Bringing Sicilian Flavors to Your Table: The Orange and Fennel Salad.
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The Orange Salad is a hallmark dish in both Spanish and Sicilian cuisine, where the orange takes center stage as the primary ingredient. Typically, it’s served either at the beginning or at the end of a meal. In its simplest form, this salad is prepared with slices of orange, seasoned with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Intriguingly, the tanginess typically derived from vinegar or a vinaigrette in other salads is instead supplied by the oranges themselves in this dish.
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There are numerous variations of this salad where the orange slices are combined with other ingredients, such as thinly sliced fennel, onions, and black olives. In these versions, vinegar is also added, along with a selection of aromatic herbs according to personal preference. Rosemary, mint, and watercress are often chosen to enhance the dish’s flavor profile.
Difficulty: Easy
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Servings: Serves 4 people
Ingredients:
- 2 Blood Oranges, Tarocco Oranges, or Navel Oranges
- 2 Small Fennel Bulbs
- 12 Black Olives
- Juice of 1 Orange
- 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt
- Pepper
Steps:
- To prepare the authentic Sicilian Orange and Fennel Salad, start by thoroughly washing the fennel bulbs.
- Cut them in half and, once you’ve removed the core, slice them into thin strips. Transfer these to a bowl and set aside momentarily.
- Now, peel your oranges. This means removing the skin just below the white pith to expose the fruit’s flesh. Proceed to cut them into slices, ensuring you’re rid of all the bitter white pith. Add the orange slices to the bowl with the fennel.
- Separately, whisk together the olive oil, orange juice, a pinch of salt, and a dash of pepper with a fork. Use this freshly prepared vinaigrette to dress your salad.
- Finish off by garnishing with black olives. Optionally, you could also add some orange zest and a few sprigs of dill to elevate the look and flavor of your salad. Enjoy!
Topics: Easy Sicilian Orange and Fennel Salad recipe, How to make Sicilian Orange and Fennel Salad, Italian salad recipes, Quick and healthy Italian dishes, Summer salad recipes, Traditional Sicilian cuisine, Vegan and gluten-free recipes
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