Winter Fruit Citrus Salad (Printable Version)
A colorful blend of oranges, pomegranate, kiwi, and crisp apple with a citrus-ginger dressing.
# What You Need:
→ Fruit
01 - 2 oranges, peeled and sectioned
02 - 2 clementines, peeled and sectioned
03 - 1 large pink or red grapefruit, peeled and sectioned
04 - 1 pomegranate, seeds extracted
05 - 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
06 - 1 crisp apple, cored and diced
07 - 1 ripe pear, cored and diced
→ Dressing
08 - Juice of 1 orange (about 1/4 cup)
09 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
10 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 - 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger (optional)
→ Garnish
13 - 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, chopped
# How-To:
01 - Peel the oranges, clementines, and grapefruit. Slice into thin rounds or bite-sized segments, removing all seeds and pith.
02 - Cut the pomegranate in half and gently tap out the seeds into a bowl.
03 - Peel and slice the kiwis. Core and dice the apple and pear into bite-sized pieces.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, gently combine all the prepared fruit pieces.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, ground cinnamon, and grated ginger if using, until well blended.
06 - Pour the dressing over the mixed fruit and toss gently to coat evenly without breaking the fruit.
07 - Sprinkle the chopped fresh mint leaves over the salad. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It takes barely fifteen minutes but tastes like you spent hours planning it.
- The combination of sweet, tart, and spiced creates a flavor that actually feels exciting in the middle of winter.
- It's the kind of dish that works for breakfast, lunch, or as a palate cleanser after a heavy meal.
02 -
- Cut and serve this salad the same day you make it, or the fruit will start releasing too much liquid and it becomes more juice than salad.
- If you peel your citrus fruits a few hours ahead, store those segments in the dressing you're about to make—they'll stay fresh and actually absorb those flavors even better.
- The pomegranate arils will lose their firmness if they sit in the dressing too long, so add them in the last few minutes before serving if you want that satisfying pop.
03 -
- A microplane grater makes ginger so fine and fragrant that you'll understand why it matters—don't try to substitute pre-grated if you can help it.
- If you're prepping this for guests, squeeze all your citrus juice the night before and keep it covered in the fridge; it stays fresh and bright.