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This fennel salad with oranges and avocado is an amazing winter salad. It’s vibrant and refreshing, tangy and beautiful. 5 wholesome ingredients, 10 minutes to prep. This Orange and Fennel Salad tastes incredible, and doesn’t even need a salad dressing! This is definitely one of my favorite vegan fennel recipes and sure to brighten up your day.
Jump to:
- Ingredients and Substitutions:
- Why you will love this Fennel Salad:
- How do you peel an orange for Salad?
- How to cut a Fennel Bulb into slices for salad:
- How to cut a red onion for salad
- Debra’s Pro Tips:
- What to serve with orange fennel salad
- Orange Fennel Salad FAQs
- 📖 Recipe
This Citrus Fennel Salad is one of my favorite winter side dishes. I know, cutting the citrus and the fennel can be intimidating. Fear not, I have some visuals and easy directions to guide you through to the other side. I will show you how to cut citrus for a salad the easy way. I will also show you how to trim and use a bulb of fennel. You can do this! You’re just steps away from an AWESOME low carb orange and fennel salad!
If you’re trying to include more fresh produce in your diet, this fennel salad with oranges is a great place to start. It’s low in calories, big on taste and super simple to make. I challenge you to try different greens each time you go food shopping. Make sure to put watercress on the list this week!
This is an awesome winter salad since citrus is in season from December through March. If you’re looking for more ways to include salad in your menus all winter long, check out these Winter Salad Recipes
Ingredients and Substitutions:
- Oranges: Bright, beautiful and loaded with Vitamin C. I used an assortment of cara cara, blood oranges and navel oranges. You could also use grapefruit, cut the same way or a combination for a super citrus avocado salad.
- Fennel: High in fiber, potassium and folate. Raw fennel is crunchy and mildly sweet, with a slight licorice flavor. Fennel is good for the digestion and has been known to help with constipation. A good substitute would be sliced celery.
- Watercress: A super green for sure, with a little bit of a peppery and slightly spicy flavor. Watercress is nutrient dense…very low in calories and high in nutrition. Packed with Vitamins K, C, and A. Watercress is also extremely high in antioxidants, bone strengthening compounds and boosts immunity. Any green leafy would be an appropriate substitution. If I don’t have watercress, I use arugula because it also has a peppery flavor and is nutrient dense.
- Red onion: Adds both color and taste along with an impressive array of antioxidants. They fight inflammation and contribute to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Shallots would be a good substitution.
- Avocado: Healthy fats so the fat soluble vitamins in the greens are absorbable. Avocados are also rich in potassium and fiber. Plus they’re creamy, dreamy and enormously satisfying. If you need a substitution, make sure it’s a healthy fat (to better absorb the fat soluble vitamins in the greens). Good choices would be a tahini drizzle, a sprinkle of chia or hemp seeds, or a dollop (or two) of pesto.
Why you will love this Fennel Salad:
- It’s fresh, light and bright…perfect to chase away the winter blues.
- Each bite is a flavor bomb of juicy, peppery, tangy, tart and sweet.
- Watercress is a superfood…and this is a simple, tasty way to enjoy it.
- The perfect citrus salad to use up those gorgeous oranges, that are otherwise just going to sit there!
- Nutrient dense….but not another BORING salad….this is a FUN winter salad recipe.
- Meal prep friendly….save the avocados for last minute, but the rest will stay good in the fridge prepped in advance.
- Serve this any time of day. Citrus fennel salad is good for lunch or brunch, side salad for dinner.
- All you need is 5 ingredients, and 10 minutes…I’ll show you how.
How do you peel an orange for Salad?
Before you begin, make sure you have washed the outside of your orange well. Oranges are heavily sprayed and you’ll want to be sure none of the pesticides get mixed in with the fruit or the juice.
Cut off the ends so you can place the orange flat on a cutting board. A sharp chef’s knife is the easiest tool to get the job done. Then, start at the top and follow the curve of the orange around towards the bottom.
