Citrus Avocado Salad: A Healthy Winter Delight
Orange, avocado and peppery greens are tossed with a bright tangy and sweet citrus honey vinaigrette. This delicious salad’s sweet, creamy, crisp and slightly bitter edge provides a nice contrast to rich winter meals. It’s a healthy start for the New Year, rich in vitamins, healthy fats, and fiber.
I live in an area of Florida known for growing some of the world’s finest oranges and grapefruit. Citrus from groves in the Indian River region are picked at their peak from December through May.
While in season, I like to use oranges in a simple salad with avocado, arugula and radicchio. I use orange segments as part of the salad. Their juice serves as the base of a simple citrus honey vinaigrette.
Adding bitter greens to winter salads add complexity and vibrancy to cold weather dishes. Readily available, peppery greens like arugula and radicchio are rich in potassium, magnesium and fiber. Their nutrients support health, especially when paired with sweet elements like citrus.
The bitter, peppery flavors of the arugula and radicchio are balanced by the sweetness of oranges and creamy avocado. They are further tempered by the sweet citrus honey vinaigrette which can be adjusted to taste.
Citrus Avocado Salad
Serves 2, adjust accordingly
Spicy Citrus Honey Vinaigrette
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. fresh orange juice (I used the retained juices of the sectioned orange)
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp. honey or to taste
- 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp. or to taste sriracha or hot sauce of your choice
- 1/4 tsp. salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
Place all the ingredients except the oil in a small bowl and stir to combine. Slowly whisk in the oil until emulsified. Taste and adjust for sweetness and acidity, if necessary. Makes approximately 1/3 cup.
Salad
- 2 c. or more baby arugula
- a few leaves of radicchio, torn into small pieces (a little goes a long way)
- 1 – 2 oranges, depending on size (I used Navel)
- 1 avocado, peeled, pit removed and sliced
- salt and pepper to taste
NOTES FROM THE KITCHEN
If radicchio is too bitter for your liking you can soak it in water for about 30 minutes.
Peel the orange. Cut into segments over a bowl, cutting the flesh from each side of the membrane. Carefully remove any seeds that are present and set the orange segments aside. Reserve the collected juice in the bowl for the vinaigrette (you will need at least one tablespoon).
Put the greens in a large serving bowl. Drizzle with some of the vinaigrette and toss well to coat all of the leaves. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed, and toss again. Divide between two salad bowls. Top with orange and avocado slices. Drizzle with a little extra vinaigrette and serve.
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This citrus avocado salad is a healthy winter delight. It is quick and easy to prepare and is easily adapted to your own preferences. Enjoy!
This is gorgeous, Karen. Wonderful flavours.
Thank you Kay, it really is a flavorful salad.
That sounds lovely Karen – an antidote to Christmas excess!
Thank you Mad Dog, that is what I thought too. As we ease back into eating more normal, I think this is easy way to not feel too deprived. 😊
Ha ha, definitely no deprivation!
What a delightful combination! Sounds like the perfect light meal, anytime. Delish!
Thank you it is a nice combination of flavors.
looks like a great salad. I do love fruit in my salad. My husband loves avocado.🥑 Happy New Year 🎉🎊
Hi Linda, this sounds like the perfect salad for the two of you.
A grilled piece of fish or chicken, a glass of dry white wine and this > what a beautiful repast whether one lives north or south of the Equator! Hope the festive days treated you well. . . all the best when we write 2026!
I totally agree with you Eha, this salad is good no matter what the season.
This looks delicious. Thanks!
Thank you Carol, the salad is as good as it looks.
Citrus and avocado in salad is one of my favorite combinations! Similar to Florida, this time of year finds Arizona heaped high with oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Believe me, that is not a complaint. You and I are both so lucky to have this problem. 😉 Thanks for sharing your salad recipe; I look forward to trying it with arugula and radicchio.
We are lucky to have good fresh produce available. I think you will like the combination of the bitter greens with the sweet orange and avocado.
Karen, this looks so fresh and delicious! I can just imagine how wonderful the oranges are. Happy New Year!!
Winter is definitely a citrus season. You should try some fresh kumquats too. The salad looks very refreshing.
sounds perfect for our hot summer days here!
happy new year
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
What a lovely, zesty, fresh sounding dish. Delicious! Thank you.
Looks and sounds delicious especially after all the holiday baking. 🙂
Delicious! When I was growing up, we used to have a very similar salad as a starter for Christmas lunch. Almost all the ingredients were the same, with the addition of chicory, which I believe (after a quick Google) is called Belgian endive in the US. I find linguistic differences for food very interesting, e.g. in the UK we call arugula “rocket”.
Beautiful salad! Citrus and avocado is a favorite combination of mine as well. I’ll definitely make your version soon! 🙂
This looks like a wonderful flavor blend and it presents so well. Thanks for sharing it!
I love this nourishing goodness in a bowl!
Such a beautiful salad. Fresh and vibrant to start the new year out right.
Happy New Year!
Great salad. Love the dressing!
The pairing of the fruits and greens is perfect. I’m so jealous that you have year-round access to fresh produce.
Living in Spain, we always have baskets overflowing with oranges, lemons and limes, given to us from our neighbours’ trees. I will be making this. Thanks!
This could be my new favorite salad. Pinned!
The additional of the siracha in the vinaigrette suits me just fine! I like the additional heat! Happy New Year, Karen! (Fran from G’day Souffle’)
Citrus and sriracha – right up my alley, Karen! Have jotted this down and will be trying it with my salad this week.
California citrus and avocados are plentiful and a very good value, and I love them both. And yet I have never paired them! The combination of tastes in the dressing are tantalizing, especially adding in a bit of sriracha. This is a winner, Karen!
I really do love citrus salads. I’m sure you’re familiar with the Sicilian orange salad. It’s a staple in our house during these colder months. The avocado sounds like a lovely addition!
This looks so bright and refreshing, exactly the kind of salad I crave after all the holiday indulgence.
What a delightful dish to brighten the dark winter days! I can never get enough avocados, and also adore citrus. This has my name written all over it!