Living on an island for the last 2 years, I forgot about the weather in Atlanta around this time of the year. One day it is cold in the 40s and then the next day, it is high in the 60s. To make the matters worse, the temperature fluctuates throughout the day, making it the perfect conditions to make me sick.
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As I am about to go back to the island, to a new dimension of temperature change, I am doing my best to not get sick. I find that the best way to prevent any last minute health issues is to support my immune system by eating lots of fresh fruits and leafy green vegetables.
Yesterday, when I went to Trader Joe’s, I had no idea about what to make. All I knew was that I wanted to buy some fresh leafy greens and fruit. I grabbed a cart and directly wheeled over to the fresh produce section.
First, I saw the baby spinach and thought that I can make a salad. As I was deciding on what kind of a salad to make, I saw these beautiful blood oranges. With their sweeter-than-regular-oranges taste, I find them to be addictive. I immediately picked a couple and placed them in my cart.
I couldn’t be more excited when I saw pomegranates right next to the blood oranges. After grabbing one, I knew that it was going to be a sweet and sour salad.
So, at that point, I had baby spinach as the “green leafy vegetable” and pomegranate and blood oranges as the “sweet” part of my salad. All I needed was to find sour and fatty ingredients to complete my salad.
To add some healthy fat, I grabbed a ripe avocado and to give it the “sour” kick I wanted, I picked limes and red onions.
After I was done with the fresh produce section, I walked over to the dairy section and saw the beautifully presented cheeses. That is when I decided that it would not hurt to splurge with some crumbled feta cheese to sprinkle on my salad.
My sweet & sour and healthy salad was easy to put it together in no time. To give it an additional layer of flavor and crunch, I added a handful of pecans. I seasoned it with salt & pepper and drizzled with just a little bit of extra virgin olive oil for extra shine.
I meant to take pictures of the half eaten salad, in addition to the pictures you see in this post, but I could not stop myself.
It was all gone before I knew it.
Baby Spinach Salad with Blood Oranges
Ingredients
- 3 cups of baby spinach, washed and spin-dried
- 2 medium blood oranges, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 1/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
- 1/2 red onion, thinly (paper-thin) sliced
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese
- 1- tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- Place baby spinach, blood oranges, pomegranate seeds, avocado slices, lime juice, and red onion slices in a large salad bowl. Gently stir to mix, making sure to not break baby spinach leaves.
- Drizzle it with extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Taste it for seasoning.
- Place it in individual plates and top it off with chopped pecans and crumbled feta cheese.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hi Ali
I’m not sure i will be happy without viewing your constant delicious recipes.
i definitely have my favourites. Your orange and oil cake is to die for, your apple cake..likewise.
your veggie salads… oh my goodness.
thank you, thank you.
keep well and take care of yourself
You are SO sweet. Thanks Sonia.
If I find blood oranges, I make this recipe. It is not only delicious but also beautiful to look at; it just makes you happy. Thanks for sharing!
YAY! This makes me so happy to hear. Thanks for coming by.
This is like my DREAM SALAD, Ice. Because like you, I’m pretty obsessed with blood oranges. I should have just bought a whole crate of them this winter, because I find myself going to the store again and again just for more blood oranges. This salad almost screams “bridal shower” to me, but in a really good way. Like, women love fruity sweet and sour salads, and I would totally serve this if I were catering a shower this spring!
Hi Lori,
I totally agree. It would be such a good Bridal Shower Buffet Salad.
I love them because of the additional sweetness that they bring into the dish they are in. Not to mention, they photograph so well..
🙂
Great seeing you in front of Park Tavern this past weekend! Hopefully you enjoyed some of the girl scout cookies. I am a fan of your photography and blog – much to admire here!
Hi David,
I enjoyed meeting you guys as well.
I am back on the island and looking forward to have some time to work on the video we shot in Piedmont Park. Hopefully you can see your pretty girls in the video very soon.
Thank you so much for your comments about the blog as well.
Best,
Aysegul – Ice
This is the most beautiful salad I have seen!
I agree. Blood oranges photograph very well..
Thanks Aimee..
Pretty and yummy!
Thank you sugar . 🙂
This looks amazing! I like the combinations of so many things to give the salad a very full flavor. Beautifully created. Thanks.
Thank you Anita. It tastes really good!
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Cheers!
Ice