons julienned fresh basil leaves

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Turmeric and Black Pepper–Citrus Dressing (recipe follows)

 

Directions:

Slice the onion crosswise in very thin half-rounds, place in a small bowl, and cover with ice water for 15 minutes. (This softens the pungency of the raw onion and makes a big difference in the salad.) Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, cut the ends off all the oranges with a serrated knife and stand each one on a flat end. Slice down the side of each orange to remove all the peel and white pith, then slice each orange crosswise in ⅓-inch-thick rounds, discarding any seeds.

 

Place the oranges and all the juices on a platter. Slice the fennel crosswise very thinly by hand or with a mandoline, and distribute the fennel slices on the oranges. Sprinkle on the drained red onion, the olives, mint, basil, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Toss gently, taste for seasonings, and serve at room temperature.

 

Turmeric and Black Pepper–Citrus Dressing

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients:

½ cup fresh lemon juice

2 tsp honey

2 tsp peeled, finely grated ginger

1 tsp ground turmeric

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt Freshly ground pepper

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice, honey, ginger, and turmeric and whisk to blend. While whisking continuously, stream in the olive oil until the dressing is smooth and assumes a color that makes you feel healthy. Season with salt and add as little or as much pepper as you like. The dressing keeps, covered and refrigerated, for up to 2 days.

SaladsLili Courtney