Arugula Salad With Homemade Orange Poppy Seed Dressing
Round out your springtime brunch with the ultimate light side: a garden-fresh, leafy green salad. Arugula and watercress are ideal for this healthy recipe as both are cool-weather crops harvested in spring, with a crisp, peppery flavor. Fresh orange slices, tart strawberries and sweet blueberries scattered on top harmonize well with the from-scratch orange-poppy seed vinaigrette. Sprinkle on blue cheese crumbles for a savory, creamy note.
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Salad Ingredients
2 navel oranges
6 cups fresh pre-washed arugula
1 cup fresh pre-washed watercress
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup quartered strawberries
fine grain sea salt
ground pepper
1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles
Vinaigrette Ingredients
1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
Cook’s note: Arugula, left, and watercress, right, are readily available in spring, have a uniquely peppery flavor and offer many health benefits. But, feel free to swap in your favorite spring mix of greens instead, if you prefer.
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Salad Instructions
Segment the oranges by cutting away their peels and pith using a serrated knife. Cut between the membranes to segment the orange. Pat orange segments dry with paper towels and set aside. Tip: After segmenting the oranges, you can squeeze the juice from the leftover membranes for the freshly squeezed orange juice called for in the vinaigrette recipe.
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Arrange the greens on a large platter. Top with orange segments, blueberries, strawberries, a pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper. Sprinkle on the blue cheese crumbles.
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Vinaigrette Instructions
Gather ingredients (Image 1). Combine the orange juice, oil, honey, sugar, vinegar and salt in a bowl or a salad dressing mixer bottle. Whisk (or shake) together until well blended, about 2 minutes. Add poppy seeds and mix again to combine (Image 2). Serve the vinaigrette on the side, or dress the salad just before serving (Image 3).
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