Description
A refreshing and vibrant Mediterranean orange salad featuring sweet Navel oranges, crunchy pomegranate seeds, fresh mint, and a tangy honey-lime dressing, lightly spiced with paprika and cinnamon. Perfect as a light side or festive addition to 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. This will mellow their sharpness. After soaking, drain and dry the onions thoroughly.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and optional orange blossom water until well combined. Set aside.
- Assemble the salad: On a serving platter, spread half of the chopped fresh mint leaves as a base. Arrange the orange slices evenly on top, followed by the softened onion slices. Sprinkle a pinch each of kosher salt, sweet paprika, and ground cinnamon over the layered ingredients. Then evenly distribute the pomegranate seeds over the salad.
- Dress and serve: Drizzle or spoon your prepared dressing over the salad according to your preference. Finish by garnishing with the remaining fresh mint leaves. Let the salad rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
- This salad is best served fresh but can be prepared up to 1 hour in advance and refrigerated.
- If orange blossom water is unavailable, you can omit it or substitute with a teaspoon of orange zest for a similar aroma.
- For a vegan version, use maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey.
- Ensure oranges are peeled cleanly to avoid bitter pith which can affect the overall taste.
- Soaking the onions in ice water helps reduce pungency and adds crispness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 149 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 12 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
