Fennel, juicy oranges, dried cranberries and capers all tossed in a leafy green salad with an orange vinaigrette makes this a wonderful sweet and tangy refreshing salad.

Fresh oranges add a burst of citrus flavor while the fennel gives the salad a crunchy anise-like flavor. Add sweet dried cranberries, briny capers and a few nuts and this salad takes care of all flavors and textures – crunchy, soft, sweet, sour = delicious 😋. 

About the recipe

I had this delicious orange and fennel salad at an intimate lunch hosted by my friend Rose a while back. A small group of us got together to celebrate our unique friendship and this fennel and orange salad was on the menu. It added a light freshness to our lunch and started off our afternoon gathering in a perfectly delicious way.

Shaved Fennel and Orange Salad
recipe contributed by Rose

Ingredients:

• 1 Fennel bulb cut into thin slices
• 2 oranges – navel and tangerine peeled and separated
• 2 tbsp dried cranberries
• 2 tbsp capers or 1/4 cup briny olives
• Pine nuts & roasted pistachios – as much as you want
• 1/2 lb super greens blend of arugula leaves, spinach, radicchio and lettuce

• Orange dijon vinaigrette
  • 3 tsp Dijon mustard
  • Juice from 1/2 orange – about 1/4 cup
  • 6 tbsp Muscat vinegar or any sweet balsamic vinegar
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp poppy seeds (optional)
• Feta cheese as much as you want (optional)

Directions:

• Make the salad dressing. Orange dijon vinaigrette
• Place the shaved fennel, orange slices and capers at the bottom of a salad bowl. Top with super greens. Then sprinkle cranberries and nuts. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Right before serving salad toss with orange vinaigrette.
• Top with feta cheese (optional) and serve right away.