This beautifully fresh winter citrus avocado salad is bursting with flavor! Juicy orange slices in a bed of kale with creamy avocado, and a citrus vinaigrette drizzled over top.
A winter salad for all the citrus lovers! Each bite of this citrus avocado salad is bursting with winter oranges, crunchy walnuts for texture, and creamy avocado. It’s fresh, bright, and the perfect salad if you want to try something new!
It’s drizzled with a homemade citrus dressing that uses both a citrus champagne vinaigrette and fresh orange juice for tangy flavor! The dressing is light in flavor, simple to make, and so good you could top it on any salad you fancy.
Ready to make it?!
Ingredients – What You Need
Below you’ll find the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe!
Oranges: The star of the show! You can use any type of orange you like. I did a blend of blood orange and naval.
Avocado: for a touch of creamy texture!
Walnuts: to add a bit of texture and crunch. You can also use toasted hazelnuts or pecans!
Kale: I used organic baby kale leaves but you can also use spinach, arugula, or mixed greens.
Red onion: for a little extra zing of flavor!
Let’s Make the Citrus Vinaigrette
For the vinaigrette, you’ll need a handful of pantry items, plus some extra citrus for a splash of flavor. Here’s everything you’ll need – dijon mustard, half an orange, olive oil, citrus vinegar, garlic powder, and salt & pepper.
The first step in making this salad – mix together the dressing ingredients! In a small mason jar or glass bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients (or shake them in a jar with a lid) and add salt & black pepper to taste.
Next – drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and serve!
Tips for Success & Recipe Variations
Salad variations – Some additional vegetables you can add to the salad to switch up the flavors would be fennel, pomegranate seeds, dried cranberries or dried cherries, or fresh herbs like oregano or basil. Instead of walnuts, you can also use chopped and roasted hazelnuts, pecans, or almonds.
Dressing options – if you can’t find citrus champagne vinaigrette at your local store, I recommend white balsamic instead! Both are light and perfect with the citrus flavors.
Types of kale to use – for the base of the salad I used baby kale which is softer in texture and pretty mild in flavor. You can also use Tuscan kale or regular kale – if you’re not a kale fan you can swap for spinach, arugula, or mixed greens instead!
Types of citrus to use – for this salad I used a blend of naval and blood oranges! They’re super sweet and extra juicy. If you want to add a touch of grapefruit which is a little tart and sweet – that works wonderfully too!
More Delicious Salads to Try
Pear Salad with Gorgonzola
Autumn Kale & Butternut Squash Salad
Summer Farro Salad with Cherries & Chickpeas
Tuscan Artichoke Salad
Winter Citrus Avocado Salad
Ingredients
- 2 oranges skin removed and sliced
- 2 heaping cups greens baby kale, spinach, or mixed greens work
- 1 avocado
- 2 Tablespoons walnuts, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion slices
Citrus Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup citrus champagne vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 3 Tablespoons orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon (each) black pepper & salt
Instructions
- Prepare the salad: on a plate or large salad bowl, arrange the kale and top with orange slices, red onion, walnuts, and avocado pieces.
- Mix dressing: in a mason jar (with a lid) add all of the salad dressing ingredients, shake the jar of ingredients with a tightly closed lid for about 10 seconds. If you don't have a jar you can whisk in a small bowl or glass. Taste, adjust flavor if needed. Serve dressing over salad!
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