Continue along all sides until the peel and pith are fully removed.
Now, cut the orange in half. Place cut side down on the cutting board. Thinly slice the orange flesh from each half to include in the salad.
How to cut a Fennel Bulb into slices for salad:
- First, wash the outside of your fennel bulb.
- Next, cut off the tops, as shown above. Set the fronds aside, as they are totally edible and make great decorations for your citrus salad.
- Cut the end off the bottom so the fennel stands upright and then slice through the center to have two halves.
- Make thin slices—either vertically or horizontally—in the fennel and then continue with the other half.
How to cut a red onion for salad
- Peel the outer, papery layer off the outside of the red onion.
- Cut the onion, through the root end, in half.
- Place the cut side down and using a sharp knife, cut into as thin of slices as you can.
Debra’s Pro Tips:
- Wash all produce well before beginning….even the citrus that you’ll peel.
- Slice the onions and fennel as thinly as you can. Use a mandolin to make this job easier.
- Have everything cut and ready to go before you open your avocado.
- If you don’t have watercress, the best substitute is arugula.
- The greens will wilt and the avocado will turn brown over time….but the sliced citrus, fennel and onions will stay good for up to a week…so don’t be shy about meal prepping those items in advance.
- Use different types of oranges for an array of vibrant colors. Cara Cara are a deeper orange than navels and blood oranges are brighter red. Throw in some grapefruit slices too. Why not?
What to serve with orange fennel salad
- Vegan No Beef Stew
- Vegan Meatloaf Recipe
- Vegan Stuffed Peppers Lentils
- Vegan Lasagna Roll Ups
Orange Fennel Salad FAQs
Is Watercress a superfood?
Watercress is low in calories and high in nutrition which is great for weight loss. It is loaded with vitamins K, C and A. It’s also rich in minerals and antioxidants that promote a healthy immune system and bone density. It’s been shown that eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables reduce inflammation and the risk of chronic diseases. With so many greens to choose from, this healthy winter salad is a great opportunity to switch things up and include watercress. Watercress is also good for bone health, blood sugar and blood pressure regulation. Sounds super to me!!
What kind of oranges are best for a citrus salad?
I like to use an assortment of oranges for salad to have an array of color. Cara cara are my favorite because they have a bright orange color , and blood oranges are a vibrant red. Navel oranges tend to not have seeds, which is nice when slicing, and the color leans towards lighter orange.
Can you mix avocado with orange?
Absolutely! The combination of creamy avocado and juicy citrus makes for a refreshing salad that doesn’t even need dressing.
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📖 Recipe
Orange and Fennel Salad
Author: Debra Klein
Citrus + Fennel Salad with avocados. Vibrant and Healthy Winter Salad. Vegan, Gluten-Free and Easy to prepare.
5 from 56 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 10 minutes mins
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 182 kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 oranges*
- 2 small bulbs fennel
- 2 ripe avocados
- 1 small red onion
- 8 oz. watercress*
- ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Peel and slice the oranges: Slice off the ends of the orange so it will sit upright on a flat surface. Cut from top to bottom and all around, removing the skin and the white pith. Once orange is peeled, cut in half and then thinly slice. Save peels to squeeze out any remaining juice over the salad.
Prepare the fennel: Cut off a thin slice from the bottom and the fronds from the top. Slice in half through the core. Lay flat and then thinly slice. You can save the fronds to sprinkle over the top of the salad.
Prepare the Onion: Cut in half, through the stem and discard papery skin. Slice as thin as possible.
Prepare the avocado: Halve and pit. Use a knife to score cubes. Set aside and use a large spoon to scoop flesh out when ready to prepare saladPr
Prepare Watercress: Wash well and spin dry. Discard any woody stems.
PLATE THE SALAD: Line the bottom of a platter or large bowl with watercress. Artfully arrange layers of all other ingredients. Sprinkle with S+P and squeeze out any juice that remains in the orange peels.
Notes
* I used a combo of Cara Cara (the bright orange flesh), and blood oranges (the ruby colored). Make sure to wash the oranges well before beginning to cut the skins off.
