This refreshingly healthy Arugula Salad Recipe showcases juicy blood oranges, crumbled feta cheese, red onions, and kalamata olives. It is tossed with a blood orange vinaigrette that is so simple yet outrageously yummy. The combination of all the flavors will awaken your tastebuds to crave this salad at least once a week.
I was in the grocery store for a few regular oranges to add to this salad. All of a sudden my eyes were opened to a fruit that I have overlooked a thousand times. I almost grabbed them by accident because there’s really no distinctive difference between the skin of a regular orange and this "newbie" that I just came across. There was no good reason to not include it, so I grabbed several of them and threw them in my basket.
I have a newfound love and they've been hiding in the produce section of the grocery store all along. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it but I had never until recently, peeled a blood orange or had the pleasure of tasting its delight. I know, it's quite sad, especially since I've tried pretty much everything under the sun. But I will sing their praises from now on.
The Ingredient List
Arugula and Baby Spinach
Arugula is the perfect leafy lettuce variety that pairs beautifully with all the other ingredients. It adds a pungent flavor with a peppery overtone. A nice fringe benefit to these lovely greens is the essential nutrients that help keep our heart and bones healthy.
The delicate leaves of baby spinach work great in salads. Also, spinach is a superfood that is compacted with tons of nutrients while being low in calories. Implementing both arugula and spinach in your diet will do your body good.
A handful of Mint Leaves
There's a subtle minty surprise hidden throughout the salad that gives it a cool, fresh feel to your taste buds. Don't fret though, it's not overpowering.
Blood Oranges
You add another layer of health benefits when you include these blood oranges. They contain antioxidants that are known for their anti-cancer properties which help reduce your damage to our bodies from free radicals. Like many other citrus fruits, blood oranges contain vitamin C which helps reduce cholesterol levels and helps to shore up your immune system.
When I peeled this little hidden gem and sliced it, all the colors of a gorgeous sunset were displayed on my countertop. But what took me by surprise was the depth of its many complex flavors. Blood oranges have a more exotic feel than a regular navel orange. There are hints of grapefruit and raspberry, which you'll find quite interesting. But if blood oranges are out of season, a regular orange will work just fine.
Kalamata Olives
Pick the olives from the olive bins in the produce department because they tend to be tastier. And I’ll always choose fresh instead of jars or cans if I have the choice. But if push comes to shove and you can't find any fresh, don't leave the olives out. Grab a jar off the shelf. The briny saltiness that they add is necessary for this Arugula Salad Recipe's full-flavor effect.
Feta Cheese
You can use either crumbled feta or goat cheese in this Arugula Salad Recipe. I am in love with both of them. I chose feta because it has a little more texture but is still on the creamy side. And its salty taste pairs amazingly with the sweetness of the blood orange.
Sliced Red Onions
Red onions are sweeter than regular yellow onions which make for the perfect combo to salads. The red onions give the Arugula Salad Recipe a nice crunch along with an attractive presentation because of its deep purple color.
Putting this Salad all Together
I love recipes that are complex with flavors but are simple. And this one definitely delivers on both. Between the sweet oranges, the tangy feta, and the briny olives, your taste buds will go wild with the intensity.
It takes less than 10 minutes to throw this Blood Orange Arugula Salad Recipe together. The most time-consuming element is peeling the oranges and preparing the vinaigrette.
Toss it with a Blood Orange Vinaigrette
The vinaigrette is the so-called "icing on the cake." It's so simple yet so enticing and can be added to a variety of salads because of its versatility. Freshly squeezed lemon and blood orange juice, blood orange zest, extra virgin olive oil, and minced garlic. I usually make extra and store it in the fridge. It will last for a good long week.
I would venture to say this will become top of my list of "go-to" salads. At least for the moment anyway. The array of colors from the orange, arugula, feta cheese, red onions, and kalamata olives, transformed this Arugula Salad Recipe into a stunning presentation on my table. Now, if you will excuse me, I think I'm gonna go dive into this yummy salad and let the flavors explode in my mouth.
If you're craving salads right now, check these out:
Fresh Peach Arugula Salad with Blueberries
Watermelon Salad with Feta and Pickled Onions
Asian Seared Tuna Salad with Peanut Sauce
Also, please follow me on Pinterest - Lingeralittle.
