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Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad

May 8, 2014 By Patricia 53 Comments

Sicilian Fennel and Orange SaladThis recipe for Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad is a delight. Its fresh flavors and textures come from juicy oranges, crunchy and slightly sweet fennel pieces, and salty olives. It’s a wonderful flavor combo, and makes a great salad to enjoy during the spring season.

If you aren’t familiar with fennel, it tastes a bit like licorice. If you’re not a fan of licorice, don’t pass on fennel. I’m not a licorice lover, but I really enjoy fennel. It grows as a white bulb that has several sections in its center, and feathery, pale green fronds on top. Biting into a piece of fennel is similar to crunching on a piece of celery.

A flavorful dish, Sicilian Fennel and Orange SaladWhen I went to Italy last fall, I saw amazing sites, visited with family I hadn’t seen in years (and some I had never met), and ate splendid meals. How could it get any better?

While I was in Rome, I had the pleasure of making a few new friends who happen to operate an impressive tour company called, Overome. Overome provides small, personalized (and even private) tours of Roman sites, as well as one just beyond Rome, in Ostia.

One of my new friends, Nicoletta, and I have kept in touch since initially meeting, and one of our topics of conversation is always food – go figure! Nicoletta has sent me several ideas for recipes, and I have her to thank for Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad.

Nicoletta said her aunt used to make this salad, which she called a Palermitan salad (from the Sicilian city Palermo). For my version, I included salad greens and an orange juice-based dressing to toss with it (as I understand it, greens are optional and the salad is typically dressed with just extra-virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and sometimes anchovies).

Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad on a prickly pear padAccording to Nicoletta’s aunt, Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad was a meal typically eaten by farmers while out in the countryside. Since there were no dishes in the fields, they ate the salad served from prickly pear pads (nopales in Spanish) after being cleared of thorns with a knife.

I loved the story behind this dish, and can imagine the farmers enjoying it on a warm day. The combination of flavors is so simple, yet it makes such a delightful salad. I was lucky to bring back some of my aunt’s home grown and pressed olive oil from Italy, and I used it in this recipe. I usually save it for special meals, and this Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad certainly qualifies.

Recipe for Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad
Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 fennel bulb, bottom and tops removed, and cut into thin pieces
  • 2 oranges, sliced into thin rounds, peels cut away
  • 4 ounces arugula and spinach greens
  • 1/4 cup black Italian olives, pitted and rough chopped
  • 3 ounces extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 ounces fresh-squeezed orange juice (more or less based on the sweetness of your orange)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. To make the dressing, combine the orange juice, olive oil, salt, and ground black pepper and mix to combine. Taste and adjust as needed.
  2. Add the fennel, oranges, greens, and olives to a bowl.
  3. Pour the dressing over the mixture and gently toss to combine.
  4. Divide and serve on individual plates.
 
Recipe for Sicilian Fennel and Orange Salad

Serves 2
 

Filed Under: Dinner, Gluten Free, Lunch, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged With: fennel, oranges, salad

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Comments

  1. Yvonne says

    May 10, 2014 at 2:33 am

    Glorious, refreshing flavor combinations. I love this recipe.
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 10, 2014 at 12:43 pm

      Thanks, Yvonne! It is very refreshing, indeed! Happy Spring :)
      Reply
  2. Patty Haxton Anderson says

    May 21, 2014 at 11:32 am

    Gorgeous recipe, photograph. Simply stunning.
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 21, 2014 at 6:04 pm

      Thanks so much, Patty! And thanks for taking time to stop by!
      Reply
  3. Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says

    May 21, 2014 at 1:38 pm

    OMG, this is PERFECT for spring! LOVES it!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 21, 2014 at 6:04 pm

      Thanks, Sophia! It is so simple, but with great flavor!
      Reply
  4. Debi @ Life Currents says

    May 21, 2014 at 9:54 pm

    This is a beautiful salad! I'll be pinning it for later. Thanks for sharing it at EYR Facebook group. And, Welcome!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 23, 2014 at 12:33 am

      Thanks so much, Debi!
      Reply
  5. April @ The 21st Century Housewife says

    May 21, 2014 at 11:41 pm

    What a beautiful salad with such lovely flavours. The story behind it is so interesting as well!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 23, 2014 at 12:34 am

      Thanks, April. And thanks for stopping by to comment. I loved the story, too.
      Reply
  6. Em @ the pig & quill says

    May 22, 2014 at 7:56 pm

    This is positively gorgeous - and I love the combo of fennel and citrus. It's quintessentially summery -- and as you said, very Sicilian. :) So glad I found you through the Enjoying Yummy Recipes group! Hugs - Em
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 23, 2014 at 12:35 am

      Hi Em - Thanks for stopping by. Looking forward to a summer full of good FOOD!
      Reply
  7. Shon Pirollo says

    June 5, 2014 at 11:35 am

    Wow Patty, what a delicious treat this was! I love your recipes and the family stories behind them. You never disappoint and this is surely at the top of my list. Thanks!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      June 6, 2014 at 12:40 am

      Aw thanks, Shon! You're so kind. Glad you liked it!
      Reply
  8. Nettie Moore says

    July 18, 2014 at 1:46 am

    Such a gorgeous delicious salad! Perfect for our keep your oven off party! Nettie
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      July 18, 2014 at 11:05 am

      Thanks a bunch, Nettie! Appreciate you stopping by :)
      Reply
  9. Abigail says

