Originally posted December 2020, perfected January 2022.

I don’t know about you, but this is the time of year that the Sunday blues, winter blues…January blues…all the blues start to kick in. We are all lacking sunlight, vitamin C & D and it’s really easy to fall into a funk. Trust me, I’ve been there. Vitamin C is crucial for your body and it is recommended that adults take it every day.

What is Vitamin C good for?

Most citrus varieties are known for having a high content of vitamin C, which is a key vitamin during the winter seasons. Vitamin C deficiency is something that most Canadians have during the winter. Vitamin C deficiency symptoms include bruising easily, dental issues, dry skin, dry hair and even anemia.

There are many different sources of vitamin C, including:

• vitamin C gummies

• vitamin C pills

• vitamin C powders

But, you can also include more foods high in vitamin C into your diet. Examples are tomatoes, red and green peppers, kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupe and broccoli. Easy ways to incorporate more of this vitamin into your diet is a little bit of fresh orange juice, a healthy salad and adding as many fresh citrus fruits to your healthy breakfasts.

When is citrus season?

Believe it or not, citrus season starts at the end of December and lasts until about mid-March. It’s quite ironic at the brightest flavours and colours come out at the darkest time of the year. So right about now is the best time of year to grab those grapefruits, blood oranges, lemons and limes.

Winter Citrus Salad with a Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

When I get into that winter funk, I often turn to this salad. It has also been my go-to for any brunch during the winter season, but since we often associate citrus with summer…it’s also a perfect summery salad option. This salad recipe is bright, flavourful and a great option to sneak in some extra vitamin C. I add the citrus on a bed of arugula, followed by a drizzle of a healthy dressing which completes my favorite salad beautifully.

If you are interested in trying different homemade salad dressings for your summer salads, here are a few of my current favorites…

• Easy Lemon Basil Vinaigrette: this is a great dressing and I love it is some simple greens like arugula. In it, there is fresh lemon juice, some dijon, a little bit of garlic. This citrus vinaigrette recipe is also perfect for marinating chicken or shrimp.

• Creamy Yogurt Salad Dressing: this perfect creamy citrus salad dressing is so light, thanks to the magic ingredient; yogurt. Think of this one as a healthy alternative to caesar dressing. The touch of white wine vinegar just gives it the little zing it needs!

• Honey Lime Dressing: Honey Lime Salad Dressing is my everyday salad dressing since it only requires a few simple ingredients, and it’s ready in less than 2 minutes. This homemade dressing is inspired by my favourite Mexican flavors and this salad dressing pairs so well with a variety of fresh savory salads.

Ingredients for the Winter Citrus Salad

For this salad, you can use a variety of different citrus or use one kind. I just love mixing in a few different citrus varieties for all the colours. See what inspires you when you are at the grocery store. You’ll need to following ingredients to make this dish, including the Honey Mustard Vinaigrette:

• 1/4 cup of lemon juice

• 1/4 of extra virgin olive oil

• 2 teaspoons honey

• 1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard

• fresh basil

• 1 teaspoon salt

• fresh oranges

• grapefruit

• blood oranges

• arugula

How to make this Winter Citrus Salad & Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

This salad is so easy to throw together, but figuring out how to cut citrus was a lot of trial and error on my end. Recipes often suggest peeling or cutting the skin and pith off, but I find that messy and time-consuming. I find the simplest way is to just slice your citrus into 1/2 inch wheels, then lay it flat and just trim the pith off with a sharp knife. Easy peasy!

To assemble the salad, add a few handfuls of arugula to a large serving plate and layer the citrus wheels on top.

To make the vinaigrette, add the lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, honey, mustard, chopped basil and salt & pepper to a glass jar. Shake the mason jar until well combined.

Drizzle with the vinaigrette and serve immediately.

Tips & FAQ’s…

• Any leftover simple vinaigrette can be stored in a sealed jar for up to three days.

• Feel free to substitute the homemade dressing with avocado oil or canola oil.

• Elevate this delicious salad by adding one or two of the following: fresh mint, orange zest or fresh cilantro.

• Cheese lover? Yeah me too. Add some crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese.

• Want to take the vinaigrette to the next level? Add in a little fresh garlic.

• Have other favorite salad dressing recipes and want to use your own salad dressing? Try it and let me know if you come up with any awesome pairings!