Orange Fennel Salad Recipe Toasted Fennel Vinaigrette Recipe | White (2024)

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by Todd + Diane

This citrus orange fennel salad is refreshing and simple. It’s a perfect recipe to celebrate citrus season.
Orange Fennel Salad Recipe Toasted Fennel Vinaigrette Recipe | White (1)

Orange Fennel Salad

Citrus season has finally arrived in our garden and hopefully in about 4 more weeks, we’ll be able to share a few rounds with friends. Last year we doubled up on an extra blood orange treeand an extra Eureka lemon tree. Plans for this year are to add 3 more citrus trees because, yes, we’re addicted.No, you really can’t have too much citrus, that’s our life motto. All the better to make co*cktail with!

We can’t tell you how excited we get when it comes to citrus gardening and there’s some fun news coming in February! Unfortunately we can’t spill any beans now, but know that it’s going to be about our crazy citrus tree collection!

Since last week’s Thanksgiving eating bonanza, followed up a ridiculous craving of belly burning chili cheese fries, we’re ready for something fresh. We’ve been gnawing on arugula leaves, celery and anything green that the garden is throwing out. The few days of holiday indulgence really did us in and it takes days of fresh raw veggies and citrus cleansing to get us ready for Christmas cookies and baked goods.

Orange Fennel Salad Recipe Toasted Fennel Vinaigrette Recipe | White (3)Perfect pairing of citrus and fennel

Tender baby fennel are perfect for picking, they’re sweet, crispy and perfectly fragrant. The aroma of the fennel coupled with the sweet acidity of the seasons first oranges make the perfect re-freshing follow-up to all the turkey, stuffing and fries we indulged in.

Citrus and fennel are such a wonderful pairing. Something magical happens on the palate when fennel and citrus come together. With some added baby arugula, this terrific winter salad is bursting with flavor. Each bite is juicy, sweet, floral and tenderly spicy from the delicate arugula. The vinaigrette in this salad is laced with the warm flavors of toasted fennel seeds. It’s hard to not want to have two plates of this, even for breakfast. Why not have a orange and fennel breakfast salad?

This recipe is wonderful with oranges, but we’ve seen other fabulous variations with tangerines and grapefruits. Every variation seems like a perfect accompaniment to delicate, crunchy fennel bulbs. You can create any ratio you want with the citrus and sliced fennel. Maybe when our fennel bulbs become more robust, we’ll adapt the recipe to be a fennel and orange salad.

Either way, hope you enjoy this wonderful salad to celebrate the arrival of wonderful citrus. Hope your home fills up with plenty of bright, fragrant zest!

-Todd and Diane

the aroma of fresh tender fennel bulbs & orange peel is amazing!

Orange Fennel Salad Recipe Toasted Fennel Vinaigrette Recipe | White (6)

Orange Fennel Salad w/ toasted Fennel Vinaigrette

Yield: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Adapted from Lucini Orange Fennel Salad

5 from 5 votes

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Ingredients

  • 4 Oranges , approximately
  • 1 Tablespoon Fennel Seeds
  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil ,
  • 2 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt , or more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 medium Fennel Bulb , thinly sliced
  • handful of Baby Arugula Leaves (optional)

Instructions

  • Slice the rind and pith completely off of the oranges. Next slice the oranges 1/4" thick.

  • In a dry saute pan over medium heat, toast the fennel seeds for a few minutes until the aroma is nicely released and they change color slightly. Crush well in a mortar & pestle or grind in a small spice grinder or coffee grinder.

  • Combine ground fennel seeds, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk to mix.

  • Layer orange slices and sliced fennel bulb on serving plates. Quickly re-mix vinaigrette then dress oranges and fennel. Garnish with arugula.*Another option for salad - Layer in a lot more arugula to have a more greens-heavy salad. The pepperiness of the arugula goes quite well with freshness of the oranges and fennel.

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 181kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 324mg, Potassium: 505mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 13g, Vitamin A: 373IU, Vitamin C: 77mg, Calcium: 99mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American, Fruit, Vegetable

Calories: 181

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22 comments on “Orange & Fennel Salad with Toasted Fennel Vinaigrette – Welcoming Citrus Season”

  1. Lora Rahe January 15, 2019 @ 12:25 pm Reply

    I would suggest using seasoned rice wine vinegar as balsamic overpowers the fennel flavor.

