Fennel Orange Salad: So Refreshing!

Adding pomegranate arils and pine nuts creates one of the best variations of Sicily’s Fennel Orange Salad. A healthy salad recipe with a refreshing taste!

Fennel, called finocchio in Italian, is extremely popular in Italy. Undoubtedly the result of its versatility.

It can easily be used in all dishes, from starters to desserts to even a Salad Pizza! 

When prepared as a side dish, whether grilled or roasted, it makes the perfect accompaniment to Grilled Chicken or Baked Cod Fish.

Just like celery, it has a crunchy texture that makes a wonderful snack when eaten raw.  

You have probably noticed that there are countless versions of this simple fennel salad. 

It really is hard to beat the classic combination of fennel and citrus fruit. Sweet tangy oranges and crunchy fennel provide an burst of color, flavor, and texture.

The texture of fennel, when thinly sliced and paired with segmented orange slices and pomegranate seeds, creates a fresh-tasting salad your family and friends will just love!

Truly a great recipe for anyone who thinks they do not like this aromatic perennial with a mild licorice taste.

Let me show you have to make the best fennel and orange salad!

Mise en place

This recipe comes together in no time but first, both the fennel and the oranges need to be sliced, and the nuts toasted. 

Slicing the fennel: As with all fresh produce, the first thing we are going to do is properly rinse this vegetable under cold running water. 

Next, cut off the stalks from the bulb and trim the root end. Remove the outer layers if they appear blemished. Another option is using a vegetable peeler.

Place the bulb upright and simply slice it in half. 

Remove the inner core using a paring knife.

Place the fennel cut side down on a wooden board. With a very sharp knife, slice as thinly as possible. You can also use a mandolin.  

Place in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

Segmenting the orange: This is an optional step but removing the outer membranes and the pith of the orange creates tender and sweet orange segments.

Rinse 2 oranges under cold running water and dry properly with a tea towel. Next, cut off a thin section of both ends of the orange.

Place the orange upright. With a very sharp knife, start at the top and cut the outer peel gently following the curve of the orange. Try to avoid squeezing the orange as we need the juice to make the vinaigrette.

In order to collect all the juices, work over a bowl and begin to cut on either side of the membrane. Each orange segment should easily come away from the core of the orange.

Continue in this matter until the entire orange has been segmented. 

Prepping the pine nuts: Place 3 tablespoons of pine nuts in a pan. Do not add any oil. Turn the heat to low and shake the pan constantly back and forth until the nuts turn golden. Remove from heat and place in a bowl to stop them from burning. 

Making the vinaigrette: In a small bowl whisk together 4 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1-2 tablespoons of orange juice. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Whisk together or place in a mason jar and shake vigorously for a couple of minutes.

Instructions

Place the thinly sliced fennel in a large bowl.

Add the orange segments followed by the citrus vinaigrette and toss gently together.

Transfer salad to a serving platter. Top with 1 cup of pomegranate seeds and 3 tablespoons of toasted pine nuts.

Garnish with fennel fronds (if desired) and serve.

Fennel salad recipes we love

• Cauliflower Fennel Salad
• Creamy Celery Root and Fennel Slaw
• Fregola Salad

Recipe origins

This fennel orange salad recipe was initially inspired by some family friends who have origins in Sicily, many decades ago.

In fact, I do not know of one Italian family that does not have their own version of this salad.

Although I have provided a recipe, you can get very creative with the ingredients. 

Feel free to use any combination of oranges (blood or navel), grapefruit and/or lemons. 

You’ll see that this recipe is so ridiculously tasty and simple to make.

What a refreshing way to end a meal!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

Ciao for now,

Maria 

★★★★★ If you have made this Italian salad, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Fennel Orange Salad

Adding pomegranate arils and pine nuts creates one of the best variations of Sicily's Fennel Orange Salad. A healthy salad recipe with a refreshing taste!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 270kcal

Author: Maria Vannelli RD

Ingredients

VINAIGRETTE:

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1-2 tablespoons orange juice drippings from slicing the fruit
• salt and pepper to taste

SALAD:

• 1 large fennel bulb or 2 small, trimmed and thinly sliced
• 2 oranges peeled and segmented
• 1 cup pomegranate arils fresh
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts toasted or slivered almonds
• fennel fronds for garnish

Instructions

FOR THE VINAIGRETTE:

• Place all of the ingredients for the vinaigrette in a jar. Cover and shake well. Alternatively, place in a bowl and whisk together. Set aside.

FOR THE SALAD:

• Place the thinly sliced fennel in a large bowl.
• Add the orange segments followed by the citrus vinaigrette and toss gently together.
• Transfer salad to a serving platter.
• Top with pomegranate seeds and pine nuts.
• Garnish with fennel fronds (if desired).
• Serve immediately.

Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

Notes

Some variations:
This salad can be served on a bed of baby greens or in a Boston lettuce cup.
This salad can be topped off with your favorite soft cheese as well, such as ricotta or cottage cheese.
Try experimenting with any other ingredients you can think of. Some suggestions: avocados, different nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, etc.), or beets.

Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 502mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 226IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1mg

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This post was originally published on December 31, 2015, and republished on February 6, 2020, with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing!