Sicilian-Style Citrus Salad
This traditional Italian favorite is filled with juicy oranges, briny olives, fresh parsley and the nutty crunch of pistachios. It’s vibrant, simple, and fresh.
Ingredients:
1/2 red onion, minced or thinly sliced
¼ cup red wine vinegar
6 oranges, a mix of what looks good (Cara Cara, Navel, Blood, Valencia, etc)
1 grapefruit
12 Castelvetrano olives, pitted and finely chopped
⅓ cup pistachios, shelled and chopped (about 3 tbsp)
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more if needed
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Chopped parsley, for garnish
Method:
1. In a small bowl, combine the onion with the vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature while you prepare the rest of the salad.
2. Using a sharp knife (serrated works great here), peel all of the citrus. First, cut off a thin piece from the top and bottom of the orange so it can sit flat on the cutting board. Then, cutting from top to bottom and following the curve of the fruit, remove the peel and white pith. Slice the oranges about ¼” thick, remove seeds and arrange on a platter. For the grapefruit, cut into segments and pile on top of oranges.
3. Drain the onions, reserving 2 tablespoons of the red wine vinegar, and scatter over the citrus slices along with the olives and pistachios.
4. Whisk together the reserved vinegar and olive oil. Taste and adjust with more vinegar, olive oil, salt and/ or pepper if needed. Drizzle half of the dressing evenly over the salad, garnish with parsley and serve with remaining dressing on the side.