Description
A refreshing and vibrant Mandarin Orange Salad featuring crisp lettuce, juicy mandarin segments, crunchy sugared almonds and croutons, tangy apple cider vinaigrette, and a touch of feta cheese, perfect as a light lunch or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- ½ cup sugared almonds
- ½ head Romaine lettuce (or bibb lettuce), chopped
- ½ head iceberg lettuce, chopped
- ½ cup diced celery
- ½ cup chopped green onions
- 3 Mandarin oranges, peeled and segmented
- ¼ cup crumbled Feta cheese
- ½ cup croutons
Vinaigrette Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
- 1 green onion, sliced thin
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup canola oil (or vegetable oil)
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large serving bowl, mix together the chopped Romaine and iceberg lettuces, diced celery, chopped green onions, mandarin orange segments, sugared almonds, and crumbled Feta cheese until well combined.
- Prepare Vinaigrette: Whisk together the apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, minced fresh parsley, thinly sliced green onion, kosher salt, black pepper, and canola oil in a separate bowl until the dressing is emulsified. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow the flavors to meld.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over the salad just enough to lightly coat the ingredients. Add the croutons last and gently mix everything together to combine. Serve the salad immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For best results, refrigerate the dressing for at least one hour before using to enhance flavor.
- Feel free to substitute sugared almonds with regular toasted almonds for a less sweet version.
- To save time, pre-washed and chopped lettuce mixes can be used.
- The salad is best served immediately after adding the croutons to maintain their crispness.
- Can be customized by adding grilled chicken or shrimp for a more substantial meal.
