Name: Thai Grapefruit Salad
Prep time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar; 1/4 cup sugar (the finer the better); 1 tablespoon orange blossom water; 2 star anise; 1 cinnamon stick; 1-inch fresh ginger, peeled and cut into very thin strips; 1 red chili, deseeded and cut into thin strips; 2 large grapefruit, peeled and cut into small pieces; 1 mango, diced; 2 cups watercress; 2 teaspoons peanut oil; 1 shallot, thinly sliced; 2 teaspoons lime juice; 2 teaspoons black or white sesame seeds (or both!); 1/4 cup roasted peanuts; pinch of salt

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This spicy Thai grapefruit salad is bright and zesty with complementary flavors. It's a real showpiece for a dinner party!

Punch it up with some rice noodles for a vegetarian main course or add in some ahi tuna to make a delicious poke bowl.

This glorious spring salad is colorful and delightfully delicious. The bright flavors of the mango and grapefruit pair beautifully with the lightness of the watercress.

Spicy Thai Grapefruit Salad Ingredients

For this recipe, you’ll need ingredients for both the salad and the marinade.

For the marinade, you’ll need 4 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar, ¼ cup sugar (the finer the better), 1 tablespoon orange blossom water, 2 star anise, 1 cinnamon stick, 1-inch fresh ginger, and 1 red chili.

For the salad, you’ll need 2 large grapefruit, 1 mango, 2 cups watercress, 2 teaspoons peanut oil, 1 shallot, 2 teaspoons lime juice, 2 teaspoons black or white sesame seeds (or both!), ¼ cup roasted peanuts, and a pinch of salt.

How to Make this Spicy Thai Grapefruit Salad

This spicy Thai grapefruit salad is easy to make!

Make the marinade. Combine the sugar and vinegar in a large bowl. Whisk till combined and the sugar is mostly dissolved. Add the orange blossom water, star anise, cinnamon stick, ginger, and chili to the bowl and stir to combine.
Marinate the grapefruit. Then add the grapefruit to the vinegar mixture and stir gently to combine. Leave to marinate for 30 minutes. Remove the star anise and cinnamon stick. Drain the grapefruit, reserving 2 tablespoons of the liquid.
Combine the salad ingredients. Toss the grapefruit with the watercress, mango, peanut oil, and lime juice. Place on a large serving plate.
Dress the salad. Top the salad with the reserved marinade, shallot, sesame seeds, peanuts, and salt.

More Spring Salad Recipes You’ll Love

If you like this recipe, you’ll love these delightful, healthy spring recipes.

Radish & Carrot Salad with Parmesan - a delightfully crunchy salad!
Shaved Fennel & Asparagus Quinoa Salad - the bright flavors of the fennel and asparagus combine for a wonderful side salad.
Cara Cara Orange Panzanella - a zesty citrus salad that's a fun spin on panzanella.
Artichoke Potato Salad with Dill - artichoke potato salad with dill is fresh and filling. It’s a simple recipe and is largely hands-off.
The Best Green Salad - it's the perfect green salad because it’s lush, easy to make, and has a deliciously, mustardy dressing.

Yield: 4 side salad servings

Thai Grapefruit Salad

This brightly flavored salad has sharp, complimentary flavors - a real showpiece for a dinner party!

Prep Time 35 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
¼ cup sugar (the finer the better)
1 tablespoon orange blossom water
2 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
1-inch fresh ginger, peeled and cut into very thin strips
1 red chili, deseeded and cut into thin strips
2 large grapefruit, peeled and cut into small pieces
1 mango, diced
2 cups watercress
2 teaspoons peanut oil
1 shallot, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons lime juice
2 teaspoons black or white sesame seeds (or both!)
¼ cup roasted peanuts
pinch of salt

Instructions

Combine the sugar and vinegar in a large bowl. Whisk till combined and the sugar is mostly dissolved.
Add the orange blossom water, star anise, cinnamon stick, ginger, and chili to the bowl and stir to combine.
Then add the grapefruit to the vinegar mixture and stir gently to combine. Leave to marinate for 30 minutes.
Remove the star anise and cinnamon stick. Drain the grapefruit, reserving 2 tablespoons of the liquid.
Toss the grapefruit with the watercress, mango, peanut oil, and lime juice. Place on a large serving plate.
Top the salad with the reserved marinade, shallot, sesame seeds, peanuts, and salt.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 385Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 576mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 5gSugar: 35gProtein: 14g