This mandarin orange salad is fresh, sweet and loaded with flavor. It is topped with an amazing homemade orange salad dressing that you can’t live without!
Favorite Winter Salad
Around this time of year, I crave ALL the salads and this mandarin salad is absolutely one of my top recipes. The fresh ingredients mixed with the sweet orange vinaigrette is such a great combination. We love to top it with grilled chicken to make it a full meal.
This mandarin salad always makes an appearance on Thanksgiving! It comes from my Aunt’s ‘Favorites’ cookbook and everyone loves it! In her original recipe, she also adds in green onions, mushrooms, avocado and tomatoes, however my family prefers it with just mandarins, cranberries and nuts.
This salad is so versatile…you can really add in anything and it would still be just as delicious! Just make sure to keep in the mandarin oranges because that’s what makes the whole salad recipe! It is SO good!
Orange salad dressing
The star of the show is this delicious orange salad dressing. It calls for only a few simple ingredients and is so easy to make. It’s similar to a poppy seed dressing, but with an orange twist. The orange juice and zest add a fresh flavor that is simply irresistible.
- Frozen orange juice concentrate
- Orange zest
- Olive oil
- Vinegar
- Sugar
- Lemon juice
- Salt
Instructions: Add all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until combined. You can also add the ingredients to a mason jar and shake until combined.
Tips: If you have extra dressing leftover, simply store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also make the dressing a few days in advance if needed. Just store it in the fridge, then drizzle on top of the salad before serving.
Modifications
- Any type of greens will work. I used spring mix, but arugula, kale or spinach all taste great.
- Add sliced grilled chicken for more protein.
- Can swap out almonds for walnuts or pecans. You can even use candied pecans if preferred.
- If limiting sugar, you can easily omit the dried cranberries.
- Feel free to add more toppings like fresh shaved parmesan, pomegranates, green onions or sliced avocado.
More fresh salads with fruit:
- Spinach Berry Salad
- Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- Strawberry Burrata Salad
- Winter Salad
Mandarin Orange Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 ounce bag spring mix (or spinach)
- 11 ounce can mandarin oranges
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds (can use walnuts or pecans as well)
Orange dressing
- 1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate
- 1/2 teaspoon orange rind
- 1/4 cup olive oil (or vegetable oil)
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon vinegar (I used apple cider)
- 1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon poppyseeds
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine the spinach, oranges, cranberries and almonds to a large bowl.
- Add the orange juice, orange rind, olive oil, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice and salt to a mason jar. Shake until well combined. Add the poppyseeds and shake just before serving.
- Pour dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss until combined.
Notes
- Sliced green onions
- Sliced mushrooms
- Sliced avocado
- Diced tomatoes
Is there a store bought dressing I can use?
Hi Deanne, I’m not sure if there is a store bought dressing similar to this one, but you could always use a premade poppy seed dressing and add the orange juice/orange rind in for more flavor.
You can’t get orange juice concentrate here so I used freshly squeezed orange juice. It was fine, really.
And I had to convert the measures.
But anyway, the salad was a *big* hit!
So happy to hear it was a big hit :)
Made salad per recipe then topped salad with jerk chicken. It was beyond delicious.
That sounds amazing! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Christi :)
I don’t really care for mandarin oranges so I usually use navel oranges. I’m wondering if I did use mandarin oranges would you use the juice in the dressing? Also, is there a particular brand of mandarin oranges you recommend ? The brands that I have purchased in the past are too mushy and lack flavor. Thanks!
For this salad I use the canned dole mandarin oranges. For the dressing, I find the frozen juice concentrate works best, but you can try with the mandarin juice.
Made this in Christmas Eve Eve. SO good. Next time I’ll add 1/2 the sugar. But it was a big hit.
Made this last night for thanksgiving. One of the stars of the meal for sure and will put into a regular rotation. Thanks for sharing!
I’m so glad to hear it was a hit! :)
I am going to make this this weekend for a dinner party! I’m so excited. But I am wondering if I can use fresh orange juice instead of concentrate? Will it make much of a difference? :)
Orange juice concentrate is much more potent than orange juice so I think it will change the flavor!
I’m going to make it for a potluck for church.
I hope you enjoy! :)
Absolutely delicious! Took it to a cookout for a summer salad & everyone raved! Don’t skip this homemade dressing!
I’m so glad it was a hit! Thanks for leaving a comment Nikki. :)