Shaved Fennel & Orange Salad
Crisp shaved fennel with orange segments and a light citrus dressing — a fresh, digestion-friendly salad that cuts through a heavy meal.
Ingredients
- 2 Fennel bulb
- 2 Orange
- 2 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 50 g Arugula (optional)
- ½ Lemon (optional)
- 30 g Kalamata olives (optional)
- ¼ tsp Salt (optional)
Method
- Shave the fennel as thinly as you can, reserving a few fronds.
- Peel the oranges and slice them into rounds, catching any juice.
- Whisk the caught orange juice with the lemon, olive oil, and salt into a dressing.
- Arrange the fennel, orange, and arugula on a platter, spoon the dressing over, and scatter the olives and fennel fronds on top.
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About Shaved Fennel & Orange Salad
Shaved fennel and orange salad is a Southern Italian and Sicilian classic that pairs two ingredients at their winter peak: crisp, anise-scented fennel and sweet, juicy oranges. The combination is a study in contrast — the fennel's clean, licorice-like bite set against the bright citrus, with peppery arugula and briny Kalamata olives rounding it out. The defining technique is simply how thinly the fennel is shaved; sliced paper-thin, it turns delicate and almost translucent, softening its raw crunch into something elegant rather than fibrous.
This is a light, refreshing salad meant to cut through richness, which is exactly why it is traditionally served after or alongside heavier meals — its fennel is a natural digestive, and the citrus keeps everything feeling clean. The dressing leans on juice caught while slicing the oranges, whisked with lemon and olive oil so nothing is wasted and the flavor stays fresh and bright. It comes together in a matter of minutes with no cooking at all, making it an easy first course or a palate-resetting side. Serve it as a vivid counterpoint to roasted meats, oily fish, or a rich pasta.
Shaved Fennel & Orange Salad: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Shaved Fennel & Orange Salad?
A serving has about 212 calories — 3.4g protein, 32.4g carbs, 9.8g fat, 13.6g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Shaved Fennel & Orange Salad gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Shaved Fennel & Orange Salad has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Do I need every ingredient to make Shaved Fennel & Orange Salad?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out arugula, lemon, kalamata olives — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Shaved Fennel & Orange Salad make?
This recipe makes 3 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.