Fennel and Citrus Salad with its crisp and bright flavors is a welcomed seasonal dish during these short days of winter.
Santa brought us tickets for a show in NYC! It was a whirlwind 24 hours. We arrived to Times Square Wednesday afternoon with just enough time to freshen up and make our way to see The Present on Broadway. After the show (which was amazing by the way), we had a late dinner in a small Irish Pub before heading back to our hotel. On Thursday we took to the streets and made our way to Rockefeller Center, then to see the gorgeously adorned windows of Saks Fifth Avenue, with a final pit stop at Barnes & Noble. With books, cocoa and coffee in hand – we stepped outside and were greeted by sheets of condensation.
The rain begged us to take cover. And just like that, families, large and small, swarmed to the nearest overhangs like bees to honey. It was quite the choreography.
Once nestled into our tiny locale, all five of us tucked under a looming awning just outside Barnes & Noble, we were able to take in the sights…cold rain as it fell faster and more furiously; umbrellas creating rainbows that bobbed and weaved through the crowds; and the people. This was the perfect location for People Watching 101. So I asked my family, “What’s the first question that comes to mind when witnessing folks make their way down this busy avenue?” They thought for a moment and said they wondered where they were off to; Luc wondered what they were thinking about; and I wondered about their homes. Where do they live? What does their kitchen look like? How grand is the door that greets them? Is it a decorative entry with a porch dressed in twinkle lights or is it a side door that’s entered through the garage? Although I’ll never know the answers, for some reason, I imagined their homes to be cozy and warm.
So, it’s the New Year! And with all the healthy recipes enticing us to eat better and smarter I was inspired to participate.
Enter gorgeous citrus and crunchy fennel! With citrus the color of a sunrise and fennel often associated with Italian cooking overflowing at the markets, it was easy for me to decide what to share.
Buh-bye white sugar, hello Vitamin C, fiber and potassium.
The subtle anise flavor of the fennel plays nicely with the bright flavors of the citrus and faint bite of the shallot.
Fennel and Citrus Salad will fit nicely into any healthy eating plan!
Buon Appetito!
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Fennel and Citrus Salad
- Category: Salad
Ingredients
- Salad
- 1 large fennel bulb, thinly sliced, fronds reserved for garnish
- 1 shallot, minced
- Zest of 1 orange
- 1 tsp fresh thyme
- A mix of citrus – 4 blood oranges, 2 tangerines, 2 grapefruit, 2 Cara Cara oranges (whatever your preference), peeled, sliced and seeded
- 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
- Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. champagne vinegar
- Juice and zest of 1 orange
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine the fennel, shallot, zest and thyme.
- In a small bowl whisk the dressing ingredients.
- Layer the sliced citrus with the fennel mixture on individual plates.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad.
- Garnish with fennel fronds and pistachios.
CIAO!
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[…] love that citrus season is smack dab in the dead of winter! This fennel and citrus salad, and this upside down citrus cake are reminders that January can still be bright and […]
Oh my! This is so colorful and beautiful. Love the crunchy combo of pistachios with the citrus zing. Thanks!
Thank you, Cindy! These ingredients play very well together! 🙂
I love this type of salad. To me, it seems so quintessentially Italian. As a former New Yorker, I can tell you that the average person lives in a teeny, tiny apartment with a kitchen the size of a large closet! They can, nonetheless, be truly cozy. To me, “cozy” is something you bring to your home, rather than find it there.
Indeed it is! I love that! And I couldn’t agree with you more about cozy being created! That’s the best, isn’t it?! Thanks, Jeff!
Love the combo of fennel and citrus together! Can’t wait to try your recipe and especially that dressing…YUM!!!! So glad you two had an awesome time in NYC. We went 2 years ago around the Christmas holiday and it was so beautiful. Makes me wish we went back this year 🙂
There’s always next year! 🙂 Thanks, my friend!
Indeed! Healthy eating that’s so lovable!! Thanks, Amanda!
I enjoy your family pics on IG! This wakes me up and the photos are beautiful. Love that fennel mixed in there. Highly under used I say and you make it shine here Annie. That pour shot is fantastic.
Thank you so much, Kevin! I can’t resist the slight licorice flavor of the fennel against the citrus! 🙂
Your photos are so enticing. I make an orange and fennel salad…next time I’m making your version with a mixture of citrus.
Go big or go home I always say! 😉 Thanks so much, Karen!
