• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Our Salty Kitchen
  • Browse All Recipes
  • Season
    • Fall Recipes
    • Spring Recipes
    • Summer Recipes
    • Winter Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
  • Diet
    • Gluten Free
    • Grain Free
    • Keto
    • Paleo
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Whole30 Recipes
  • Course
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments and Sauces
    • Desserts
    • Cocktails
    • Main Dishes
    • Pasta
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups and Stews
  • Method
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Slow Cooker
    • Grilling Recipes
    • Stir Fry
  • About
    • Let’s Collaborate!
    • Recipe Photography for Food Bloggers
    • Photography Portfolio
    • License Images
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Main Dishes
  • Side Dishes
  • Salads
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    You are here: Home » Meal Type » Salads » 15-Minute Refreshing Citrus Salad with Arugula

    15-Minute Refreshing Citrus Salad with Arugula

    January 27, 2023 by Danielle Esposti

    May contain affiliate links. See our Privacy Policy and disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Top - slicing the peel and pith from an orange; bottom - a citrus supreme (segment) on a paring knife; title bar in the middle reads "how to cut citrus supremes".
    Citrus supremes tossed with arugula, mint, and orange vinaigrette in a large white serving bowl; title bar at the top reads "refreshing winter citrus salad".
    Top - side view, pouring orange vinaigrette over citrus supremes, arugula and mint; bottom - silver serving utensils tucked into a citrus salad; title bar in the middle reads "refreshing citrus salad".

    Dive into this quick and easy Citrus Salad when you need a winter pick-me-up. Citrus supremes are tossed with arugula, mint, and a sweet vinaigrette to create a healthy, vibrant salad fit for any time of day. Vegetarian, plant-based, and super clean, it’s the most refreshing salad in the depths of winter.

    Silver serving utensils tucked in a bowl of citrus salad, made with a variety of oranges, arugula, mint, and citrus dressing.
    Jump to:
    • Citrus Makes the Best Winter Salads!
    • What is a Citrus Supreme?
    • How to Supreme Fruit for Citrus Salad
    • How to Make Citrus Salad
    • Chef’s Tips!
    • Make It Your Way
    • Recipe

    It’s that time of year. If you didn’t do a hard factory reset on your life on January 1, then either (a) you’ve got your life together, so congratulations and hush, or (b) you’re huddled in a corner snuggling a beverage laced with caffeine or alcohol muttering “I gotta get my life together.”

    If you’re the latter, then before you completely overhaul your life, may I suggest eating a fresh, crisp healthy salad? And goodness, no! Not in that creepy, fat-shaming, weight loss kind of way. Nonononono. Some of us literally just need a wee bit of a cleanse. Not a colon-blowing detox cleanse. An entremet, if you will. An intermezzo.

    And a citrus salad is a really good way to do that. Just reintroduce some fresh, whole raw ingredients into your body. Namely, your mouth. Remember what un-braised leafy greens taste like? Fresh herbs? Juicy ripe seasonal fruit? Yeah, I almost forgot for a minute too. Forget cleanser, arugula and citrus fruit salad is a whole palate refresh.

    Now, if you don’t need a reset, a refreshing salad with citrus fruits still does a body good. And, it’ll do you one better if you add some grilled chicken, chopped pecans and goat cheese crumbles, and serve it for dinner. (I LOVE hacking my own recipes!!!) Trust me on this. Whether you’re keeping it simple with kale or upgrading with protein, savory citrus recipes are a mid-winter win!

    Side view, citrus salad with a variety of oranges tossed with arugula, fresh mint, and a sweet citrus dressing.

    Citrus Makes the Best Winter Salads!

    If winter recipes have one big culinary bright spot, it’s citrus fruits. Yes, yes. We love cozy squash and slow simmered stews, etc, etc, etc. But if you’re looking for a sunshiney bright burst of flavor, honestly, (while I rank summer fruits and veggies higher on my list of personal favorites), you really cannot beat the punch of ripe, fresh citrus. Especially in the middle of January.