* If you can't find watercress, substitute arugula or your favorite green.
* OPTIONAL; Drizzle with olive oil. If your avocados are ripe, the combination of the creamy avocado plus the juice from the oranges is enough to keep this salad from being too dry.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 182kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 4gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 213mgFiber: 8gSugar: 12g
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag me @dkhealthcoach or use hashtag #dkhealtcoach on Instagram so I can see it!!
More The Best Healthy Salad Recipes
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Lisa
Living in South Florida, we’ve got access to locally grown citrus, so this salad is definitely one I need to make. I love the flavors of fennel and watercress with the creamy avocado. This is like a plate of pure sunshine! Well done, Debra!
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Debra Klein
Thanks so much….the next best thing to living in the Sunshine State is eating from there!
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Gloria
I love blood oranges. Raw fennel is so delicious, and it took me years to try it this way. I would love this for dinner with a protien added for a nice light meal.
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Jenni LeBaron
This orange and fennel salad sounds so delicious. I love the blend of oranges with the almost peppery fennel and the texture here is spot on. This is such a refreshing way to approach winter produce!Reply
Dana
What a beautiful salad! I honestly just started eating/using fennel about two years ago. And I’m really into making up for lost time now. It’s so crisp and refreshing. Especially alongside juicy citrus fruit! <3
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Debra Klein
I’m totally crushing on fennel too! Not unhappy about it either!
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Dana Sandonato
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Trish Bozeman
So bright and beautiful and delicious! I am obsessed with all things citrus right now and love that you paired it with fennel and avocado. It doesn’t get any fresher and more vibrant than this during these gray, cold months!Reply
Sue
I love all these flavors, especially the citrus with avocado – so good!Reply
Emily Flint
This salad is so pretty to look at and packed with nutrition!Reply
Sunrita
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Kasy Allen
I’m always looking for new ways to use fennel bulb that I grow in the garden. Fennel mixed with avocado and oranges would be sublime!Reply
michele h peterson
I’m always on the look out for watercress recipes and the combo of watercress and fennel here is fantastic!Reply
Jakab & Haley
Looks so good!!
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Debra Klein
This one is as beautiful as it is tasty!
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Mama Maggie's Kitchen
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Capri
Made this for my family and we enjoyed it!Reply
Amanda Marie Boyle
Love the combo of orange and fennel, great dish.Reply
Robyn
This is such a beautiful and healthy salad, and what a great combination of flavours too!
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Debra Klein
Thank you….it’s also so EASY to make!
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dishnthekitchen
Such a beautiful, eye catching salad! i love all the flavours too…I never know what to do with fennel.
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Debra Klein
Give a little search for fennel on this site…I LOVE IT and use it all the time!
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Emily Woodward
I love the combo of the oranges and avocado!Reply
Kim Guzman
This was the perfect treat. The favors were unexpected and refreshing.Reply
Akiko
What a beautiful salad! This actually is perfect for breakfast, like you suggested.Reply
Audrey
Not only very good but a very pretty dish.Reply
Marina
Love the combination of fruit and vegetables in the saladReply
Catherine
This was so good!Reply
Leslie
So fresh and so delicious!Reply
Kristina
This is so good!Reply
Sondra Barker
SO fresh and easy! Love this recipe.
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Pam Greer
Love how light and healthy this is!Reply
serena
Simple & great flavorsReply
Kristina Tipps
This is a great recipe.Reply
Lilly
I love the flavors of this salad! Thanks for the recipe!Reply
kyleigh
Such a delicious healthy salad!Reply
Emily Flint
Orange and fennel go so well together!Reply
Amanda Scarlati
Love how easy and delicious this salad is. The watercress adds such a delicious flavor.Reply
LINDSAY HOWERTON'HASTIN
DELICIOUS! Can’t wait to make again.Reply
Melinda
I love crunchy fennel, great idea to toss it in a salad. Yummy!!Reply