    May 8, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    Wow, that salad looks so fresh and delicious and love the flavor combo you have there. Gorgeous food photography, too. :)
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:32 pm

      Thanks so much for your kind words, Abigail!
      Reply
  10. Dan from Plattrer Talk says

    May 8, 2015 at 4:06 pm

    We've used fennel quite a few times over the last year and I love the flavor profile of this salad, especially with the contrasting but complimentary slices of orange; beautiful and delicious looking!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:32 pm

      I love fennel - so fresh! Thanks so much, Dan!
      Reply
  11. Maria Provenzano says

    May 8, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    Yum!! This looks amazing!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:32 pm

      Thanks so much, Maria!
      Reply
  12. Leanna says

    May 8, 2015 at 5:30 pm

    This looks so delicious! I will be studying abroad in Italy for a 6 weeks and I am so excited to learn about the food and culture over there! Hopefully I can meet some friends too!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:31 pm

      Oh wow, Leanna - that's amazing! I'm sure you'll easily make friends -- Italians are super friendly! Enjoy your adventure!
      Reply
  13. Vanessa Morgan says

    May 8, 2015 at 6:33 pm

    Wow, the combination of these ingredients is so original and tasty. A great find. Have a lovely weekend.
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:30 pm

      Thanks so much, Vanessa! You do the same!
      Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:30 pm

      Thanks so much, Vanessa! Enjoy the weekend!
      Reply
  14. Suzy @ The Mediterranean Dish says

    May 8, 2015 at 7:28 pm

    A salad after my own heart ;-)
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:29 pm

      Yes! So simple & flavorful! Thanks :)
      Reply
  15. Donna says

    May 8, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    YUM! This sounds delicious. So perfect for a spring meal in the backyard. I am pinning it for later, thanks for sharing! BTW completely jealous of your trip to Italy - I would love to get there one day!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:29 pm

      Thank you, Donna! I think another trip needs to take place -- It seems like so long ago already :) What a wonderful place - hope you make it there someday!
      Reply
  16. Tammy Greene says

    May 8, 2015 at 9:17 pm

    Looks so fresh and yummy!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:28 pm

      Thanks so much, Tammy!
      Reply
  17. Christina @ Christina's Cucina says

    May 8, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    What a stunningly beautiful salad, Patricia! I totally agree, your aunt's olive oil is definitely okay to use on this salad! Wow! Simple Italian dishes are always the best (imho)! ;) I wonder if we were in Italy at the same time last year! When did you go?
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 8, 2015 at 10:28 pm

      Isn't that the truth?? It's so funny that I'm so stingy with that special olive oil :) I was actually there in '13 - in Oct. You?
      Reply
  18. Josie Godel says

    May 9, 2015 at 4:07 am

    looks so refreshing!!! Thanks for sharing
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 9, 2015 at 3:33 pm

      Thanks, Josie!
      Reply
  19. Becky says

    May 9, 2015 at 5:01 am

    Gorgeous photos, it looks absolutely delicious!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 9, 2015 at 3:33 pm

      Thanks, Becky!
      Reply
  20. Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says

    May 9, 2015 at 3:14 pm

    I LOVE fennel in salads and the pairing with orange is absolutely perfect! Beautiful photos as always!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 9, 2015 at 3:32 pm

      It's delicious! Thanks so much, Linda :)
      Reply
  21. Sandra - The Foodie Affair says

    May 9, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    Fabulous fresh salad! Love the fennel you used in this recipe. I need to add this to my menu list for this week!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 9, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      I hope you do, Sandra - so tasty! Thanks for stopping by!
      Reply
  22. Tirralan - Tinseltown Mom says

    May 9, 2015 at 4:12 pm

    This is such a lovely Spring salad. It looks so delicious too!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 9, 2015 at 8:26 pm

      Thanks so much, Tirralan!
      Reply
  23. Florian @ContentednessCooking says

    May 9, 2015 at 10:24 pm

    This is my kind of salad, Patricia! So vibrant and colorful just in time for summer! Beautiful pictures as always, pinned! :)
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 10, 2015 at 1:51 am

      Yes! Fresh & flavorful :) Thanks so much for your kind words!
      Reply
  24. Healing Tomato says

    May 10, 2015 at 4:41 am

    I have eaten so much unhealthy food over the past week, so, this is exactly what I need to bring myself back into healthy eating. Great recipe.
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 10, 2015 at 3:38 pm

      Ha! Well, I've been there! Thanks so much, Rini!
      Reply
  25. [email protected] says

    May 11, 2015 at 3:01 am

    Patricia, what a delicious and fresh salad! It looks perfect for the summer!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 11, 2015 at 4:25 pm

      Hi Aida! Thanks so much!
      Reply
  26. Brooke Knipp says

    May 11, 2015 at 2:39 pm

    I love salads, and I love it when more creative cooks than I am come up with creative salad ideas! Thanks for broadening my salad horizon :) Looks delicious!
    Reply
    • Patricia says

      May 11, 2015 at 4:25 pm

      Hi Brooke - thanks so much - hope you give this a try!
      Reply

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I'm Patricia

Welcome to Grab a Plate!

Growing up surrounded by my Italian family it was always, "grab a plate" whenever anyone came to visit. Food was always a celebration, even everyday meals, and I like it that way. I try to make each meal memorable with my recipes for mainly meatless, mostly healthy, and easy-to-make dishes (with sweet treats in between).

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