This grapefruit salad is made with creamy avocado, crunchy cucumber, salty feta and a refreshing honey lemon dressing. It's a delicious summer dish perfect for a bbq or as a light meal.
This grapefruit salad is an unexpectedly delicious ways of enjoying grapefruit, perfect for a summer party. Grapefruit is sweet but also bitter, the ideal fruit to use in a savoury dish. It pairs well with creamy, mild tasting avocado and crunchy, refreshing cucumbers. I also added naturally salty, tangy feta, which intensifies the savoury profile of this salad (feta plays a similar role in this spinach strawberry and cantaloupe salads).
Making this colourful grapefruit vegetable salad is quick and easy. Simply peel and chop the grapefruit (see details below), combine with the vegetables, add the mint and serve with an easy 4-ingredient dressing. Adjust the amount of garnish to your taste and enjoy!
Grapefruit avocado salad ingredients and substitutions
- Grapefruit: see details below.
- Avocado.
- Cucumber: I used baby cucumbers as they are crunchy and perfect in salads (I've also used them in my beet and chickpea salad). If you prefer to use an English cucumber, instead, use about a half, remove the seeds (which contain the most moisture) and cut it into small cubes.
- Onion: use either red or white onion.
- Lettuce: I recommend using soft, sweet tasting lettuce, such as butterhead (Boston, Bibb) or similar. Crunchy iceberg lettuce or sharp, slightly bitter arugula might be a little overpowering to pair with delicate grapefruit and I don't recommend using these varieties.
- Mint.
- Feta.
- Pistachios.
- Red pepper flakes: use either hot or sweet.
- Dressing ingredients: oil (use any), honey, lemon juice, red wine vinegar.
- Sea salt.
What type of grapefruit to use
I recommend using a red grapefruit variety, which is sweeter than the yellow/white as well as pink grapefruit. This salad is built around this fruit and using grapefruit that has too much acidity or bitterness can really impact the overall flavour. It might simply be too acidic, especially once you add the dressing.
How to prepare the grapefruit
To prepare the grapefruit for this salad you need to peel it then remove both the white pith as well as the membranes encasing the grapefruit segments. While other citrus fruit, such as tangerines or blood oranges, have soft membranes, grapefruit membranes can be tough and taste bitter, so it's best to remove them. See Instructions for details.
Step-by-step recipe instructions
1. Prepare dressing: Combine the dressing ingredients, stir and set aside.
TIP: You can prepare the dressing for up to 3 days in advance. Keep it refrigerated in a jar and shake before use.
2. Prepare grapefruit: Cut the top and bottom of the grapefruit then place on one end on top of a cutting board. Cut the rind by slicing downwards around the fruit making sure you also remove the white pith. Gently remove the membrane encasing each segment as you separate them. Chop the segments roughly and set aside.
3. Assemble salad: To a large bowl add the lettuce, cubed avocado, cucumber rounds, sliced onion, chopped mint and the grapefruit (avoid adding the juice). Season to taste with salt and pour over the dressing. Stir gently but thoroughly (use 2 large salad spoons to do this).
4. Garnish: Crumble the feta over the top, scatter the pistachios and sprinkle the pepper flakes. Serve immediately.
Serving suggestions
You can serve this grapefruit avocado salad on its own or alongside other dishes, including grilled chicken or fish. You can also add a couple of spoonfuls of cooked quinoa, chickpeas or cooked prawns and serve it as a salad meal.
Top tips
- For best results I recommend using a red grapefruit variety.
- Use ripe but firm avocado (if it's too soft/overripe it won't cut well).
- You can make the dressing in advance and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Pour over the salad just before serving.
- Stir the ingredients carefully using 2 large salad spoons.
- This zesty grapefruit salad is best served immediately.
- Not suitable for freezing.
Related summer salad recipes to try next
See also these other easy, refreshing salad recipes!
Recipe
Grapefruit Salad with Avocado and Cucumber
Ingredients
- 1½ red grapefruit use up to 2, chilled
- 1½ med. avocados or 2 small, ripe but firm, peeled, cubed
- 4 baby cucumbers cut into rounds
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
- ½ lettuce approx. 8 leaves, use soft, sweet tasting lettuce
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves finely chopped
- â…“ cup (40 g) pistachios chopped
- 5.29 ounces (150 g) feta or to taste, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes or to taste
- Fine sea salt add to taste
For the dressing
- 1½ tablespoons oil mild tasting
- 1½ tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare dressing: Combine the dressing ingredients, stir and set aside.  TIP: You can prepare the dressing for up to 3 days in advance. Keep it refrigerated in a jar and shake before use.
- Prepare grapefruit: Cut the top and bottom of the grapefruit then place on one end on top of a cutting board. Cut the rind by slicing downwards around the fruit making sure you also remove the white pith. Gently remove the membrane encasing each segment as you separate them. Chop the segments roughly and set aside.
- Assemble salad: To a large bowl add the lettuce, cubed avocado, cucumber rounds, sliced onion, chopped mint and the grapefruit (avoid adding the juice). Season to taste with salt and pour over the dressing. Stir gently but thoroughly (use 2 large salad spoons to do this).
- Garnish: Crumble the feta over the top, scatter the pistachios and sprinkle the pepper flakes. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm avocado (if it's too soft/overripe it won't cut well).
- You can make the dressing in advance and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Pour over the salad just before serving.
- Stir the ingredients carefully using 2 large salad spoons.
- This zesty grapefruit salad is best served immediately.
- Not suitable for freezing.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is automatically generated and should be considered as an estimate.
**A note about baking: If using a fan-assisted oven refer to your appliance's instructions and adjust the temperature accordingly.
Keep in touch!
If you make this grapefruit salad recipe I'd love to know how it turned out for you. Let me know in the comments below, thanks:)
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Joanna says
I love original salads and this one sounds delicious! I like all the ingredients separately and I can see how they could work together.
Monika says
Thank you!