Fennel and orange salad is a classic of southern cuisine, particularly prepared in Sicily, but it is also very popular here in Calabria. I must admit, as soon as the first oranges on my little tree start to ripen, I prepare it with true joy. It’s tasty, quick, and perfect for accompanying main courses, especially fish but also meat, even with a nice pork steak or roasted chicken. Fennel and orange salad is really excellent, plus fennel is purifying, so it’s good to eat plenty, and as we all know, oranges are rich in Vitamin C, which is much needed during the fall and winter months to fight colds and seasonal ailments. So, let’s stock up on oranges and fennel and prepare this delightful salad. This simple or enriched salad is never missing at our home during the Christmas holidays.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: No Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter
Ingredients for Fennel and Orange Salad
- 2 fennel bulbs
- 2 oranges
- to taste olive oil
- to taste salt
- to taste apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
Tools to Prepare Fennel and Orange Salad
- 1 Knife
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Bowl
Steps to Prepare Fennel and Orange Salad
Remove the outer damaged parts of the fennel, then cut them in half and wash to remove visible dirt. Slice them thinly on a cutting board with a large sharp knife. Place in a colander and wash thoroughly, allowing to drain well before transferring to a large bowl.
Peel the oranges with a knife, removing not only the outer colored peel but also the white membrane, leaving the orange flesh exposed. Then cut into round slices, and cut each slice in half, so you have nice-looking slices.
Add the oranges to the fennel, then season with salt and olive oil. If desired, add a little vinegar; I can’t eat salad of any kind without it. Give it a good mix and it’s ready to serve.
This salad can be enriched with almonds or walnuts, with olives, green or black, with other vegetables such as red cabbage or artichokes, or even other fruits like kiwi, or it can be enhanced with anchovies and capers, or even with smoked salmon for a fresh festive appetizer and more.