    Loaded with immune-boosting Vitamin C, citrus fruit is tart, tangy, sweet, and clean. And it makes the perfect foil for peppery arugula in this spirit and palate-brightening winter salad recipe.

    What is a Citrus Supreme?

    Cut all of the peel and pith away from a citrus fruit before separating into natural sections, and you’ve got yourself citrus supreme. Basically you’re removing anything less than desirable in terms of taste (no bitterness), texture (no stringy fibers) or appearance (look at those gorgeous colors!), and just using the actual citrus fruit.

    How to Supreme Fruit for Citrus Salad

    Trimming the top and bottom off a citrus fruit.
    Slice off the tops and bottoms.
    Slicing away the peel and pith from an orange.
    Cut away the skin and pith.
    An orange with the peel and pith sliced off on a cutting board.
    Cut with the curve of the fruit all the way around.
    Slicing into a peeled orange to removed a segment of fruit.
    Slice into one side of the membranes around each section.
    Slicing into a peeled orange to removed a segment of fruit.
    Then slice along the other side.
    A citrus supreme (segment) on a paring knife.
    Gently remove the citrus supreme, and repeat.
    1. Slice ½″ from the top and bottom of each fruit, then stand upright on a cutting board.
    2. Use a paring knife to slice the fruit from top to bottom, along the curve of the fruit, removing the skin and pith.
    3. Cut along each membrane to release the citrus section (also called a “supreme”).

    You can do this with any citrus fruit, but sweeter-than-tart oranges and grapefruit are best for this healthy citrus salad. See below for detailed step-by-step photos.

    How to Make Citrus Salad

    Combine sections of your favorite citrus fruits with peppery arugula and a sweet vinaigrette to make this refreshing winter salad. Our vibrant Citrus Salad recipe makes enough to serve 2 as a main dish (with a little protein on the side) or four as a starter or side.

    Squeeze the juice from an orange into a pyrex mixing cup.
    Squeeze the juice from the leftover orange membranes.
    Whisking citrus dressing in a pyrex mixing cup.
    Add olive oil, honey, vanilla extract and salt, then whisk to combine.
    Arugula leaves topped with citrus fruits in a large white mixing bowl.
    Combine the citrus supremes and arugula in a large mixing bowl.
    Pouring citrus dressing over a salad of arugula, orange slices, and fresh mint.
    Add the fresh mint and citrus dressing, then toss to combine.
    1. Divide the citrus fruits into supremes. See above for a photo tutorial.
    2. Combine citrus supremes, arugula, and mint in a large salad bowl.
    3. Make the vinaigrette – squeeze the juice from the leftover citrus membranes into a 1-cup measuring cup or small bowl, then whisk with honey, vanilla extract, salt, and extra virgin olive oil.
    4. Drizzle half the dressing over citrus salad, then toss to combine. Serve right away, with more dressing to taste. Enjoy!
    Citrus salad in a large white serving bowl on a cement surface.

    Chef’s Tips!

    • Use the freshest produce you can source. Citrus won’t ripen further after its picked, so look for vibrant fruit free of green spots, bruising, or other blemishes on the rinds.
    • Keep ’em fresh. Citrus fruits have a decent shelf life, but they can go off. Citrus keeps best in cold, dry storage – store ’em in your crisper drawer to extend their life. If you’re storing at room temperature, keep the fruits shielded from the sun.
    • All about that fruit. Be sure to supreme – also known as section – the fruit to make this salad. The piths and rinds are bitter, and this salad celebrates the naturally sweet flavor of citrus fruits.
    • No leftovers! Literally. Salad with citrus fruit will not keep so don’t make ahead of time – only make whatever you’ll consume immediately.

