Citrus Pomegranate Feta Salad (Print Version)
Refreshing Mediterranean citrus salad with pomegranate, avocado, and tangy feta cheese.
# What You'll Need:
→ Citrus Fruits
01 - 2 large oranges, peeled and segmented
02 - 2 large grapefruits, peeled and segmented
03 - 1 blood orange, peeled and segmented (optional, for color)
→ Fresh Produce
04 - 1 ripe avocado
05 - 1 small red onion
06 - ½ cup pomegranate seeds (arils)
→ Cheese
07 - ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
→ Salad Greens
08 - 4 cups mixed greens (arugula, baby spinach, or mixed leaf lettuce)
→ Dressing
09 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
12 - ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, torn
15 - 1 tablespoon toasted pistachios or walnuts, chopped
# Steps:
01 - Using a sharp knife, slice off the top and bottom of each orange and grapefruit. Following the curve of the fruit, cut away the peel and white pith. Cut the citrus into thin rounds or release individual segments by slicing along the membrane walls.
02 - Halve the avocado lengthwise, remove the pit, and peel away the skin. Slice the flesh into thin, even pieces and set aside.
03 - Cut the red onion in half and slice it into paper-thin half-moons. Soak in ice water for 5 minutes if you prefer a milder bite, then drain.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, and Dijon mustard until fully emulsified. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
05 - Spread the mixed greens across a large serving platter. Arrange the citrus segments, avocado slices, and red onion in overlapping layers over the greens.
06 - Scatter the pomegranate seeds and crumbled feta evenly across the assembled salad.
07 - Drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the entire platter. Garnish with torn fresh mint leaves and chopped toasted pistachios or walnuts if desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Zero cooking means you can throw this together while your guests are literally walking through the door.
- The combination of juicy citrus, creamy avocado, and salty feta hits every flavor note you could want in a single bite.
02 -
- Assemble everything except the dressing up to two hours ahead, but wait to add the avocado until just before serving or it will brown.
- Supreming the citrus properly by removing all the pith makes a huge difference because the white membrane is bitter and throws off the whole balance.
03 -
- Save any citrus juice that pools on your cutting board and add it to the dressing for an extra layer of fruitiness that you cannot get from a bottle.
- Toast the nuts in a dry pan for two minutes until fragrant, and watch them constantly because they go from golden to burnt in seconds.