Citrus Salad with dates and coconut flakes is a new kind of fresh and light salad with a fancy look. Bright colours, sweet/acidic taste, and a super delicious, refreshing salad to enjoy on any lazy day.

You know how important it is to consume daily vitamins/fruits, especially when they taste sweet and are super ripe. I adore eating fruits and try to teach this habit to my daughter. She loves citrus fruits, but not all of them. Citrus fruits are full of vitamin C and contain many compounds that help keep the heart-healthy. So it is essential and vital to eat citrus fruits often.

This is why, for today, I have prepared a new kind of salad in my menu that is not only healthy but tasty and flavourful.

Citrusy fruits, coconut flakes, dates, and red onion for crunchiness – nothing else more to enjoy a new kind of refreshing salad.

You may think that oranges with onion aren’t a good idea or great duos. On the contrary, sometimes incompatible ingredients burst aromas and create something magical. I am always sceptical about combining such unordinary elements or such different tastes and flavours. However, it had nicely surprised me when the result turned out to be so lingering and super tasty.

Some years ago, I didn’t even imagine that oranges/grapefruits may pair so well with dates, onions, or green leaves. Today, when I am cooking and always trying to discover new tastes and combinations, I realise how limited we are sometimes. There are millions of recipes available today that we don’t know and haven’t tried. Maybe this is why our food blog allows us to learn many different but at the same time delicious new tastes and aromas. This is a flavourful salad full of immune-boosting vitamins with a delightful taste and sun shining colours.

This citrusy salad is super versatile as you can add or skip any ingredient you like. It will cheer up your day, as well as your state of mind. Its healthiness and aromas are simply mouth-watering. You can easily skip red onion for this salad, but trust me that it only accentuates the deep citrusy flavour and isn’t too intense as you may think.

Some add-ins in this citrusy salad

Avocado
Fennel
Red cabbage
Any nuts you have
Fresh mint
Even cheese like pecorino

This salad recipe includes all vibrant and tangy citrusy fruits like grapefruit, oranges, and sweet blood oranges/tangerines. All of them tossed in a zingy dressing and topped with some dates and coconut flakes is simply fabulous. Easily add some fresh mint leaves to freshen the salad, and et voila, your quick dish is ready to be enjoyed.

How to cut and peel an orange?

Before peeling and cutting a citrusy fruit, we have to wash it properly. Take a large cutting board and start cutting the bottom and the top of the orange. As a tip I never peel an orange, I just remove the skin with a knife.

After you cut both sides of the orange, nicely and gently cut round shapes of the orange until your knife hits the orange flesh. Pay attention not to cut too much of the orange flesh, so take a sharp knife that cuts perfectly.

When your orange is done and nice-looking, cut rounds and arrange on a platter, so your salad looks fancier and beautiful.

What to serve with a citrusy salad?

This citrusy salad is a vegan one, so keep in mind that it goes great with hummus or other plant-based dishes. Okay, this is my advice, but you can definitely serve it next to anything you like.

For example, baked salmon or some shrimp recipes will pair significantly with this citrusy salad.

It will go great with the lemon chicken pasta recipe. You can see the recipe here.

How to make a citrus salad?

Citrus salad is quick to make and healthy to savour. This salad full of citrus fruits is very colourful, tasty, and aromatic. I enjoy eating such amazing and healthy salads.

Take a large cutting board and start cutting rounds your peeled oranges, grapefruit, and lime. Take ½ of red onion and cut slices, as well.

Ingredients for the citrus dressing:

4 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp vinegar ( I have used apple cider vinegar, but you can use anyone you have)
Orange juice
Lime juice
One minced clove of garlic
Seasoning

I took my cocktail shaker and mixed all the ingredients in it. The dressing has a fresh/citrusy aroma and combines excellent in this salad.

Take a platter and nicely arrange green leaves, top all the oranges, add some chopped soft cheese ( optional) garnish with red onion and coconut flakes. Pour the dressing and serve immediately.

It can be stored for some hours in the fridge and coated in dressing just before serving.

A simple bright, colourful salad that rises your mood and summer feelings.

Eat healthily, stay healthy!