Description
This vibrant Mediterranean orange salad combines sweet Navel oranges with crunchy pomegranate seeds, fresh mint, and a zesty honey-lime dressing. Enhanced by a hint of warming spices like cinnamon and paprika, this salad is a refreshing and colorful side dish perfect for brightening any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 25 fresh mint leaves, chopped
- 6 Navel oranges, peeled and sliced into rounds
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 pinch sweet paprika
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
- 1 pomegranate, seeded (about 1 to 1 1/4 cups seeds)
Dressing
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoons orange blossom water (optional)
Instructions
- Soften the onion. Place the thinly sliced red onions in a bowl of ice water and let them soak for 10 minutes. Then, remove the onions and pat them completely dry with paper towels to reduce pungency and add crunch.
- Prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and orange blossom water if using. Set the dressing aside to let the flavors meld.
- Arrange the salad. On a serving platter, sprinkle half of the chopped fresh mint leaves as the base. Lay the orange slices and softened onions evenly on top. Season lightly with a pinch each of kosher salt, sweet paprika, and ground cinnamon for a subtle warming spice note. Spread the pomegranate seeds generously over the salad.
- Dress and serve. Drizzle the honey-lime dressing over the prepared salad to your taste. Finally, scatter the remaining fresh mint leaves on top for a fresh aromatic finish. Allow the salad to rest for about 5 minutes before serving to let the flavors combine beautifully.
Notes
- The optional orange blossom water adds a delicate floral note but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Soaking the red onions in ice water mellows their sharpness and adds crispness.
- Use ripe, sweet Navel oranges for the best flavor balance.
- This salad pairs well with grilled meats or as a refreshing side dish during warmer months.
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 149.4 kcal
- Sugar: 21.8 g
- Sodium: 11.5 mg
- Fat: 3.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 5.8 g
- Protein: 2.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
