My Gorgeous Man and I were asked to bring a Green Salad to go with Grilled Salmon, Coconut Rice and Green Beans. Hmmm…the salad should be interesting and complement the salmon. What about a simple green salad made with a soft lettuce like red leaf, butter or leaf lettuce, parsley and sliced, fresh oranges tossed with a flavorful orange vinaigrette and topped with slivers of creamy Parmigiano-Reggiano? That would be perfect!
The fabulously delicious Salmon dinner, hosted by Alan and Jaycee Cooper (thanks guys!) was planned for eight; but my Gorgeous Man and I decided to bring enough salad to serve twelve people. We were glad we did! This gluten-free Fresh Orange Salad was a solid “Home Run!” Everyone wanted to the recipe; so as promised, here it is! Note: If you are Dairy Free; omit the Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese.
FRESH ORANGE SALAD
Gluten Free Fresh Orange Vinaigrette:
2 teaspoons grated orange rind
1/3 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (must be fresh not a concentrate)
2 -3 tablespoons honey (start with two tablespoons and increase if you like)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 small garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Black Pepper; freshly ground, to taste
Salad:
6 cups soft lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
Use: Red Leaf, Bibb, or Green Leaf Lettuce
1 cup loosely packed, chopped fresh parsley
2 1/2 cups fresh orange sections, cut into small pieces
Top with:
1/2 cup shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
(This cheese adds a wonderful, punch of flavor! At Alan and Jaycee’s home I tossed the cheese with the greens and no one thought there was cheese in the salad. But, everyone kept asking, “How did you make this salad? I want the recipe.” Sooooo if you don’t HAVE to be Dairy Free, please add the Parmigiano-Reggiano! You’ll be glad you did!)
(This cheese adds a wonderful, punch of flavor! At Alan and Jaycee’s home I tossed the cheese with the greens and no one thought there was cheese in the salad. But, everyone kept asking, “How did you make this salad? I want the recipe.” Sooooo if you don’t HAVE to be Dairy Free, please add the Parmigiano-Reggiano! You’ll be glad you did!)
- Combine the Vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl and stir with a whisk until combined.
- In a large bowl toss the lettuce, parsley and oranges together.
Pour the Orange Vinaigrette over; toss again. Top with the Parmigiano-Reggiano if desired.
Note: An authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese will have the words, “Parmigiano-Reggiano” imprinted on the rind of the cheese. This cheese is expensive, but it is worth the price.
Make Ahead Note:
- Put the Vinaigrette in a glass jar and refrigerate.
- Put the lettuce and parsley in a LARGE salad bowl; cover and refrigerate.
- Put the cut up oranges in a separate glass bowl because the oranges make a lot of juice and you don’t want to wilt your salad.
- Put the Parmigiano-Reggiano slivers in a small plastic bag.
Now; you are ready! You can transport your salad anywhere and put it together right before it’s time to eat. It will be fresh and wonderful! Serves 6-8 happy people. ENJOY!