Bright Sweet Oranges and Creamy Avocados are tossed with Spinach, Sharp White Onion and Slivered Almonds to create a refreshing salad that will brighten up your January!

Orange Avocado Salad with Simple Citrus Vinaigrette 3

The Season of the Orange

I was at Costco with my kids last weekend, and the store was sampling Cara Cara Oranges. My son may have visited the sample booth 3 times. Okay, maybe 4. And I was convinced to purchase a bag of oranges with his little pleas. Kid is obsessed with fruit!

All kinds of oranges come into season during the winter months so if you are looking to eat seasonally, citrus fruits are at their peak this time of year. Mandarins, Pomelos, Naval Oranges, Grapefruits, are all sweet and delicious and would all work in this salad.

The fresh and bright flavors of this salad work anytime of year. But especially in January when starting the year off with fresh, simple ingredients can feel good after holiday indulgences. This salad would pair beautifully with any basic grilled animal protein to create a complete meal – including salmon, shrimp, chicken or even steak. If you are looking for vegetarian protein, you can add more nuts, include white beans, or even edamame. They would all be delicious additions.

Avocado Nutrition

Some benefits of Avocado:

High in Fiber – with a medium avocado containing 13.4 g fiber, it’s an incredible choice in adding fiber to your diet.

Monounsaturated Fat – these fats aid in cell regulation. They also help the body absorb vitamin D (which regulates calcium levels), strengthen bones, and support the immune system. These good fats can also lower the risk of high cholesterol.

Orange Avocado Salad with Simple Citrus Vinaigrette 2

The dressing in this salad is so easy! There is no need to mix and emulsify separately. A drizzle of some good Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes and sprinkle of salt and pepper, will perfectly highlight the flavors of this dish without any fuss.

Cutting the Orange

When cutting the orange, cut the orange into slices, about 1/4″ thick. Then quarter each slice. Remove the fruit from the rind, as pictured above. It looks pretty in the salad, and this will allow for easy eating.

Don’t forget to share

Enjoy! And if you like the recipe, please share on Pinterest, or snap a photo of your creation and tag me on Twitter, or Instagram!

Print Recipe

Orange Avocado Salad with Simple Citrus Vinaigrette

Bright Sweet Oranges and Creamy Avocados are tossed with Spinach, Sharp White Onion and Slivered Almonds to create a refreshing salad that will brighten up your January!

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Avocado Recipes, Citrus Salad, Fresh Salads, Non Lettuce Salads, Orange Avocado Salad, Orange Avocado Spinach Salad, Orange Recipes, Spinach Salad

Equipment

1 Large Mixing Bowl
1 Large Salad Bowl

Ingredients

2 cups Baby Spinach
¼ White Onion, Thinly Sliced large
1½ Oranges large
2 Avocados, Sliced large
4 tbsp Sliced Almonds
½ tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
1 Lemon, juiced

Instructions

Toss 2 cups of baby spinach and thinly sliced white onion into a mixing bowl.
Cut each avocado in half and remove the pit. With a fork, run the edge of the fork between the skin of the avocado and its skin to carefully remove the flesh. Slice each avocado. Place sliced halves on top of spinach and onion.
Slice each orange into ¼" slices, and separate the fruit from the rind. Toss the orange segments into the salad.
Add the almonds and crushed red pepper to the bowl. Juice the lemon over the salad, careful not to include any seeds.
Drizzle with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Salt and Pepper to taste. Gently toss to avoid mashing the avocados.