Mandarin Orange Salad

Made with tender spring mix, sweet mandarin oranges, almonds, cranberries, and a fresh Citrus Salad Dressing, this Mandarin Orange Salad is a bright and fresh side salad that is bursting with flavor!

The flavors in this simple salad made with mandarin oranges are the perfect complement to dishes like Stir Fry Chicken and Bok Choy or Orange Chicken.

This Mandarin Orange Salad is EVERYTHING I crave when I want something light and fresh, yet full of flavor. Plus it is incredibly easy to make--bonus for busy nights!

It is made with a delicate spring mix, juicy mandarin oranges, tart dried cranberries, and a fresh citrus dressing.

How to Build a Salad with Mandarin Oranges

This salad is best assembled right before serving. I like to have the Citrus Salad Dressing prepared in advance and then toss everything together while we are setting the table for dinner.

• Right before serving, toss spring lettuce mix with canned mandarin oranges that have been well-drained.
• Add dried cranberries for a burst of tart flavor.
• Top with toasted almonds for crunch, but feel free to omit if there are any nut allergies.
• Toss the salad with 2 tablespoons of the salad dressing and serve with the remaining salad dressing on the side.

Citrus Salad Dressing

This orange salad dressing is incredibly easy to make but is so packed with flavor. I used my salad dressing from my Caribbean Chicken Salad, and this bright fresh vinaigrette pairs beautifully with the mandarin oranges and tender greens.

The key to this salad dressing is the orange juice concentrate--not orange juice. That concentrated flavor really adds the most bang for your buck in this dressing, plus is naturally sweet--meaning you can use less added sugar!

To make this dressing, simply whisk together the thawed orange juice concentrate, salt, pepper, honey, and rice wine vinegar. And then drizzle in olive oil and whisk until well combined.

Can you use fresh mandarin oranges?

This is one instance where I feel like the canned product is better than fresh. Canned mandarin oranges are sweet, seedless, and already prepped! But most importantly they are tender and bite-size--making them really easy to eat.

Feel free to use fresh cutie or mandarin oranges, but peel well, be sure to remove seeds, and if larger slices, cut in half.

More Tasty Salad Recipes

• Spinach Avocado Salad
• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Roasted Butternut Squash Salad
• Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
• Tossed Greek Salad

If you enjoyed this salad, I would love for you to leave a comment below. 

Mandarin Orange Salad

Mandarin Orange Salad is a bright and fresh side salad that is bursting with flavor! Made with tender spring mix, sweet mandarin oranges, almonds, cranberries and a fresh Citrus Salad Dressing, this Mandarin Orange Salad is DELICIOUS!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 242kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

Mandarin Orange Salad

• ▢ 10 ounces spring mix or spinach
• ▢ 11 ounces mandarin oranges drained
• ▢ ⅓ cup dried cranberries
• ▢ ¼ cup sliced almonds

Citrus Salad Dressing

• ▢ ¼ cup frozen orange juice concentrate thawed
• ▢ 2 tablespoons honey
• ▢ 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• ▢ ¼ cup olive oil
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon pepper

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Instructions

Citrus Salad Dressing

• Whisk together the orange juice concentrate, honey, rice wine vinegar, and salt and pepper together. Add in the olive oil and whisk to incorporate. 

Mandarin Orange Salad

• Drain the canned mandarin oranges. Toss the spring mix with 2 tablespoons of the dressing. Add in the mandarin oranges, almonds, and cranberries and serve with additional dressing on the side. 

Notes

• It is best to assemble this salad immediately before serving. 
• The Citrus Dressing can be stored for 2 weeks in the fridge--it also makes a great marinade for grilled chicken. 
• If you want a Vegan Salad Dressing, use maple syrup in place of honey. 
• Apple Cider Vinegar or White Vinegar can be substituted for the rice wine vinegar. 

Nutrition

Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 311mg | Potassium: 381mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 1380IU | Vitamin C: 54.1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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