Cinnamon Free Ginger-Lime Fennel & Orange Salad
Bright, refreshing, and built entirely around bold flavors that have nothing to do with warm baking spices, this salad is a genuinely exciting option when you need something that steers clear of cinnamon entirely. Shaved fennel brings a clean, anise-like crunch, while supremed navel oranges add juicy sweetness and a little natural acidity that makes the whole bowl feel alive. The dressing is where things really sing — fresh lime juice, lime zest, and finely grated ginger create a zippy, aromatic base that's tied together with a touch of raw honey and good olive oil. Torn mint leaves and the reserved fennel fronds layer in herbal freshness, and optional cilantro takes it even further if you're into that. It's the kind of salad that looks stunning on a platter and tastes like you put in way more effort than you actually did. Every single ingredient here is naturally free of cinnamon and the usual spice-blend surprises you sometimes find hiding in store-bought dressings, so there's no label-reading required.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 2 medium fennel bulbs, fronds reserved
- 3 medium navel oranges
- ¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, torn
For the dressing
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (from about 2 limes)
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tsp raw honey
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Trim the fennel bulbs: cut off the stalks and reserve a small handful of the feathery fronds. Halve each bulb through the root, then use a mandoline or a sharp knife to shave each half crosswise into very thin slices, about 1/16 inch thick. Place the shaved fennel in a large mixing bowl.
- 2
Cut the top and bottom off each orange, then stand each orange upright and slice away the peel and white pith following the curve of the fruit. Working over the bowl of fennel to catch any juice, cut between the membranes to release the segments. Squeeze the spent membranes over the bowl to extract any remaining juice, then discard the membranes.
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