This shaved fennel salad is as delicious as it is beautiful! Flavorful fennel, apples, and orange are served over fresh arugula - then topped with crunchy walnuts and a homemade citrus vinaigrette dressing. Yum.
Warmer weather is finally here - at least down here in Florida! And those sunshine-y days have me wanting to eat a bit lighter. So it's time to start experimenting with salad recipes again.
Now I love a good salad. But not the sad kind of iceberg lettuce salad that you get served as a side at a chain restaurant. I mean big, fresh salads full of flavorful ingredients. And this fennel salad does not disappoint.
This Shaved Fennel Salad Is...
- Crisp and Refreshing
- Colorful (and Insta-worthy)
- Easy to make in just minutes.
- A hearty side dish or a light meal on its own!
Let's get cooking!
Helpful Tips
Use a mandoline to slice the fennel. It's nearly impossible to get those perfectly thin slices with a regular kitchen knife, which is why I recommend picking up a mandoline slicer for the task! A cheap one like this will work just dine.
Slicing fennel can be tricky! Especially if you've never tackled it before. Start by washing the fennel and then cutting off the end where the root would be. Then peel off any layers that are a bit tough. Then you will slice down the center of the fennel. Then use your mandoline to began slicing in very thin strips.
Dress the salad just before serving. You don't want the arugula or orange slices to get soggy before you dig in.
Variations
Swap the oranges for grapefruit. This will give a new flavor profile that is a bit more tart.
More crunchy topping ideas: Instead of walnuts, try sprinkling the fennel salad with some pecans or even pepitas for a different crunch factor.
Go for feta. Swap the parmesan out for feta cheese crumbles. The tangy flavor is totally different, but also a great match for the fennel and oranges.
Make it vegan: Leave out the cheese for a vegan friendly version. It still has plenty of flavor!
More Vegetarian Recipes to Try
If you love this Shaved Fennel Salad, be sure to check out these other delicious ideas. Or check out all my vegetarian salad recipes!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 4 cups arugula
- 1 bulb fennel
- 1 large apple
- 1 medium orange
- ½ cup parmesan curls
- ¼ cup walnuts
For the dressing:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon minced parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Place the arugula on a large platter and set aside
- Use a mandolin to slice the fennel thin, then slice the apple and orange into thin slices using a knife
- Place the fennel, apple, orange, parmesan and walnut on top of the arugula and set aside
- Prepare the dressing but whisking together the olive oil, orange juice, red wine vinegar, maple syrup, parsley, salt and pepper until smooth
- Pour dressing over the salad right before serving
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