🍊 Mandarin Orange Salad
Serves: 4–6
Time: 10–15 minutes
🛒 Ingredients
Salad
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2 cups mixed greens (spring mix, romaine, or spinach)
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1 can (11 oz) mandarin oranges, drained well
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½ cup sliced almonds (toasted if you like)
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½ cup crumbled feta or shredded mozzarella
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½ cup dried cranberries (optional but great)
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¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
Dressing (Sweet & Tangy)
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¼ cup olive oil
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3 tbsp apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
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2 tbsp honey (or sugar)
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1 tsp Dijon mustard
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¼ tsp salt
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¼ tsp black pepper
🔥 Instructions
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Make the dressing:
Whisk all dressing ingredients until smooth and slightly thickened. -
Assemble the salad:
In a large bowl, add greens, mandarin oranges, almonds, cheese, cranberries, and onion. -
Dress & toss:
Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving and toss gently.
🍽️ Optional Add-Ins
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Grilled chicken or shrimp
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Avocado slices
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Sunflower seeds or pecans
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Sesame seeds
⭐ Pro Tips
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Drain mandarin oranges really well so the salad doesn’t get watery.
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Toast almonds in a dry pan for 2–3 minutes for extra flavor.
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Add dressing right before serving to keep greens crisp.
❓ Q & A
Q: Can I use fresh mandarins instead of canned?
Yes! Peel and segment 3–4 fresh mandarins or clementines.
Q: What cheese works best?
Feta gives tang, mozzarella keeps it mild, goat cheese is extra fancy.
Q: Can I make this ahead?
Prep everything separately. Toss together right before serving.
Q: Is there a dairy-free option?
Skip cheese or use a dairy-free feta-style crumble.
Q: How do I make it more filling?
Add protein (chicken, shrimp, chickpeas) or quinoa.