Description
Mandarin orange salad delivers a refreshing symphony of citrus and crisp greens that dance across your palate. Light yet satisfying, this zesty dish offers you a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors in every delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Base:
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) mixed greens (spinach, arugula, or spring mix)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) canned mandarin oranges, drained
- ½ cup (75 grams) red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup (60 grams) sliced almonds (toasted, optional)
- ¼ cup (40 grams) dried cranberries
- ¼ cup (30 grams) crumbled feta cheese
Dressing:
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) Dijon mustard
Seasoning:
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Craft a vibrant base by layering crisp mixed greens in a spacious serving vessel, creating a verdant foundation for the upcoming flavor symphony.
- Strategically scatter mandarin orange segments across the greenery, allowing their bright, citrusy jewels to peek through the leafy landscape.
- Disperse thinly sliced red onion ribbons, introducing a sharp, pungent counterpoint to the sweet citrus notes.
- Sprinkle toasted almonds generously, providing a satisfying crunch and nutty undertone that elevates the salad’s textural complexity.
- Distribute dried cranberries throughout, their deep ruby hue and tangy-sweet profile adding bursts of unexpected intensity.
- Crumble feta cheese delicately over the assembled ingredients, its creamy, salty essence binding the diverse elements together.
- Prepare a harmonizing vinaigrette by vigorously whisking olive oil, vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a compact container until a smooth, glossy emulsion forms.
- Cascade the dressing gently over the salad, using a light touch to ensure each ingredient receives a gossamer coating without overwhelming the delicate balance.
- Tenderly toss the components, allowing the flavors to intermingle and create a cohesive, refreshing culinary experience best enjoyed immediately.
Notes
- Swap feta for dairy-free alternatives like nutritional yeast or vegan cheese to make the salad plant-based and lactose-free.
- Toast almonds carefully to enhance their nutty flavor without burning, watching them closely in a dry skillet or oven for 3-5 minutes.
- Slice red onions paper-thin to prevent overpowering the delicate mandarin orange sweetness and ensure balanced flavor in every bite.
- Prepare dressing separately and store in the refrigerator up to 3 days in advance to save time and allow flavors to meld together.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg