Name: Mandarin Orange Salad for Supper
Yield: 8

This Mandarin Orange Salad has juicy oranges, crunchy apples, dried cranberries, tangy feta, and simple candied almonds, topped with an amazing citrus dressing.

author’s note

The Salad That Gets More Attention Than the Main Dish!

I’ve been obsessed with elevated salads for years. I’m talking about the kind of salads that actually steal the spotlight at a meal. I’m always making favorites like mango, Cobb, blackberry, quinoa, and so many others, but citrus-inspired salads have always been at the very top of my list.

So when a friend asked me to bring a green salad to a gathering, I decided to draw inspiration from my citrus salad. I took everything It is satisfying to about that recipe including bright citrus flavors, a fresh from-scratch dressing, sweet fruit, creamy cheese, and lots of texture, and turned it into this Mandarin Orange Salad with juicy mandarins, crisp apples, tangy feta, dried cranberries, and candied almonds.

Now it has become one of a reliable salads to bring because it never feels like just a salad, and somehow people always ask for the recipe.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this Mandarin Orange Salad:

Almonds: Toasting with sugar makes them crunchy and sweet! You can buy pre-sugared almonds if in a rush.
Sugar: Turns into syrup that coats the almonds well.
Greens: Use fresh, crisp greens for the base.
Oranges: I like using Cutie clementines!
Apples: Fuji or Honeycrisp apples add crunch and sweetness.
Dried Cranberries: I prefer sweetened, but unsweetened is fine too.
Feta Cheese: You can swap it for goat cheese for a stronger flavor.

This recipe makes extra candied almonds. Store leftovers in a sealed container—in the freezer for up to 2 months or in the pantry for 2-3 weeks. They’re great as a snack or as toppings for yogurt bowl, açaí bowl, or other salads.

Prep all the dressing ingredients for this mandarin orange salad, including olive oil, honey, poppy seeds, salt, Dijon, lemon, and orange.

Mandarin Orange Salad Dressing

Olive Oil: Use good extra-virgin oil for the best flavor.
Orange and Lemon Zest & Juice: Fresh zest gives more flavor.
Honey: Adds sweetness; change the amount to your liking.
Dijon Mustard: Balances sweetness and thickens the dressing.
Salt: Brings out all the other flavors.
Poppy Seeds: Adds crunch and color.

Featured Comment

“the cook thank you so much for this recipe – I made it for a family gathering and even the kids asked for more LOL!! So nutritious and straightforward to prepare. Definitely a keeper!!”
– Krista

Blend the dressing ingredients together in a small blender, then add them to a mason jar and mix in the poppy seeds.

How To Make Mandarin Orange Salad

Candy Almonds: Toast almonds with sugar in a skillet until coated.
Prepare Salad: Add greens, oranges, apples, cranberries, and feta to a bowl.
Make Dressing: Blend all ingredients except poppy seeds, then stir them through.
Serve: Toss salad with dressing and almonds. Enjoy!

Toast and sugar the almonds to add to the dish.

What To Serve With Mandarin Orange Salad

Grilled Chicken, Salmon, or Shrimp: Adds protein and pairs well with citrus flavors.
Hearty Bread or Warm French Bread: Great for soaking up leftover dressing.
Butternut Squash or Tomato Soup: A great combo for a soup and salad meal!
Simple Pasta Dishes: Lemon pasta or olive oil pasta keeps it light.
Quinoaor Farro: Adds a nice texture and makes it more filling.

Pour the dressing over the mandarin orange salad.

Storage

Keep salad ingredients separate to stay fresh. If mixed with dressing, eat soon—it won’t stay fresh for long.
Dressing: Store in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to a week. Shake before using.