Citrus salad is a beautiful blend of blood and naval oranges, grapefruit slices, and avocado drizzled with an orange dijon vinaigrette.
Best served over a bed of greens with a variety of winter citrus fruits, avocado, red onion, and goat cheese, this may become your new favorite dressing for citrus salad!
This recipe isn’t so much about the salad, as it is about the salad dressing. I stopped buying bottled dressing many moons ago, much to my family’s annoyance.
My family loves blue cheese dressing, Green Goddess dressing, or even some good olive oil with lemon juice or vinegar (and some salt and ground black pepper). But my 21-year-old, Emma, has always enjoyed my made-from-scratch orange vinaigrette dressing.
I don’t think many people realize how easy, and I mean really easy, it is to make a simple and delicious homemade orange citrus salad dressing.
Should I Use Olive Oil For Vinaigrette Dressing?
When you read the label on a bottle of “classic Italian” salad dressing, olive oil is almost never listed in the first few ingredients.
In a “classic” vinaigrette dressing, olive oil should be the star. This is also the time to use the best olive oil you can afford.
I have no less than 4 different types and qualities of olive oil in my cupboard. I splurge on the best imported olive oil from a local specialty store, (though sometimes I might collect them when I travel) just for drizzling on tomatoes in a Caprese salad or in salad dressing.
Ingredients in Orange Mustard Vinaigrette
A classic vinaigrette consists of oil, apple cider vinegar, or in this case, citrus juice, for acidity, and a bit of sweetness, either from a whisper of sugar or honey. Herbs are a nice touch, though not necessary.
My go-to fresh herb is thyme. While I love basil, I feel it is decidedly a summer herb. Thyme seems to float effortlessly between all the seasons.
Thyme also grows year-round in my pathway, making it easy to pick and add to just about any dish I prepare.
If you stick to the basic vinaigrette rule and test several types of oils and vinegar, you will find a blend that’s pleasing to your family.
To make the orange vinaigrette, simply whisk all of the ingredients together.
Serve immediately over salad greens and/or citrus slices, and store the rest in the refrigerator!
This orange dijon vinaigrette recipe is delicious with winter citrus fruits. I used grapefruit, oranges, and blood oranges, but it would also be delicious on a simple romaine salad.
In addition to the citrus fruits, this salad has avocado slices, purple onion, slivers of endive, and goat cheese. Those ingredients make this a lovely and light vegetarian entree.
Now that you have the lovely orange dijon dressing, it’s time to make the citrus salad.
How to Make a Citrus Salad
My citrus salad recipe, which makes around 8 servings, has these ingredients:
- 2 oranges peeled and sliced
- 2 blood oranges peeled and sliced
- 1 grapefruit peeled and sliced
- 2 avocados peeled and sliced
- 1 purple onion peeled and sliced thinly
- 8 cups field greens
- 1 head radicchio sliced
- 6 ounces goat cheese crumbled
- Fresh thyme for garnish
Making any kind of salad is easy, and a citrus salad is no exception!
All there is to do is lay the field greens on a platter or serving dish, arrange the fruit and avocado, and top with crumbled goat cheese.
Finally, drizzle with the orange dijon dressing, and enjoy!
Orange Dijon Vinaigrette with Fresh Thyme
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 c. olive oil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk all dressing ingredients together. (Orange juice through black pepper)
- Serve immediately over salad greens or citrus slices. Store leftover dressing in the refrigerator.
Jelayne says
Beautiful photograph of the Citrus Salad! It looks delicious. I’ve started making my own dressing with some olive oil from our local farmers market and I’ll definitely try your recipe.
Cynthia says
Thank you Jelyane!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Gorgeous salad and vinaigrette with fresh thyme! What a treat. I love a simple dressing like this with fresh herbs, can’t beat it!
Cynthia says
Thank you Allie!
