Description
This Mandarin Salad is a fresh and colorful blend of crisp mixed greens, juicy mandarin oranges, crunchy toasted almonds, cucumber slices, shredded carrots, red onion, dried cranberries, and optional feta cheese, all tossed in a light and zesty citrus vinaigrette. It’s a vibrant and refreshing salad perfect as a healthy lunch, side dish for spring or summer meals, or a festive holiday addition.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 cups mixed salad greens
- 1 cup canned mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 cup cucumber, sliced
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ¼ cup sliced red onion
- ¼ cup sliced almonds, toasted
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
For the Citrus Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large salad bowl, add the mixed salad greens, sliced cucumber, shredded carrots, sliced red onion, drained mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, toasted almonds, and crumbled feta cheese if using.
- Toss the Salad: Drizzle the prepared citrus dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss everything together to evenly coat the salad without bruising the greens.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the salad right after tossing to keep the greens crisp and the flavors fresh.
Notes
- For a complete meal, add grilled chicken strips to the salad.
- Pecans or walnuts are excellent substitutes if you prefer over almonds.
- Dress the salad just before serving to maintain the crispness of the greens.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
