I’m hoping this avocado citrus salad can brighten up dreary January.
January can feel endlessly gray, so I wanted something bright and uplifting. This avocado citrus salad does exactly that—fresh, colorful and full of flavor.
Last week we started with a classic roasted broccoli side. This week, we’re breaking from tradition with a citrus-forward salad that feels like a little burst of sunshine.
Think juicy citrus segments paired with creamy avocado, tangy quick-pickled red onion, and a honey-lime vinaigrette to tie everything together.
The result is a light, refreshing salad — tart and bright, with just enough sweetness from the dressing. It’s easy to assemble, which makes it perfect for winter when you want something lively without a lot of fuss.
There are salads meant to be the main event and salads meant as a starter. Then there are salads that skip lettuce entirely and use citrus as the base. This is one of those citrus-first salads.
It won’t be everyone’s favorite, but if you enjoy citrus season, it’s a lovely way to celebrate it. I especially love serving it alongside lighter chicken dishes, and it pairs beautifully with seafood—shrimp, salmon and white fish are all excellent companions.
If you’re serving someone hesitant about grapefruit or Meyer lemon, start simple: use oranges and avocado only. Navel, Cara Cara, blood oranges or even drained mandarin segments work well. That can ease someone into the idea before introducing more assertive citrus like grapefruit.
I love that this salad can be adjusted to taste—use sweeter citrus like blood oranges or Meyer lemons, or amp up the tartness with grapefruit and lime. You can also pile it over mixed greens to make it heartier.
Pairs well with
Beer-Glazed Citrus Chicken
Yogurt-Marinated Lemon Chicken
Skillet Sea Bass with Pistachio Butter
Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes with Blackberry Salsa
Cajun Salmon with Salted Lime Butter
Winter Citrus Butter Salmon
Adobo Shrimp
Hot Honey Roasted Salmon
Kalua Pork Sliders with Mango-Blueberry Salsa
Grilled Baby Back Ribs
Avocado Citrus Salad
Avocado Citrus Salad
2
20 mins
Ingredients
- 1 grapefruit, peeled and segmented
- 1 orange, peeled and segmented
- 1 Meyer lemon, peeled and segmented
- 1 avocado, thinly sliced
- Quick pickled red onions, for topping
Honey Lime Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Use the citrus you love most—this recipe is flexible. No need to follow it exactly.
- Arrange the segmented citrus, avocado slices and pickled onions on a platter. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with the honey-lime dressing.
Honey Lime Vinaigrette
- Whisk together lime juice, honey, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until the dressing is emulsified. Drizzle over the salad and serve.
Did you make this recipe?
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So bright it makes me happy.