Christina | Christina's Cucina says
I’d frame these photos! They make me HAPPY! Not to mention reading what you just wrote about bottled “Italian dressings!” (APPLAUSE) There is a reason it is in quotation marks. I have never seen a bottle of dressing in Italy, although, maybe things may be changing over there as they seem to be copying the American lifestyle in many ways.
Cynthia says
Thank you Christina! xo
Karen @ The Food Charlatan says
What a gorgeous salad Cynthia! And wow I am impressed that you never buy the bottled stuff. Homemade dressing is always better but I’m so lazy! But orange dijon?? I need to try this!
Cynthia says
Well, my husband loves his blue cheese dressing…so every once in a while I do buy him some blue cheese. But a homemade salad is so fast and so much healthier than store-bought.
Catherine says
Dear Cynthia, this salad is absolutely gorgeous! All those beautiful colors are enough to brighten any day. Love this. xo, Catherine
Cynthia says
Thank you Catherine!
Mimi says
Wow. I can’t get past those photos!! I have an Emma also – she’s 30. I think every girl under the age of ten is named Emma now!!
Cynthia says
Thank you Mimi! I think you’re right! Emma’s a very popular name now!
Summer says
I would gladly have this for lunch today ♥
summerdaisy.net
Cynthia says
thank you summer!
fabiola@notjustbaked says
My kind of perfect salad. Anything avocado and citrus is so perfect right now!
Vicky @AvocadoPesto says
I too am all about making salad dressing from scratch — so much better for you than the store bought. I am all about the basil and actually never cook with or use thyme in my recipes but need to give it a chance! Love the sound of this salad dressing!
Cynthia says
I use basil mostly in the summer since it grows in my garden then…thyme grows year round so I tend to use it more in the winter and spring. I also think thyme has a much more subtle flavor for vinaigrettes.
Brandon @ Kitchen Konfidence says
Such a beauty Cynthia! I just love salads like this.
Cynthia says
Thank you Brandon!
Megan - The Emotional Baker says
Wow! This is gorgeous 🙂 Love the vinaigrette ingredients!
Cynthia says
thank you Megan!
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet says
WOW! This is a gorgeous salad. Love the avocados and citrus paired with this vinaigrette. 🙂
Cynthia says
Thank you so much!
Diane says
How much avocado? The ingredients don’t list it.
Diane says
Sorry – I see, it’s a dressing recipe, with the other ingredients to be determined by whoever makes it. Looks delish!
Cynthia says
Well, it’s just a salad, so you could add one or 3. Same with the citrus, depending on how much salad you want, and how much you like, the salad dressing will make enough for several salads.
Jess says
Wow, talk about delicious! I especially love your food-tography 🙂 totally pinning, have a great day! xo
Lauren says
The most beautiful salad I’ve seen! And looks so tasty too.
Sumit says
Eating salad is really good for health. Thanks for sharing such an awesome heavenly recipe. I hope you will like Cottage Cheese and Spinach Wonton Recipe Link is here https://amazingshining.com/cottage-cheese-and-spinach-wonton-recipe/
Nancy Baldrige Adams says
Simple. Easy. Delicious..
Cynthia says
thank you!
Jill is Mad About Macarons says
This looks and sounds fabulous, Cynthia. Love all the ingredients and a lovely touch with the citrus and goat’s cheese. We love Dijon mustard too!
Cynthia says
Thanks! It’s a lovely wintery salad!
Mahy says
I miss fruit salads so much! It’s been a while since I made one, so this recipe is very timely.
Cynthia says
Perfect for the holidays too!
Jamie says
This is such a beautiful citrus salad! I love all the colors and the dressing is so flavorful!
Cynthia says
Thank you!
Charles says
Your wonderful Citrus Salad is also quite beautiful and healthy! Thanks for sharing!
Cynthia says
Thank you!
Sara Welch says
This was equally delicious and it was beautiful! So easy and satisfying; definitely a new favorite salad!
Anjali says
This salad was so refreshing and delicious! Love the honey in the dressing – it really highlighted the citrus ingredients so well!