Winter Citrus Salad
Slightly sweet with brilliant color and flavor, this Winter Citrus Salad tops crisp lettuce with juicy grapefruit, oranges, avocados and chopped almonds. 
Note: I received products free for this review, but all opinions (fears and neuroses) are my own.
Today we have another book club recipe. So of course, it’s delicious! My fellow “bookies” are so talented! I knew from my first bite at our annual holiday party, that this was one for the blog! 
While I did leave the Winter Citrus Salad recipe mostly alone (tough I reduced the amount of dressing), I made one critical modification. I substituted Stevita Spoonable Organic sweetener, a combo of erythritol and stevia, for the sugar in half of the dressing.
It dissolved actually easier than the sugar–and when I compared the two versions, I couldn’t tell them apart. Yes!
Closeup
You see I have been talking about going keto in a final, last ditch effort to lose some weight. A person gains a measly 3 lbs one Christmas and 3 the next and pretty soon your BMI is no longer “normal”, and you are in the market for new clothes.
Did I mention I have failed every diet I’ve tried?
But I’ve been especially nervous about trying keto. So I’m starting slowly, by trying to cut out bread and sugar, before I jump in.
Stevita Naturals Products
Fortunately, I was helped along by a beautiful care package from Stevita Naturals. And their “spoonable” sugar substitute worked perfectly in the dressing.
Not to mention, they use organic (USDA certified) and sustainable farming practices. I’m not hurting the planet no matter how badly I want to button my jeans.
Cocoa–yes!
Finally, I was amazed at the variety of products they have.
Gum, hard candies, creamer, drops (I already use these in my coffee) and more. Now when the impulse to pop a spoonful of chocolate chips (what’s your biggest diet vice?), I can grab a piece of gum. And did I mention the cocoa? Cause, um, winter in Wisconsin.
And just maybe, I’m not so scared anymore!
From above
- 3 Tablespoons sugar or equivalent sweetener
- 2 Tablespoons vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon finely minced shallots
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
- 6 cups torn leaf lettuce of your choice
- 1 grapefruit, peeled, sectioned, with sections cut in half
- 2 oranges, peeled and sectioned
- 1 avocado, peeled and cubed
- ¼ cup slivered almonds
- Whisk together dressing ingredients.
- Toss greens with dressing. Top with citrus, avocado and almonds.
- Note: Because this dressing relies somewhat on the “bulk” of the sugar/sweetener, if you use a substitute, select one with some substance rather than “drops”. I used one that was 1 tsp sweetener = 4 tsp of sugar and that worked well, as should a 1:1 sweetener.
I agree Thao! When I did my “year of eating locally” I missed citrus more than anything else!
I have used white stevia powder for years and love it. Stevita sounds like a great product line. I love a simple, delicious salad recipe. The citrus is such a welcome flavor in the wintertime.
The salad looks beautiful and is perfect for all the citrus we are getting now in the desert. May still go with traditional sugar but am curious about the Stevita!
Yes, enjoy all that citrus David!
We have a similar product here which I haven’t tried due to the cost. This range looks really good.
I think I’m starting the keto next week, so the sugar subs will be pretty important then…