Pistachio & Honey Citrus Salad to Beat the Summer Heat
Looking for a simple, healthy, and tasty way to stay hydrated and energized with the rising heat?
Shake up your salad routine with this tangy and nutritious summer citrus salad recipe!
While summer has officially yet to begin, the Alabama heat seems to have gotten a head start. As our afternoon temperatures begin to dip into the 80s and 90s, perhaps it is time to start prioritizing hydration in our daily practices! Hydration is about much more than simply drinking water, but drinking enough water is still incredibly important for feeling your best every day. Dehydration, even mild, can lead to serious digestive issues, fatigue, dizziness, and more symptoms that can drastically impact daily life. To avoid this, it’s important to make sure your body is getting plenty of water and fluids, but that can be difficult for a lot of people. In fact, an article published by the Chicago Tribune claims that nearly half of Americans were reported to drink less than the recommended amount of water on a daily basis in 2013. There are ways to prevent this, such as having plenty of water on hand and even setting timers or reminders to drink water throughout the day, but the reality is that water alone is often not enough to maintain hydration in many people. Substantial electrolytes help to ensure the proper absorption of water and are an essential factor in keeping people hydrated, so having an electrolyte-rich diet can be an asset for those of us living in the increasingly intense Alabama heat and humidity.
Finding appetizing and healthy food options isn’t always easy, but it’s not impossible! This week we are sharing a recipe that is nutritiously packed and refreshingly delicious, so be sure to stick around to learn how to make this Pistachio & Honey Citrus Salad that’s perfect for summer!
How to Make Pistachio & Honey Citrus Salad
First things first, you are going to need to gather all of the necessary ingredients to make this recipe. Since it is made with predominantly fresh ingredients, it may be fun to take a trip to the local farmers market to grab the produce you’ll need! However you choose to get ahold of your ingredients, you will need about 2 or 3 pounds of citrus fruits such as lemons, grapefruit, oranges, or even blood oranges, some honey (a local variety not only helps small, local business owners, but they are rumored to help allergy sufferers during allergy season and can be picked up at the farmers market), pistachios, rice vinegar, olive oil, a bit of black pepper, and some sliced cheese (we recommend something on the saltier side, which is why we opted for shaved Parmesan).
Most of the ingredients, if not all, carry a unique and quality set of characteristics to help manage hydration and health. For example, citrus fruits like grapefruits, oranges, and lemons are rich in Vitamins B and C, potassium, and more that help to strengthen the immune system. Pistachios are packed with fiber and have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and if they are salted can even help boost your electrolyte intake for the day! Honey is also capable of more than supposedly helping those with allergies. In fact, honey is known to contribute to better digestive, heart, and brain health! Even Parmesan is a great ingredient for prioritizing health. Its high protein and fat content help you maintain a balanced diet with plenty of energy, while the calcium it provides aids in supporting your bone health!
Once you have decided on which citrus fruits to enlighten your palate with, begin making your salad by peeling and slicing the fruit into thin slices. Place your citrus slices onto a serving plate and practice your creativity! Supporting your physical health is important, but so is supporting your mental health. Use this opportunity as a brain exercise to refresh your brain as well as your body with this summer salad!
Once you have created your fruit-filled masterpiece, spread a layer of the shaved Parmesan across the fruits and set it aside while you prepare the pistachios.
Over medium heat, roast the chopped pistachios in olive oil for about 5 minutes while stirring. Then, remove the pistachios from the heat and mix in the rice vinegar and honey. After the ingredients have had a moment to mix and they’ve been stirred together, pour the mixture over your citrus salad for the final delicious touch. Sprinkle your salad with a bit of and enjoy the taste of sunshine!
Table & Thyme's Pistachio & Honey Citrus Salad
Zesty, tangy, and refreshingly sweet, this lively salad is the perfect afternoon pick-me-up for a warm and sunny day!
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds of mixed citrus fruits (lemons, grapefruit, oranges, etc)
- Sliced or shaved cheese (a salty variety such as Parmesan is recommended)
- ¼ cup pistachios, chopped
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- Black pepper to taste
Directions
- Peel and slice your citrus fruits, and then place them onto a plate. Layer with sliced or shaved cheese and set aside.
- Roughly chop the pistachios and roast them in a pan over medium heat using olive oil. As they roast, stir the pistachios for approximately 5 minutes.
- Once roasted, remove from heat. In the pan, add the honey and rice vinegar, and stir.
- Pour the nut mixture over the citrus as evenly as possible. Top with fresh cracked black pepper, and enjoy by itself or pair with an appetizing charcuterie board!
We hope you enjoyed this recipe for a simple and healthy salad to beat the summer heat! We love being able to share new and delicious recipes that come our way, so if you’d like to stay up-to-date with the recipes we post, be sure to follow us on Instagram! We also showcase event highlights and guides, recipes, and much more on our weekly blog, so don’t forget to tune in every week for more Table & Thyme content!
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