Winter Orange Salad with Pecan Croutons
Brighten up your winter table with this vibrant Winter Orange Salad with Pecan Croutons—a delightful medley of fresh, juicy orange segments, crisp mixed greens, and crunchy homemade croutons. The star of the salad is the pecan croutons, toasted to perfection with a touch of maple syrup for an irresistible sweet-savory crunch. A tangy and slightly sweet orange vinaigrette, made from freshly squeezed orange juice, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard, ties the flavors together beautifully. Perfect as a light lunch or an elegant starter for a seasonal feast, this salad is a refreshing way to make the most of winter citrus. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a quick, wholesome dish bursting with texture and flavor.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 3 Oranges
- 6 cups Mixed salad greens
- 1 cup Pecans
- 1 tablespoon Maple syrup
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 4 Baguette slices
- 3 tablespoons Orange juice
- 1.5 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 0.5 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 0.25 teaspoon Ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Prepare the pecan croutons: In a small bowl, toss the pecans with maple syrup and a pinch of salt until evenly coated.
Spread the pecans on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes, stirring halfway through, until toasted and caramelized. Set aside to cool.
Cut the baguette slices into small cubes to make croutons. Toss them in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and a pinch of salt. Spread on another lined baking sheet and bake alongside the pecans for 8–10 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool.
Peel and segment the oranges over a bowl to catch the juice. Set the segments aside and reserve 3 tablespoons of the fresh orange juice for the vinaigrette.
Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the reserved orange juice, red wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, salt, and ground black pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, orange segments, cooled pecan croutons, and baguette croutons.
Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad just before serving and gently toss to combine.
Serve immediately and enjoy this fresh, zingy winter salad!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1606 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 103.2 g | 132% | |
| Saturated Fat | 10.9 g | 55% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 24.5 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 2097 mg | 91% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 159.2 g | 58% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25.4 g | 91% | |
| Total Sugars | 64.4 g | ||
| Protein | 27.3 g | 55% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 377 mg | 29% | |
| Iron | 9.7 mg | 54% | |
| Potassium | 1936 mg | 41% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
