Citrus Fennel Salad

This citrus fennel salad is teeming with vibrant colors, textures, and freshness from shaved fennel, bright and juicy citrus, cool, creamy avocado, and a champagne vinaigrette for a colorful, clean side salad to any rich meal.

Simple salads should not be underestimated. They’re the perfect light and fresh foil for rich and heavy dishes, quick and easy to prepare, and a great way to add color and freshness to your plate. I particularly love a punchy salad made with fresh citrus, like my citrus shrimp and avocado salad,  avocado, grapefruit and fennel salad, and my quinoa and kale protein power salad. This citrus fennel salad tastes just as gorgeous as it looks, with its bejeweled ombré citrus slices, creamy avocado, and fresh herbs, all mingling in a bright champagne vinaigrette. 

Why You’ll Love It

• This colorful citrus fennel salad is bursting with bright and fresh flavors and awesome textures
• It’s a great way to lighten up a heavier protein but also super delicious on its own as a light bite
• It’s easy to make and super versatile too—play around with different varieties of citrus, and add some nuts or cheese if you like

Citrus Fennel Salad Ingredients

• Fresh citrus—I use an assortment of navel oranges, cara caras, minneolas, mandarins, and blood oranges
• Fennel—adds a nice crunch, and a peppery, licorice flavor to the salad that pairs so well with the citrus
• Avocado—lends a nice richness and creamy texture to this salad
• Shallot—I slice them super thin. If slices of shallot are too strong for you, chop about 1 tablespoon of the shallot finely and add to the salad dressing for a lighter onion-y flavor.
• Olive oil—use a bright, fruity, extra-virgin olive oil for this salad
• Champagne vinegar—for acidity in our vinaigrette (you could also use white balsamic vinegar)
• Honey—for just a bit of sweetness
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper—always, for flavor
• Mint—for color and freshness that plays so well with the citrus
• Fennel fronds—for presentation (these are so pretty in a salad!)

Find the complete recipe with measurements below

How to Make This Citrus Fennel Salad

• Prep the citrus. Slice the peels off of the citrus, cut into thin slices, and place them in a bowl or on a serving plate.
• Layer. Layer the citrus with thinly slivered fennel slices. Add avocado slices and shallot slivers.
• Make the vinaigrette. In a small bowl, slowly whisk the olive oil into the champagne vinegar until emulsified. Add the honey and whisk to mix. Season with salt and pepper.
• Dress and serve. Pour dressing over the salad and season with more kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Top with reserved fennel fronds and mint leaves.

Recipe Variations & Tips

• Arugula, endive, or butter lettuce would be amazing additions to this salad
• Goat cheese, burrata, or shaved Manchego would be tasty cheese additions 
• For even more sweetness and crunch, add some pomegranate seeds, and/or candied pecans
• Kalamata or Spanish olives would also be delicious additions
• The best way to get sliver-thin veggies is with my favorite kitchen tool. Get one, it will change your kitchen forever.

What to Serve with This Citrus Fennel Salad

• Grilled Salmon
• Au Gratin Potatoes
• Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken
• 10-Minute Maple Glazed Baked Salmon
• The BEST Simple Roast Chicken

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.

4.26 from 71 votes

Citrus Fennel Salad

This citrus fennel salad is the most refreshing counter to a rich dinner or makes for a vibrant, light bite on its own.

Print SaveSaved!

Course Salad

Cuisine American

Keyword citrus fennel salad

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Ingredients 

½x1x2x3x

• An assortment of citrus , (totaling about 2 ½ to 3 pounds)
• I used:
• 3 navel oranges
• 3 cara cara oranges
• 2 minneola oranges
• 3 mandarin oranges
• 1 blood orange
• ½ fennel bulb , very thinly sliced
• 1 avocado , peeled, pitted and sliced
• ½ shallot , peeled and very thinly sliced
• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ cup mint leaves
• Reserved fennel fronds

Instructions

• Slice the peels off of the citrus and place them in a bowl or on a serving plate. Layer with thinly slivered fennel slices. Add avocado slices and shallot slivers.
• In a small bowl, slowly whisk the olive oil into the champagne vinegar until emulsified. Add the honey and whisk to mix. Season with kosher salt and pepper.
• Pour dressing over the salad and season with more kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Top with reserved fennel fronds and mint leaves.

More Refreshing Salads to Try

• Strawberry Burrata Salad
• Roasted Beet and Ricotta Salad
• Mediterranean Tomato Salad
• Burrata Salad with Pear and Prosciutto
• Avocado Grapefruit and Fennel Salad

We send good emails. Subscribe to FoodieCrush and have each post plus exclusive content only for our subscribers delivered straight to your e-mail box.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest for more FoodieCrush inspiration.

As always, thank you for reading and supporting companies I partner with, which allows me to create more unique content and recipes for you. There are affiliate links in this post of which I receive a small commission. All opinions are always my own.