This retro avocado orange salad is delightfully healthy and delicious. And the orange poppy seed dressing is the perfect finishing touch.
Avocado lovers, take note! This beautiful green and orange salad is a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds.
It’s got just the right amount of tartness, the right amount of creaminess, and the right amount of light crunch, to make this the perfect salad for any occasion – even a Wednesday night dinner.
**Please Note – The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making Avocado Orange Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing is available at the end of this post. OR you can hit the “jump to recipe” button (found above) to be taken directly to the recipe.
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The ingredients:
**Note – The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned
- 2 avocados, cut into 1″ pieces
- lemon juice (to prevent avocados from browning, my addition)
- 3 mandarin oranges, segmented
- endive (about 3 cups, chopped) or your favorite lettuce
- mayonnaise
- orange juice (fresh)
- orange zest
- poppy seeds (my addition)
- salt and pepper (my addition)
Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
- chef’s knife
- cutting board
- paring knife
- avocado slicer (optional)
- citrus zester
- citrus juicer (optional)
- salad bowl
- salad dressing shaker (optional)
- measuring cups and spoons
How this recipe came to be:
This original retro recipe came from a cookbook called The Complete Family Cookbook (published in 1970, and available in hardcover or paperback) that I acquired from my mother-in-law after she’d passed away.
While it’s taken me many years to finally cook from my somewhat small collection of vintage cookbooks, I’m having a blast doing so now and then sharing these retro recipes on my blog.
This particular recipe for Avocado Orange Salad can be found on page 297 (hard cover edition). Shown below.
While I kept to the original recipe fairly closely, I did put my own stamp on it by adding poppy seeds to the dressing and by drizzling the avocado with lemon juice (to prevent oxidation), and liberally seasoning the avocado with salt and pepper.
My very final personal touch was adding an additional light sprinkling of kosher salt and some fresh ground black pepper to the salad before drizzling it (not tossing, as the original recipe suggests) with the dressing.
Why this recipe works:
If you ask me, avocado and citrus are a match made in heaven. Especially avocado and orange.
The only thing I might change up (next time I make this salad) is that I may use a different kind of lettuce. Perhaps a nice crunchy romaine or even a peppery arugula would be a little more to my personal preference.
Take that for what it’s worth, and use your very favorite variety of lettuce when making this salad your own.
Can this avocado orange salad be made in advance?
Yes, but make sure to toss the cut avocado chunks in lemon juice to prevent them from browning, and don’t dress the salad in advance.
You can cover and refrigerate this salad up to 4 hours in advance of serving, and then when you’re ready to eat, you should drizzle (or toss, your call) the salad with dressing.
How to make an avocado orange salad:
- Prepare the mandarin oranges by peeling, cleaning, and segmenting the sections.
- Halve and pit the avocados. Cut and scoop the cut avocados into a bowl and drizzle with fresh lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Toss gently to coat.
- Wash and dry the endive.
- Layer approximately 3 cups of chopped endive in a large salad bowl.
- Top the endive with the segmented mandarin oranges, and also with the prepared avocado chunks.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
How to make the orange poppy seed dressing:
- Add the mayonnaise to a medium bowl.
- Zest one large orange into the mayonnaise and then add approximately 2 tablespoons of fresh orange juice.
- Whisk until smooth.
- Add 1 teaspoon of poppy seeds to the dressing and stir well to combine.
- Chill until ready to serve.
Want more retro recipes?
Great!!
Don’t forget to check out my entire Retro Recipes Collection, and remember that I’ll be adding dishes to this new category on a continual basis going forward, so please check back often.
Additional lettuce salad recipes you’ll also enjoy:
*Chef’s Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing (shown below)
A chef’s salad isn’t something only to be eaten at restaurants. You can easily make this Best Ever Chef’s Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing at home with all the great add-ins and flavors you love!
*Big Mac Salad (shown below)
This Big Mac Cheeseburger Salad will cure your burger craving, but with a healthier twist, and without waiting in line at the local burger joint.
*Avocado Mango Salad (shown below)
Heart-Healthy Avocado Mango Salad With Lime Poppy Seed Vinaigrette is a brightly flavored and satisfying salad. It makes a delicious dinner all by itself, or for extra protein why not add some cooked chicken breast or turkey? Your call. Your salad.
*Avocado Orange Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing (shown below) THIS IS THE PLACE!!
Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today’s healthy retro recipe for Avocado Orange Salad.
If you’ve made this recipe, or are excited to make this recipe, I’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to leave it a star rating in the recipe card, along with a comment if you’re so inclined. Thank you. 🙂
Avocado Orange Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing
Ingredients
- 3 mandarin oranges peeled, cleaned and separated into segments.
- 2 ripe avocados peeled, pit removed and cut into 1″ chunks
- 3 cups chopped endive or your favorite lettuce
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- zest from one orange approximately 1 teaspoon
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- ½ teaspoon black pepper divided
Instructions
- Place the avocado chunks in a small bowl and drizzle with lemon juice. Add 3/4 teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Toss gently to coat.
- Place the chopped lettuce in the bottom of a salad bowl.
- Top the lettuce evenly with the prepared mandarin orange segments and the prepared avocado chunks.
- Cover and keep chilled for up to 4 hours (if needed).
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, orange zest, orange juice, and poppy seeds until smooth and creamy. Keep chilled until ready to serve.
- Before serving, season the salad lightly with additional salt and pepper (if desired), and drizzle the dressing over the salad.
- Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
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Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
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Noelle Simpson
Monday 4th of January 2021
What a delicious combo! I had never thought of adding them together before but I loved it. Making again soon
Renée
Monday 4th of January 2021
It's surprising how well they go together. Glad you enjoyed it, Noelle!