Spicy Citrus Salad with Olives is a glorious fruit salad in the Mediterranean tradition and an experience not to be missed. It’s proof positive that not all fabulous salads are leafy and green!

If you’ve never had a citrus salad with olives, I think you’ll be glad you stumbled on this one today.

These are flavors you don’t encounter in the US very often, but if you are familiar with the cuisines of any of the countries that line the Mediterranean sea, from Syria to Morocco you might have had a citrus, green olive, and fresh oregano salad, or maybe a plate of oranges paired with dates, and mint. Imagine tart white grapefruit layered with paper thin fennel, or berry-sweet blood oranges dotted with sharp feta. The food of this sunny region is lusty and colorful, and no one shrinks from mixing fruit with bold spices and herbs. Today’s citrus salad is a nod to that luscious tradition, and I’ve made it even more fun and colorful by mixing lots of citrus varieties.

Spicy Mixed Citrus Salad ~ this bold Mediterranean fruit salad is packed with fresh parsley, studded with oil curred olives, and drenched in a spicy vinaigrette.

I love to use citrus fruit in salads, it’s such a nice way to add a juicy burst of flavor to lots of different kinds of meals. This salad uses different varieties of orange and grapefruit accented with the rich briny sharpness of olives. But there are so many ways to reinvent the theme with different fruits and add ins:

Spicy Citrus Salad with Black Olives ~ this healthy Mediterranean fruit salad is packed with the sunny flavors of the Mediterranean!

for my citrus salad with olives you’ll want to supreme the fruit.

That just means cutting away the peel and the membranes so you’re left with clean, juicy segments. Start by slicing off both ends, then use a small sharp serrated knife to remove the rind, following the curve of the fruit and taking care not to cut away too much flesh. Hold the peeled fruit in one hand and slice between the membranes to release each segment.

A gentle sawing motion works best, and a small serrated knife makes the job easier because it glides through the flesh without tearing the sections.

Sectioning citrus fruit for Spicy Citrus Salad

Like all fruit salads, this one is best eaten right away. If you like, you can supreme the fruit and save it in the refrigerator and then assemble the salad close to when you want to enjoy it. Remember to drain excess juice from the fruit.

Notes:

Don’t skip the large amount of parsley in this salad, it adds a wonderful fresh flavor. And don’t be tempted to use another, stronger herb, like basil or thyme, which would overwhelm the citrus flavors.
If you are using oil cured olives, they most likely contain pits, be sure to warn your diners.

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Spicy Mixed Citrus Salad

4.30 from 17 votes

A vibrant citrus salad bursting with the flavors of the Mediterranean!

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Prep Time:15

Total Time:15

Servings: 6

Ingredients

2 navel oranges
2 blood oranges
1 white grapefruit
1 red or pink grapefruit
2 Cara Cara oranges
2 cups parsley leaves
1 cup oil cured Moroccan olives

dressing

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar, or more to taste
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp hot smoked paprika
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper

Instructions

Whisk together the dressing ingredients and taste to adjust any of them. Set aside.
Remove the rinds and segment all of the citrus fruit. Drain off the excess juice and put in a large bowl.
Chop the parsley and add to the bowl, along with the olives.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad, toss lightly, and serve.

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: Italian

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: blood oranges, citrus, fruit salad, healthy, Italian, Mediterranean, olives, oranges, salad, side dish, vitamin C

Nutrition

Calories: 167 kcal · Carbohydrates: 19 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 11 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 8 g · Sodium: 460 mg · Potassium: 350 mg · Fiber: 4 g · Sugar: 12 g · Vitamin A: 2565 IU · Vitamin C: 93 mg · Calcium: 90 mg · Iron: 2 mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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4.30 from 17 votes (9 ratings without comment)