When it comes to
summer-worthy salads, this one takes the cake. In this easy recipe, mandarin oranges give a burst of freshness, toasted walnuts give an added crunch, while Parmesan adds a bite of sharpness and nuttiness. The homemade poppy seed vinaigrette ties it all together, creating a bright and fresh summer dish that is absolutely picnic worthy. In less than 30 minutes, this easy salad could be yours—here’s everything you need to know:
How to make a mandarin orange salad:
To create this salad, we topped a mixture of baby spinach and arugula with mandarin oranges, toasted walnuts, dried cranberries, shaved Parmesan, and a pinch of flaky sea salt. We love using a mixture of greens, but if you have just one or the other, feel free to just use that. As far as the mandarin oranges go, we suggest buying a can, and draining your oranges for the ultimate easy salad addition.
The dressing:
Our simple poppy seed vinaigrette is made from a mixture of red wine vinegar, orange juice, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, olive oil, and salt and pepper. It’s so easy to create, and is beautiful not only on this salad, but countless others. Keep any extra vinaigrette in the fridge to add it to salads throughout your week. Don’t have poppy seeds on hand? Feel free to leave them out, or swap out the dressing for a simple mixture of lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and olive oil.
Variations:
We love this salad as an easy, last-minute side dish, but if you’re looking to turn this into a main, you’ve got options. Add on some grilled chicken, oven-baked salmon (or our blacked honey-glazed salmon bites if you’re feeling extra), or some roasted chickpeas. Feel like switching the toppings up? Swap out the toasted walnuts for your favorite variety, add some more sliced fruit (like strawberries or pineapple), or switch up the cheese by adding goat cheese or feta instead. This is your salad—experiment as you please!
Made this? Let us know how it went in the comment section below!