  2. Natasha May 2, 2012 @ 9:33 pm Reply

    Omg..I just tried this salad..and it’s sooooo fresh and delicious! Loved the fennel and orange combination! Yum Yum!Orange Fennel Salad Recipe Toasted Fennel Vinaigrette Recipe | White (10)

  3. the jewish hostess December 11, 2010 @ 7:11 pm Reply

    you guys are doing a great job!! Love your photos and recipes!

Leave a Reply

Orange Fennel Salad Recipe Toasted Fennel Vinaigrette Recipe | White (2024)

FAQs

What mixes well with fennel? ›

When it comes to flavour matches, with fennel you're spoilt for choice. Thanks to its subtle aniseed taste, it's so good with seafood – whether that's stuffed into whole fish, shaved into an accompanying side salad, or tossed through a pasta dish. But it's also delicious with chicken or pork, particularly sausages.

What is fennel salad made of? ›

Shaved fennel, thin zucchini coins, arugula, dill, nuts, and feta are tossed with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. That's it, really. Dead simple. I use this mandoline to make feathery whispers of fennel, but if a knife is what you've got, that'll work too.

Why put fennel in ice water? ›

There's a reason old-school steakhouses serve their crudités on a bed of ice: it makes them crisp. Sliced fennel or radishes soaked in ice water get significantly crispier—you can even store them overnight in a bowl of ice water in the fridge to use in salad the next day.

Is fennel a laxative? ›

Can fennel seeds cause constipation? Fennel seeds are unlikely to cause constipation. In fact, they are often used to relieve digestive issues, including constipation, as they can help promote bowel movement and ease digestion.

Who should not drink fennel? ›

Hormone-sensitive condition such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Fennel might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by estrogen, do not use fennel.

What part of fennel can you not eat? ›

Technically speaking, all parts of the plant are edible, but most people will find the stalks too tough and fibrous to eat. The leaves can be chopped and used to flavor salads, dressings, marinades and sauces. They tend to have a slightly more citrusy flavor than the base. The base (or bulb) is delicious raw or cooked.

Is fennel good or bad for you? ›

Fresh fennel bulb is a good source of vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin critical for immune health, tissue repair, and collagen synthesis ( 2 ). Vitamin C also acts as a potent antioxidant in your body, protecting against cellular damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals ( 3 ).

What part of fennel for salad? ›

Recipes most often call for the bulb, but don't toss those tops! Finely mince the fronds to use as an aromatic garnish for salads, soups, pasta, and more, or save the fennel stalks and leaves to use in homemade vegetable broth.

What happens if we drink fennel water daily? ›

If you face a lot of problems related to digestion then start drinking fennel seeds water or tea everyday. By promoting the production of the gastric enzymes, fennel seeds keep all digestion related issues at bay. It keeps the digestive tract healthy. It treats constipation, indigestion, and bloating too.

Should we drink fennel water hot or cold? ›

Good for digestion

Fennel tea water is a great way to reap its benefits. It will help in soothing your muscles and provide relief from constipation, bloating, and gas. You can have fennel water both hot and cold, as per your preference.

What is the best way to cut fennel for salad? ›

To prepare the fennel, first slice the stalks and fronds away from the top. Use the fronds to sprinkle over the salad before serving. Give the bulb a wash with cold water, dry it and lie the bulb on one of its wider sides. Carefully slice it in half from the top (where the stalks were) to the base.

Can you eat raw fennel? ›

The fennel bulb can be eaten raw or cooked — both have their perks! When raw, fennel is crunchy and sweet; once cooked, it becomes silky soft.

What is the top of fennel called? ›

Fennel Fronds Are Delicious! Stop Throwing Them Out!

How do you balance fennel? ›

Beyond that, another trick you can try is to braise or roast the fennel, which tends to give a much gentler taste than when eaten raw. Finally, if you are going for it raw, you can always balance the bitterness by pairing it with sweeter ingredients like orange or figs.

What flavor does fennel add to food? ›

Fennel has a very mild anise or licorice flavor that can be enhanced or sweetened depending on how it is cooked (or not cooked). When diced and sauteed with onions as one of the first steps when making a soup or stew, fennel becomes very sweet.

What is fennel used to flavor? ›

One way to get started cooking with fennel is to use it anywhere you would use celery. It's a natural in soups, sauces, and stews, particularly tomato-based recipes. When chopped or sliced, it makes a great raw addition to salads. It is luscious when roasted.

What seasoning is fennel used in? ›

The dried fruit, also called seed, is a prized spice known for its sweet anise-like taste and culinary versatility, used in everything from seasoning fish to pickling vegetables. It is an integral spice in the garam masala blend of India and the famed Chinese five-spice powder.

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