My Moroccan Orange Salad is a fruit salad like none you’ve ever had before, I promise! With fresh juicy oranges paired with earthy oil cured olives, tons of fresh parsley and a burst of cayenne, this Middle Eastern citrus salad will blow you away.
This stunning and healthy Moroccan orange salad can be made all year round, but it will be a burst of sunshine during the winter months when citrus season is in full swing. It’s low carb, gluten free, vegan, whole 30 and Paleo compliant.
Citrus salads are rooted in Mediterranean cuisines. In Sicily it might be as simple as sliced oranges dressed with parsley, olive oil and black pepper. Sometimes there will be red onion, or fennel, and a variety of fresh herbs. I threw some crumbled feta on this salad at the last minute.
ingredients for Moroccan orange salad
- fresh oranges
- I used navel oranges but blood oranges or Cara Cara oranges would work just as well.
- fresh parsley
- lots of fresh parsley is key to this salad, so don’t skimp! I use flat leaf Italian parsley.
- olives
- intense oil cured olives give this salad a real punch. Use Kalamata olives instead, if you prefer. Make sure they’re pitted!
- olive oil
- use a good fruity extra virgin olive oil
- Sherry vinegar
- or other white vinegar like champagne or white wine
- cayenne and paprika
- garlic
- salt and pepper
why this orange salad works
This salad is a winner. The salty tang of the Greek olives with the sweet juiciness of the oranges and the hint of cayenne pepper is taste I want to return to a lot this winter when oranges are at their peak.
I love bright citrus salads and I’ve done a bunch of them on my blog. Try my Pickled Blackberry and Grapefruit Salad, or my Spicy Citrus Salad with Black Olives for more inspiration.
variations on this Moroccan orange salad
- Make it with other citrus fruits ~ this would be wonderful with blood oranges, tangerines, or pink grapefruit.
- Add thinly sliced fennel
- Top with crumbled feta cheese, coat cheese, or shavings of Parmesan cheese.
Moroccan Orange Salad
Ingredients
- 3 large seedless oranges
- 1/8 tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp red-wine or sherry vinegar
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup chopped parsley
- 12 pitted black olives, preferably imported Greek or Italian.
Instructions
- Peel the oranges, paring away all the exterior white pulp. Cut each orange into wedges. Cut each wedge into 1-inch pieces. Set aside.
- Place the cayenne, paprika, garlic, olive oil and vinegar in a salad bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste and whisk to combine. Add the oranges, parsley and olives. Toss gently to blend. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Now that is one gorgeous looking salad. I love the combination of orange and olive flavors. This type of salad is wonderful with a winter stew and crusty bread. It helps to remind us of spring and summers bounty. This is a lovely recipe and you’ve given us gorgeous photos to accompany it. What time is dinner? Have a great weekend. Blessings…Mary
That’s a knockout dinner! Those meatballs look amazing. And the salad is lovely and wintery and bright. I love those oil cured olives.
I’ve always been a fan of Amanda Hesser.
Oh wow, that looks so great! I have a cold right now and that orange salad is calling my name!! and with the salty olives, sounds fantastic! I’ll be making this at some point.
Very nice change of pace – it looks and sounds fantastic. Love the olives and oranges and your photos are incredible! Thanks and have a lovely weekend.
Can I come over for dinner?! Looks so pretty – would love to try making this citrus salad.
omg, this looks so good. i must try it. when i do i will report back.
Mmm! I want to come to dinner at your house! Excellent salad! Yes! I thought those olives were prunes too … and actually they wouldn’t be bad on that salad either! Love the whole meal you prepared! That Amanda Hesser surely is a powerhouse …
Your photos are just beautiful, Sue!
This Moroccan salad looks fantastic! Great post!
Your photos are marvelous, Sue. I enjoyed the post and the salad looks lovely…I thought the olives were prunes at first too! 🙂
“…if we always had new types of food at home, we would lose touch with an essential part of our personal histories.” <-----I just love that! This salad (& the meatballs) looks awesome. Those olives are so fat, I thought they were prunes at first glance. Ha! Delicious choice and a fun look at Amanda =)