Citrus Pomegranate Avocado Feta Salad (Printable)
Bright Mediterranean citrus salad with creamy avocado, pomegranate seeds, and tangy feta cheese.
# What You'll Need:
→ Citrus Fruits
01 - 2 large oranges
02 - 2 large grapefruits
03 - 1 blood orange, optional for color
→ Fresh Produce
04 - 1 ripe avocado
05 - 1 small red onion
06 - ½ cup pomegranate seeds
→ Cheese
07 - ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
→ Salad Greens
08 - 4 cups mixed greens such as arugula, baby spinach, or mixed leaf lettuce
→ Dressing
09 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
12 - ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, torn
15 - 1 tablespoon toasted pistachios or walnuts, chopped
# How-To Steps:
01 - Using a sharp knife, slice off the tops and bottoms of each orange and grapefruit. Following the curve of the fruit, cut away the peel and white pith. Cut the citrus into thin rounds or supreme into individual segments, collecting any juices.
02 - Halve the avocado, remove the pit, and peel away the skin. Slice the flesh thinly and set aside. Squeeze a touch of lemon juice over the slices to prevent browning.
03 - Peel the red onion and cut it into paper-thin slices. Tear the fresh mint leaves and roughly chop the toasted pistachios or walnuts if using.
04 - In a small bowl, combine the extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, and Dijon mustard. Whisk vigorously until emulsified. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
05 - Spread the mixed greens across a large serving platter. Artfully layer the citrus rounds or segments, avocado slices, and red onion over the greens.
06 - Scatter the pomegranate seeds and crumbled feta evenly over the arranged salad.
07 - Drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the entire platter. Garnish with torn mint leaves and chopped toasted nuts if desired. Serve immediately while the greens are fresh and crisp.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of juicy citrus and creamy avocado feels almost too luxurious for something that takes twenty minutes to throw together.
- Pomegranate seeds scattered over the top turn an ordinary salad into something you would happily serve at a dinner party without a second thought.
02 -
- Pat the citrus slices dry with a paper towel before arranging them or the dressing will slide right off and pool at the bottom of the platter.
- Assembling the salad on a rimmed platter rather than a bowl keeps the layers visible and prevents everything from wilting under its own weight.
03 -
- Run your knife under hot water and wipe it dry before slicing the avocado for the cleanest cuts you have ever seen.
- To quickly remove pomegranate seeds without staining your kitchen, score the skin into quarters, submerge the fruit in a bowl of water, and pry it open gently underwater so the seeds sink and the bitter membrane floats.