What a fantastic gift from Santa! NYC is such a magical place around the holidays – somehow, I always feel like it has to be cold when I visit, it just feels right. Also magical, the combination of orange and fennel! It’s just such a wonderful pairing – elegant, easy, and perfectly balanced. And that dressing sounds amazing!
We love getting there whenever we can, but it’s especially magical at the holidays! There’s just something about fennel with citrus! So bright and flavorful!
Gosh, Annie! Your photos are absolutely breathtaking and this salad looks so good! It certainly sounds like you had a wonderful time in NYC! I love imagining where people are going and what their homes look like. You make it sound so romantic playing this game snuggled with your family safe from the rain.
Thank you so much Rachelle! Citrus made the job easy! 🙂
Your evening sounds so magical, rain and all ?. This salad is just what the new year calls for! Fennel is everything to me and citrus fruit is the sunshine these cloudy days call for! Take care!
I find it even more important during these grey days to eat food that is colorful! So happy you like it! Thanks, Stacey!!
Lucky you – sounds like a fun trip despite the rain! At least it didn’t snow. This looks so fresh and healthy. I love citrus and fennel together. Happy New Year!
It’s a lovely combination! Thanks, Karen! Happy New Year!
Despite the rain, sounds like you all had such fun Annie! Happy New Year!
This is one of my favorite January salad when it’s all about yummy citrus fruits! Getting your recipe on the menu soon! Thanks for sharing!
We sure did! Oh yes – this has January written all over it! Thank you, my friend!
Beautiful salad! I love the different colored oranges to enhance the visual appeal but I bet the taste is outstanding. The salad is simple but looks so sophisticated. I’m pinning and making it. Have a great day!
Thank you Marisa! It doesn’t get much simpler but boy is it good! 🙂
Glad you had such a wonderful trip with your family, Annie. There’s so much to see and do in NYC – sounds like you had a lovely time. And since it’s citrus season, this recipe is perfect – simple, healthy and so good for you!
This is exactly the kind of food I’ve been craving lately! Thanks, my friend! 🙂
I would love to visit NYC and see a show (and visit some restaurants, of course). Sounds like you had a wonderful time, despite the weather. Rain is no stranger around here, that’s for sure! I people watch too (don’t we all, lol). You should write a book or something, Annie. I swear, when I read your posts, I just get so enthralled and want to read more 🙂 Truth 😉 ! This citrus salad is just gorgeous! Love the fennel in there too and Cara Cara oranges just happen to be my favourite. Love how easy they are to peel and how juicy they are! Happy Monday, my friend! XO
We really did! And the rain only added to the experience! Wow, I am humbled by your very kind words! Thank you so much, Dawn! I love to write, so that means A LOT to me! Cara Cara’s are the best! Have a great day, my friend! xoxo
such a pretty salad Annie! Sounds very refreshing. Have a wonderful week ahead 🙂
Thank you, Manali!! 🙂
I’m a people watcher too!! And I ALWAYS wonder about people’s homes! Great inquisitive minds ponder alike? 😉 Glad you guys had a great time in NYC despite the weather not cooperating! This salad is gorgeous, Annie! I LOVE citrus with fennel, but can you believe I’ve never just had those two things as a salad? WHYYYY? Clearly I am fixing that pronto and making this beauty! Love love loooove! Cheers, dear! xo
There you go! 😉 We did have a great time. And truth is – the rain actually added to the ambiance, forcing us to stay still for a little bit was quite a treat! hahah! I think you’ll love the simplicity of this salad! Enjoy!! xo
I love, love, LOVE NYC! My absolute favorite place in the US! I almost moved there after I graduated college, so now I just settle for trips there. Hope you had a blast! And I always wonder about where people live and work there. Such a busy and exciting city. This salad looks perfect to kick off the new year, Annie! I love the fennel and fruits. Just what I need for this Monday morning!
There’s something very special about NYC! My daughter Lauren lived there for a short while following college and she loved it. She talks about going back when she finishes Grad school…I can see why! I think you’ll really love this salad! Thanks, Gayle!!
What a lovely trip. My question would be, “Where are they headed? Home? Work? Dinner?” Your citrus salad comes at a perfect time for me! I have a surplus of oranges and grapefruit just waiting to be eaten! This salad is now on my list!
Ahhhh! So glad I could provide another idea for all your lovely citrus! Enjoy, my friend! 🙂