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Citrus Spinach Salad with Avocados and Oranges

posted by Liz Berg on June 10, 2018 (updated 10/23/23)

When the heat is on, a cool, refreshing Citrus Spinach Salad with Avocados, Oranges, and Dried Cranberries hits the spot. A simple Dijon Vinaigrette with fresh orange and lemon juice complements these ingredients perfectly.

But this is not a salad recipe restricted to any one season. Fresh oranges are plentiful throughout the year, and this Spinach Salad Recipe would be wonderful with any meal, anytime.

Table of Contents hide

1 Why You Must Make

2 Ingredient Notes

3 Recipe Tips

4 Frequently Asked Questions

5 You May Also Like

6 Citrus Spinach Salad with Avocados and Oranges

Why You Must Make

This simple spinach salad is easy to pull together, and the flavors and textures go together swimmingly.
From the crisp greens to the juicy supremed oranges, creamy avocados, and chewy dried cranberries, every base is covered!
When fresh summer produce like garden tomatoes isn’t available, this winter salad recipe is a delicious alternative.

Ingredient Notes

Kitchen Staples – Sugar, Vegetable Oil (I use canola oil), Salt, Black Pepper (I use freshly ground), Dijon Mustard (Grey Poupon)
Salad Greens – I used baby spinach and baby romaine
Oranges – Peel, then remove the outer membrane and cut out the segments
Avocados – Cut in half, remove pit, and cut into cubes. Gently toss in the vinaigrette unless you cut right before serving. This will minimize oxidation AKA browning.
Dried Cranberries – Also known as Craisins. Dried cherries can be used instead.
Fresh Orange Juice – May use bottled juice in a pinch.
Fresh Lemon Juice – Don’t use the bottled juice that’s on the store shelves. You’ll get a brighter, fresher flavor if you squeeze your own.
Champagne Vinegar – My favorite vinegar for making salad dressings.

A tasty Citrus Spinach Salad with Avocados and Oranges in a white bowl drizzled with vinaigrette.

Recipe Tips

As with every dish, this spinach salad is customizable. You can add your favorite greens to the mix, sprinkle in toasted almonds for some crunch, or add some ruby red grapefruit along with the orange slices.
I used baby spinach and tossed in some baby romaine for a boost of color. All spinach or a combination of greens would be perfectly fine.
PRO-Tip: Add the cubed avocados right before serving. I gently coated them in my vinaigrette since the acids help prevent the avocados from browning.
PRO-Tip: My dried cranberries were a little too dry, though the package had not expired. To revive them, soak them in the vinaigrette or some hot water for an hour or so to plump them. I added them back to the salad bowl before serving.
I used one navel orange and one blood orange. Try this salad with your favorite variety or even a drained can of mandarin oranges if you’d like.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Supreme an Orange?

embranes. It isn’t as difficult as you might think. This is my process:
First, slice off a round at the top and bottom of the orange. Then, from top to bottom, slice off a strip of the peel and the pith, trying not to remove any excess orange flesh in the process.
Rotate the orange and repeat until the whole orange is peeled.

Locate one of the segments. With your sharp knife, slice on each side of the segment, just inside the membranes, to release a perfect orange segment. Repeat for each segment.

If you’d like to save the juices for the salad dressing, squeeze the leftover membranes into a bowl. Plus make sure to supreme your segment over a bowl to collect the juices as well.

This procedure can be done with any citrus fruit including grapefruit, lemons, and limes.
This video on How to Supreme an Orange makes the procedure crystal clear.

How Do You Prevent an Avocado from Browning?

Do not slice your avocado until just before serving so it has less time to oxidize (turn brown from exposure to oxygen). You can also coat your avocados with salad dressing to create a barrier minimizing oxygen exposure.

Can You Make Salad Dressing Ahead of Time?

Yes, salad dressing can be made early in the day, and then depending on the ingredients in your recipe, it can be parked in the refrigerator or left on the counter until it’s time to toss the salad. The oil in the dressing may solidify when chilled, so it’s best to allow time for it to come to room temperature so it can be whisked again before serving.