Nutty Mandarin Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
Bright, zesty, and delightfully crunchy, this Nutty Mandarin Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing is a refreshing twist on classic greens. Featuring crisp Romaine lettuce, sweet mandarin orange segments, toasted almonds, tangy red onion, and creamy crumbled feta, it’s a vibrant medley of flavors and textures. The homemade poppy seed dressing—made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, and a hint of Dijon mustard—ties it all together with a perfect balance of sweetness and tang. Ready in just 20 minutes, this salad is an excellent choice for a light lunch or as a festive side dish for any gathering. Serve it fresh, and let the bold flavors take center stage!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 cups Romaine lettuce
- 2 cups Mandarin oranges (peeled and segmented)
- 0.5 cups Sliced almonds
- 0.25 cups Red onion (thinly sliced)
- 0.5 cups Feta cheese (crumbled)
- 1 tablespoons Poppy seeds
- 0.25 cups Olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Honey
- 1 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 0.25 teaspoons Salt
- 0.25 teaspoons Black pepper
Instructions
Toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until they are golden brown and fragrant (about 4–5 minutes). Set aside to cool.
Prepare the salad base by washing and drying the Romaine lettuce. Chop or tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces and place them in a large salad bowl.
Add the mandarin orange segments, sliced almonds, red onion, and crumbled feta cheese to the lettuce.
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is well combined and emulsified.
Drizzle the poppy seed dressing over the prepared salad. Toss gently to combine and evenly coat all the ingredients with dressing.
Serve immediately, garnished with additional almonds or feta if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
392 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 27.9 g | 36% | |
| Saturated Fat | 5.5 g | 27% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 17 mg | 6% | |
| Sodium | 385 mg | 17% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 32.3 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 6.0 g | 21% | |
| Total Sugars | 23.0 g | ||
| Protein | 8.5 g | 17% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 251 mg | 19% | |
| Iron | 1.9 mg | 11% | |
| Potassium | 523 mg | 11% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
