Citrus Salad

It's been in the 40's and 50's here this week - woo hoo!  Sunshine and warmth are long overdue here in the Upper Plains and when it arrived this week, it sure felt good!!  I decided to try a citrus salad that I saw made on TV several weeks ago, but it stuck with me because it looked so fresh and crisp.  However, making it didn't quite appeal to me with sub-zero temperatures. 

I have to share with you - there are only like 4 ingredients in this recipe, and 2 of them I have never had before!!  I've never had grapefruit or fennel.  When I sliced the fennel, I had to smell it to get a sense of what was to come.  I loved the scent - it sure woke up the senses!  I was pleasantly surprised at how yummy it was - all flavors complimented each other so nicely, and I'm excited to share it with you.  I did make it just for myself for lunch - Miss Sunshine wasn't a big fan, which surprised me.  So, it will be a treat for just me :-)

Citrus Salad
Original Recipe by Giada de Laurentis

1 large orange, peeled and ends trimmed
1 large grapefruit, peeled and ends trimmed
1 large, or 2 small bulbs of fennel, thinly sliced
1/4 C extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 C packed basil leaves (omitted this time)
Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
1/3 C chopped walnuts, toasted (I used pecans instead)

Place a sieve or strainer over a medium bowl.  Hold an orange over the bowl, and using a paring knife, cutting along the membrane on both sides of each segment.  Free the segments and let them fall into the sieve.  Repeat with the grapefruit.  Squeeze the membranes over the bowl to extract as much juice as possible, reserving the juices in the bottom of the bowl.  Place the fruit segments and fennel in a salad bowl. 

In a blender or the bowl of a small food processor, blend together the oil, basil and 3 T of the reserved juices until smooth.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste.  Pour over the fruit and fennel.  Add the chopped walnuts and toss until all ingredients are coated.

It was so beautiful and sunny outside, I had to take a picture outside - notice the snow in the background??  :-)

Crisp, fresh, delicious!!

Please click here for a printable version of this recipe - Kitchen Groovy

By the way - HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!

Enjoy and live with gusto!!
Carina