simple avocado citrus salad

By the end (or nearing end) of winter I’ve usually established a craving for fresh summer fruit, but berries and nectarines will evade me a few months more. I recently rekindled my love for oranges after being sick with influenza- I used to think of oranges as a bit mundane, their purpose being for juicing or halftime snacks at soccer games. Maybe I avoided them because I hate getting orange peel stuck under my fingernails, but regardless, quality oranges are getting me through this Seattle winter (and I’ve started cutting the peel off my oranges with a knife, so problem solved). It’s fortuitous that I have come around on enjoying oranges again, because I’ve wanted to create a citrus and avocado dish ever since I watched Antoni teach someone on Netflix’s Queer Eye how to assemble an orange and grapefruit appetizer. There’s something so simple, yet delicious about an avocado and citrus pairing. I hope you’ll give this one a try for yourself!

SIMPLE AVOCADO CITRUS SALAD
serves 2

1 avocado, sliced thinly
2 large oranges (I used one blood orange and one Cara Cara orange), sliced into rounds
2 tablespoons olive oil
pinch or two red pepper flakes
pinch or two smoked paprika

garnish:
toasted sesame seeds
flaky salt, like Maldon

Layer your avocado and orange slices on a plate. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red pepper flakes, and smoked paprika. Sprinkle the dressing evenly over the avocado and oranges, and garnish with a small handful of toasted sesame seeds and a pinches of flaky salt. Serve immediately.