This beautiful, jewel-hued Beet, Carrot, Fennel and Citrus Salad is perfect for a long Winter even if you aren’t pairing it with the rest of my Middle Eastern Feast. Everyone knows they need to eat their veggies, but sometimes it can be a challenge to find something inspiring in the Winter. That’s where new preparations for root vegetables come in. Eating them raw isn’t so strange when they’re shaved thin, or grated small. And pairing them with fresh herbs and citrus, which is at its best this time of year is the way to go. I love having the excuse to get out my mandoline or the different discs for my food processor, and I like making Winter salads in big quantity to make it easier to keep my diet goals on track even when local produce isn’t a reality. I often grated extra beets, carrots and fennel and keep them in bags in the fridge. They store well for a few days and you can keep making the salad fresh all week long. Or, you can make this Beet, Carrot, Fennel and Citrus Salad as a show-stopping dish to serve along with Lamb Kofta and my Middle Eastern Feast Menu.
Beet, Carrot, Fennel and Citrus Salad
Ingredients
- 1 bulb shaved fennel
- 1 red beet grated
- 1 yellow beet grated
- 2 or 3 carrots grated
- 2 - 4 oranges segmented I use blood oranges when I can find them
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2-3 tablespoons acid I used the juice from the wasted oranges plus extra lemon juice or a vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Slice the fennel (a mandoline on the thinnest setting works best, but it can be done by hand). Peel the beets and carrots if you like. This isn't necessary, but produces a more vibrant color.
Otherwise just scrub them well. - Grate the beets and carrots by color from lightest to darkest so that they don’t stain each other. A food processor makes this a cinch.
- Segment the oranges.
- Place the ingredients in piles in a large salad bowl and pour the dressing on top. Top with the fresh herbs.
- Don't toss until you’re ready to serve as the beets stain everything, and you get the added bonus of enjoying the jewel-colored piles of shredded vegetables, which make a gorgeous showpiece on your counter.