PrintBlood Orange Arugula Salad with Feta and Kalamata Olives
This fresh and colorful salad has a depth of flavor with the combination of arugula, blood oranges, kalamata olives, and feta. The blood orange vinaigrette brings it all together.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Blood Orange Vinaigrette
- 3 tablespoons Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
- 3 tablespoons Blood Orange Juice
- 1 Β½ teaspoon Blood Orange Zest
- 4 Β½ tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Β½ teaspoon Garlic, minced
Blood Orange Arugula Salad
- 6 cups Arugula
- 1 Β½ cup Baby Spinach
- Handful of Mint, chopped
- ΒΎ cup Red Onion, thinly sliced
- ΒΎ cup Kalamata Olives, quartered
- ΒΎ cup Feta Cheese, crumbled
- 4 Blood Oranges, peeled and sliced or cubed
Instructions
- In a small jar, whisk together 3 tablespoons each of freshly squeezed lemon and blood orange juice, 1 Β½ teaspoon of blood orange zest, 4 Β½ tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, a d 1 Β½ teaspoon minced garlic.
- Combine 6 cups of arugula, 1 Β½ cups baby spinach, a handful of chopped mint, ΒΎ cup of red onion, ΒΎ cup of kalamata olives, and ΒΎ cup of feta cheese in a salad bowl. Toss and either add 4 peeled and cubed (or sliced) blood orange on top of the salad.
- When ready to serve, drizzle the vinaigrette on top.
- ENJOY!!
Notes
- Even though this recipe calls for blood oranges, you could easily substitute navel oranges.
- Pick the olives from the olive bins in the produce department because they tend to be tastier.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: β of the salad
- Calories: 406
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 1084 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 28 m
Tiziana says
I`m in a total feta phase right know! I never really ate it until like 2 month ago and now I would like to mix it with everything π
So your salad made me excited quickly but oh wow you even put a blood orange in? Never heard of that before! IΒ΄ll try it tonight!!! Thanks for this amazing inspo
have an awesome day
Tiziana
http://www.tizianaolbrich.de
Kristy Murray says
Thanks so much Tiziana. I'm so glad you stopped by. I agree I do love feta and I do think you are gonna enjoy this salad as well. The blood oranges really do make it. It's such a nice combination of flavors and textures. I would love to know what you think once you make it. And I hope you have an awesome day as well.
Judy says
This salad looks amazing! I can almost taste it from those beautiful pictures!! Can't wait to try it!!
Kristy Murray says
Awwww thanks so much Judy. So glad you like the salad.
Chef Mimi says
Iβve been staring at that top photo for minutes! Itβs so beautiful! I love the combination of everything here, and Iβve printed the recipe. I have a girlfriend who stays with me 3/4 weeks overnight and this is the kind of thing we eat together, that my husband has no interest in! So thanks!
Kristy Murray says
Thanks so much Mimi. You are very kind. My husband is not interested in a salad like this either. So it's so nice to have girlfriends you can thoroughly enjoy something like this together.
freddie power says
its beautiful can't wait to taste it.....
Kristy Murray says
Thanks so much Freddie.
Katerina says
Aren't those blood oranges just beautiful! I must admit I don't usually go for those but instead buy the common orange oranges (haha) but I will definitely give them a red hot go now! Thanks Kristy, this recipe has all my favourite flavours and I am drooling just looking at your stunning photos.
Kristy Murray says
You're so kind Katerina. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.
Carrie Tyler says
I am all about salads this time of year and love all of the ingredients in this one, Kristy! I don't typically add orange to my salads, but it's such a fantastic idea! Thanks π
Kristy Murray says
Hi Carrie. It really is an interesting concept to add the oranges. It contributes a nice flavor and texture to the salad. Thanks so much for your comment.
Eric says
This is such a refreshing salad! And just in time for spring.
Kristy Murray says
Thanks! It is such a great recipe Eric. I love the blood oranges, but they can definitely be substituted for regular navel ones when not in season. Hope you enjoy!
Judee says
The colors in this salad are spectacular and the flavors sound wonderful. I always love to find new salad combinations using interesting ingredients. thanks
Kristy Murray says
Thanks so much Judee. I also love finding new salad combinations. Salad's are the best!
Forrest says
We have arugula and mint growing in our garden and a blood orange tree. I was looking for a recipe that used the blood orange and arugula and found this. The mint was just a bonus. We had all the other ingredients, oh yea! This is now our new favorite! Words canβt describe how beautifully these flavors blend and compliment each other. Seriously, amazing
Kristy Murray says
Thank you so much Forrest. I so appreciate you taking the time to share. Your kind comments are so thoughtful. I am thrilled that you enjoyed the salad. And I am so jealous that you have a blood-orange tree. That's crazy but so cool!
David @ Spiced says
Blood oranges really are a fun ingredient. We buy them more in the summer as we use them with Aperol Spritzes. Our store only sells them in bags, though, so we inevitably end up with a bunch left over. I'll have to try this salad next time - I love the feta + kalamata combo here!