Winter Citrus & Arugula Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing

This Winter Citrus and Arugula Salad bursts with bright flavor: peppery arugula balanced by sweet, tangy winter citrus. It’s fresh, colorful, and ready in minutes.

Gluten Free, Grain Free, Nut Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free

I love when food becomes art. Sometimes the dish appears first in my head, complete with a vision for how it should look. Other times I find inspiration while prepping. When styling photos, I often turn to Pinterest for ideas and composition tips.

This Winter Citrus and Arugula Salad came from a clear image in my mind and the appeal of seasonal fruit colors. Blood oranges are especially nice here for a striking contrast.

Seasonal produce is easier to photograph because the colors pop, and it’s more nutritious when fresh. Eating in season often means better flavor and higher nutrient levels — December is citrus season, and it’s a delightful time for bright fruit.

Bright citrus provides nutritious benefits

Loaded with vitamin C, which can help shorten the duration of common colds and improve absorption of plant-based iron from foods like pumpkin seeds and dark leafy greens.
Citrus is a good source of fiber; a medium orange contains about 3 grams.
Oranges also provide folate and calcium.

Only a few ingredients and minutes required

This recipe uses just 5 main ingredients (plus a simple dressing) and takes about 10 minutes to assemble. It’s perfect for a quick lunch, a light starter for a dinner, or a bright snack.

Start with a citrus dressing

Whisk together orange juice and apple cider vinegar with olive oil and a touch of honey for a balanced, slightly sweet dressing that complements peppery arugula.

Choose your greens

Arugula is the star for its peppery bite, but you can swap in mixed mesclun greens or baby spinach if you prefer. Avoid very sturdy greens like kale or collards here, since this is a light dressing and they won’t soften as easily.

Prepare the citrus

Slice the citrus close to the membrane for neat segments. You can supreme the fruit if you like, but simple slices work beautifully and keep the recipe quick.

Top with pepitas

Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) add crunch and nutrition. An ounce of pumpkin seeds supplies a small portion of daily iron, and pairing them with vitamin C–rich citrus helps your body absorb that plant-based iron more effectively.

Don’t forget to PIN IT…

This Winter Citrus and Arugula Salad is…

Delicious
Nutritious
Quick to assemble
High in vitamin C
Light and refreshing
Beautiful to serve

Let’s assemble.

Winter Citrus and Arugula Salad

This Winter Citrus and Arugula Salad highlights peppery arugula with sweet, tangy seasonal citrus — a simple, pretty salad you can make in minutes.

Author: Chelsey
Yield: 2-4 servings
Category: Salad
Cuisine: Gluten Free, grain free, Vegan

Ingredients

For the dressing:

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 ½ tablespoons orange juice
Pinch salt and pepper
½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon honey

For the salad:

6 cups arugula
1 grapefruit, sliced
1 blood orange, sliced
1 navel orange, sliced
2 tablespoons pepitas
Optional: pinch of Himalayan sea salt

Instructions

Make the dressing: whisk together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.
In a large bowl, toss the arugula with the dressing until lightly coated. Arrange the dressed arugula on a serving platter or individual plates.
Top with the citrus slices and sprinkle the pepitas evenly over the salad. Add a final pinch of Himalayan sea salt if desired and serve immediately.

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