Chopped Sicilian Olive and Orange Salad

By Jeannette Ordas of Everybody likes Sandwiches


If you crave salty, briny and strong citrus flavours like I do, you'll love this salad. It's the ideal way to chase those February blah days of rain upon grey. It's almost like an Italian summer getaway for your tastebuds...or something!





Really, it couldn't be an easier salad to put together. I used those green spiced olives that come from the deli section of your local market. I had to dig into a briny barrel to pull out a good spiced assortment, but I've also seen these exact olives in little plastic containers near the cheese section at my local food co-op. Roughly give 'em a chop and toss them into a pretty bowl. Next, add in some roughly chopped celery for a super crunchy bite. Don't forget to add the leaves too! Parsley and green onions go along for the ride.


Next up, is the orange. I use blood oranges because they're currently in season and so pretty. When I sliced this one open, it only had the faintest bit of red blush. So pretty and unusual!! Go with whatever orange you like best - tangelos and clementines would also be lovely here. 

The dressing is a simple affair with some freshly squeezed orange juice, red wine vinegar, a plop of dijon and a squirt of honey. Olive oil and a good shake emulsifies it all together. 


And that's all there is to it. A different kind of salad to shake up these last few days of February. 

Chopped Sicilian Olive and Orange Salad
1 cup of chopped pitted green spiced deli olives
2 cups chopped celery with their leaves
1/2 cup chopped parsley
2 green onions, thinly sliced
zest from 1 orange
1 orange, segmented without their membranes (here's a tutorial on how to do that - it's pretty easy)

juice of 1 orange
1-2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon honey
pinch of kosher salt and a good grind of pepper

In a serving bowl, toss together the olives, celery, parsley, green onions, orange zest and orange segments. 

In a small jar, add in the remaining ingredients and give everything a good shake. Taste and adjust flavourings, if needed. Pour over salad, toss and serve.

Jan Halvarson

1 comment:

Nadja said...

looks great - will do that for dinner tonight! loving celery right now :)