Ok, here’s another salad recipe that will have you salivating for all things fresh and bright. This refreshing arugula and citrus salad will have you feeling the sunshine on a cloudy day! It’s got big flavor for a salad and is an excellent lunch or dinner all on it’s own but is also an excellent accompaniment to a main dish.
Let’s talk citrus fruit shall we? Did you know that grapefruit is actually in season between October and April and Navel Oranges hit their peak between November and January making them extra sweet and delicious. Aside from being in season these delicious citrus fruits are high in vitamin C – something so important for our bodies these days to help keep our immune systems in fighting shape.
Pomegranates are in season only through November but since they store well you can usually find them in stores until December and even January. I’ve been on a pomegranate kick this year putting these little gems on absolutely everything. Pomegranates are not only delicious but they have come to be regarded by some in the wellness space as a “superfood” as of late. These little red gems contain powerful antioxidants which help fight inflammation and cancer as well helping with high blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Some folks also believe pomegranates act like a natural viagra 🙂
I love them for their sweet taste and texture – they compliment so many foods! This salad is no exception however if you can’t locate any in your area cranberries are also an excellent add to this salad and little superfood powerhouses themselves.
The base of this salad is one of my favorite lettuces – wild arugula! It’s got a rustic peppery bite to it that works nicely with the citrus and creamy goat cheese. Not to mention it being part of the cruciferous family of vegetables known for their cancer fighting properties.
The dressing on this on is super simple but key to bringing the flavors in this pretty salad home. Avocado oil, grapefruit juice, honey, salt and pepper make an easy but healthy and delicious dressing. You can also use orange juice instead of grapefruit if you prefer a more sweet to tart dressing.
I don’t know about you but I am always on the hunt for new ways to enjoy salads and incorporate a greater variety of plants into my diet. I hope you try this combination for its immune boosting nutrients and that you enjoy it as much we did.
Refreshing Citrus & Arugula Salad
Equipment
- Salad Bowl
- Knives
- Whisk
Materials
- 3 cups Wild Arugula
- 1/2 Pomegranate seeded
- 1 Ruby Red Grapefruit in slices
- 1 Navel Orange segments
- 1/4 cup Pumpkin Seeds
- 1/4 cup Goat Cheese Crumbled
For the Dressing
- 1/3 cup Avocado Oil
- 2 tbsp Orange or Grapefruit juice
- 2 tsp Honey
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry your Arugula and add it to a large salad bowl.
- Peel and segment your orange and then cut the ends off your grapefruit and slice down to remove the peel and then slice in discs
- Cut your Pomegranate in half and seed it, I like to slice it in half and then whack the top with a heavy spoon until the majority of the seeds are released.
- Crumble your goat cheese
- Make the dressing by adding all ingredients to a small bowl and whisking until the dressing emulsifies, you will most likely need to mix the dressing right before serving as honey does not emulsify as well as mustard.
- Pile your citrus, seeds, cheese and pomegranates atop your arugula and drizzle liberally with dressing. Serve and enjoy.