    Make It Your Way

    • Change up the citrus: pictured are a combination of cara cara oranges, naval oranges and blood oranges, but use what you love and what you have access to! Freshness is more important than varietal.
    • Add complementary fruits: try sprinkling with pomegranate seeds for color; tossed with sliced or diced avocado for creaminess and a dose of healthy fats.
    • Add cheese: crumbled feta or goat cheese are a great flavor pairing.
    • Change up the herbs: swap mint for basil, or omit entirely if fresh herbs aren’t available.
    • Adjust the dressing: the citrus dressing is intentionally more sweet than acidic. If you think you’ll find that off-putting, add a tablespoon of lime juice or reduce the honey by half. 
    Side view, citrus salad with a variety of oranges tossed with arugula and fresh mint.

    Did you make this winter citrus salad? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.

    While you’re at it, let’s be friends – follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for the latest and greatest.

    Recipe

    Citrus salad in a large white serving bowl on a cement surface.

    15-Minute Refreshing Citrus Salad with Arugula

    Author: Danielle Esposti
    Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin Recipe
    Combine sections of your favorite citrus fruits with peppery arugula and a sweet orange vinaigrette to make this refreshing winter salad. Slicing the citrus into supremes takes a small bit of extra effort, but it's a kitchen skill worth learning, and you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. The recipe makes enough to serve 2 as a main dish (with a little protein on the side) or four as a starter or side. It doesn't have a long shelf life, so make only as much as you can eat immediately. 
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Total Time: 15 mins
    Servings : 4 as a side dish
    Calories: 205

    Recommended Equipment

    • Paring Knife

    Ingredients

    • 2 cara cara oranges
    • 2 naval oranges
    • 2 blood oranges
    • 2 oz baby arugula, 2 large handfuls
    • 2 tbsp fresh chopped mint

    Citrus Dressing

    • ¼ c citrus juices, squeezed from leftover membranes
    • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 tbsp honey
    • ½ tsp vanilla extract
    • ½ tsp kosher salt

    Instructions

    • Divide the citrus fruits into supremes. See notes.
    • Combine citrus supremes, arugula, and mint in a large salad bowl.
    • Squeeze the juice from the citrus membranes into a large measuring cup or jar; you'll need ¼ cup, and additional juice can be discarded or used for another purpose. Add the extra virgin olive oil, honey, vanilla extract, and salt, then whisk to combine. Drizzle half the dressing over the citrus salad, then toss to combine. Enjoy immediately, as leftovers do not keep well.

    Notes

    To cut sections the citrus:
    • Slice off top and bottom, then stand the fruit upright.
    • Use a paring knife and slice the fruit from top to bottom, removing the skin and pith.
    • Cut along each membrane to release the citrus section (also called a “supreme”).
    • See body of the post for more detailed instructions and photos.
    Feel free to use your favorite orange or grapefruit varietals in this recipe. 

    Nutrition Information

    Calories: 205kcal (10%), Carbohydrates: 34g (11%), Protein: 2g (4%), Fat: 8g (12%), Saturated Fat: 1g (5%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 301mg (13%), Potassium: 225mg (6%), Fiber: 5g (20%), Sugar: 26g (29%), Vitamin A: 41% (41%), Vitamin C: 218% (218%), Calcium: 17% (17%), Iron: 0%
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @oursaltykitchen or tag #oursaltykitchen!
    « Healthy Italian Meatballs (No Bread Crumbs!)
    30-Minute Veggie Stir Fry Noodles »

    Disclaimer: This post and the recipe card may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission (at no cost to you!) if you make a purchase using these links. Rest assured, we only endorse products we own and truly love!

    1 Comment
    Filed Under: Gluten Free, Grain Free, Paleo, Salads, Vegetarian, Winter Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. Easy Tossed Italian Salad | Our Salty Kitchen says:
      September 14, 2021 at 10:54 am

      […] Easy & Refreshing Citrus Salad […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Our Salty Kitchen! We create real food for real people. Our whole foods recipes are seasonal, locally sourced, and simply prepared. Learn More! 

    Footer

    ABOUT US      CONTACT US      PRIVACY POLICY 

    A collage of publication logos that have featured recipes and photography from Our Salty Kitchen.

    Footer

    Privacy

    Privacy Policy

    Let's ConnecT

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    About Us

    Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Our Salty Kitchen

    783 shares