Fennel, Orange & Pecan Bulgur Salad

This time of year in Cyprus is special. It’s supposedly “winter” but it’s hard to tell because it’s still 20-something degrees outside, which is tantamount to a warm summer’s day in Canada. People still swim in the sea. And you can still see people suntanning. For me it’s not so much the change in weather that marks the beginning of winter, but the arrival of citrus season. It is a wonderful time. I have never tasted better freshly squeezed orange juice than in Cyprus. I am a lazy breakfast person, so the possibility of opening a juicy, sweet clementine is deliciousness served. The other weekend I went to Parhelia, the organic market that recently opened, and they had some wonderful fresh fennel. I couldn’t resist. Then yesterday when I was looking for an easy and quick lunch, I just naturally combined the ingredients I had around. Some fresh oranges with thinly sliced fennel, a little lemon juice, red onion, freshly grated lime and some finely chopped red onion and fresh mint. I roasted some fresh pecans I had and added some crumbled feta for a little saltiness and some bulgur wheat to give it some depth.It worked. It was quite a fresh salad. Good for this days when you crave something light. I love foods and dishes that you can make with what is around you. Those are the best meals for me. I hope you enjoy. And I will see you soon with some upcoming Christmas recipes!