Description
A refreshing Mediterranean Orange Salad featuring sweet Navel oranges, juicy pomegranate seeds, fresh mint, and a zesty honey-lime dressing with a hint of orange blossom water. This bright and flavorful salad is perfect as a light appetizer or side dish.
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)
- 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. Let them soak for 10 minutes to mellow their sharpness, then remove and dry completely.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and orange blossom water until well combined. Set aside.
- Prepare the serving platter: Scatter half of the chopped fresh mint leaves evenly on the platter. Arrange the peeled and sliced orange rounds and softened onions on top.
- Season the salad: Sprinkle the salad evenly with a pinch of kosher salt, sweet paprika, and ground cinnamon for balanced flavor.
- Add the pomegranate seeds: Evenly distribute the pomegranate seeds over the arranged oranges and onions.
- Dress and serve: Drizzle or spoon the prepared honey-lime dressing over the salad as desired. Finally, top with the remaining fresh mint leaves. Let the salad sit for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- The ice water soak softens the onion and reduces its bite, making it more pleasant in the salad.
- Orange blossom water adds a lovely floral note but can be omitted if unavailable.
- Use seedless or very ripe pomegranates for easier seeding and optimal sweetness.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for a few hours to meld flavors further.
- For a vegan version, replace honey with agave syrup or maple syrup.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 149 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 12 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
