Alright, let’s be honest. The holiday season is all about going a little overboard — cheesy caramel popcorn, mulled wine, gingerbread spice lattes, and those ridiculous cheese boards that always seem to disappear too fast. And guess what? That’s totally fine. We all deserve to enjoy those moments!
But now that the holidays are a memory (hello, January), maybe you’re craving something a little lighter. Not because you’ve “done something wrong” or “need to make up for all that fun” — but because you want to feel good in your body. You want food that makes you feel nourished, energized, and yes, happy. It’s not about punishing yourself — it’s about showing yourself love.
Enter this Fennel & Grapefruit Salad with Sesame Chicken. It’s a little burst of sunshine on your plate — tangy, fresh, and satisfying without any of the guilt. It’s not here to “balance out” anything you’ve enjoyed over the holidays (because let’s be real, we don’t need to earn our food). It’s just here to remind you that you deserve food that makes you feel good, inside and out.
Why This Salad Will Be Your New Favorite Winter Dish
Let’s break it down:
• Fennel: Crunchy, slightly sweet, and wonderfully refreshing — fennel is the kind of veggie that says, “I’m good to you.” It gives you that light feeling while still being nourishing.
• Grapefruit: Bright, juicy, and totally zingy. It’s like a fresh breath of air after a long, cozy nap. It wakes up your senses in the best way.
• Sesame Chicken: Tender, savory chicken strips coated with sesame seeds that add a crunchy texture. This is a salad that not only fills you up but makes you feel satisfied — no more snacking every hour.
• A Simple, Zesty Dressing: Olive oil, grapefruit juice, a hint of honey — light and fresh, but also comforting. It’s the dressing that reminds you that healthy doesn’t have to be bland.
This salad isn’t here to make you feel like you’ve been “bad” or need to “make up for it.” It’s about nourishing your body with vibrant, flavorful ingredients because you deserve it. Food is not a reward or a punishment — it’s a tool for self-love, for nourishing both your body and soul. And this salad is the embodiment of that idea.
Here’s the thing: This isn’t some sad, “detox” salad you have to choke down because you feel guilty about all the fun you had during the holidays. No. This salad is a celebration of what your body deserves — vibrant, satisfying food that fuels you and makes you feel good.
Let’s be real for a second — you don’t need to punish yourself for enjoying the festive treats, and you don’t need to deprive yourself of the things you love. Life is about balance, not guilt. You can have those cookies and this salad, too. You can enjoy the rich flavors of the holiday season and still nourish your body with fresh, vibrant foods. They all have a place — and they all have a purpose.
So enjoy this salad for what it is: a nourishing, vibrant meal that makes you feel great inside and out. It’s here to show you that self-care isn’t just bubble baths and face masks — it’s about choosing food that fills you up, makes you feel good, and celebrates your body exactly as it is. No guilt, no rules, just love for yourself.
How do you practice self-love and care through food? Share your tips and favorite nourishing dishes in the comments — I’d love to hear your ideas!
Fennel-Grapefruit Salad with Sesame Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Chopping knife and board
- Colander
- 2 Breading trays alt. just use regular plates
- 1 Frying pan
- 1 Closable mason jar
- Large salad bowl
Ingredients
- 1 Fennel bulb
- 1 handful Baby arugula
- 1 Grapefruit
- 500 g Chicken breast fillet
- 1 Egg
- Sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp Sesame oil
- 3 tbsp Fruity olive oil
- 1 tbsp Mustard medium-hot
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- Black pepper and salt
- 1 Cucumber
- ½ bunch Tarragon
- 1 bunch Spring onions
- Cress
- 3 tbsp Pine nuts
Instructions
- Prep:Rinse and dry fennel, spring onions, arugula, and tarragon thoroughly.Slice fennel into very fine slices, cut spring onions into 1cm pieces. Peel and thinly slice the cucumber.Cut the peel of the grapefruit down with a knife, removing all the white. Cut out the fillets. Chop the tarragon finely.Gently roast the pine nuts until golden brown in a dry pan.
- Dressing:For the dressing, mix all liquids with mustard, chopped tarragon, and spices in your mason jar and mix vigorously until a homogeneous.
- Sesame-chicken:Cut chicken breast into strips. Separate the egg, and preserve the white in one of your breading trays, use the other tray for your sesame seeds.Coat the chicken breast strips in the egg white, then gently roll them in your sesame seeds until evenly covered. Heat sesame oil in a pan and gently fry the chicken until golden brown on all sides. Caution: Sesame burns quickly and turns bitter, therefore work with medium heat and let it fry slowly until golden brown and meat is fully cooked.Remove chicken strips from the pan and drain on kitchen paper. Sauté spring onions for a few minutes in the same pan.
- Plating the salad:Mix vegetables in a large salad bowl, marinate with the dressing, and mix evenly.Serve the salad on large plates, garnish with chicken strips, and sprinkle cress and roasted pine nuts.
What I love about this recipe is that it’s revitalizing, so fresh and nourishing–especially during the early grey, dark, cold months of the new year it’s a real mood booster, bringing the taste of the warm summer sun to your plate!
Recipe Highlights:
Fennel Boost: Known for its rich vitamin C content, fennel not only satisfies taste buds but aids digestion, reduces bloating, and offers a dose of folic acid and potassium.
Grapefruit Zing: The bitterness in grapefruit stimulates metabolism, aiding in the expulsion of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Elevate your mood with this citrus superstar, high in Vitamin C.
Sesame Magic: Sesame seeds, besides offering a delightful flavor, bring cholesterol-lowering phytosterols, essential vitamins (especially E), minerals, and beneficial unsaturated fatty acids.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you!
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