Description
This Spinach Mandarin Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing is a vibrant and refreshing salad that’s sweet, tangy, and ready in just 15 minutes. Featuring tender baby spinach, juicy mandarin oranges, creamy goat cheese, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries, it’s tossed in a simple yet flavorful honey balsamic dressing. Perfect for busy weeknight dinners, light lunches, or holiday side dishes.
Ingredients
Salad
- 5–6 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup mandarin oranges (canned, drained or fresh)
- 2–3 tablespoons very thinly sliced red onion
- 1/3 cup goat cheese crumbles
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
Honey Balsamic Dressing
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (or to taste)
- 1/4–1/2 teaspoon black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Toast the almonds: Toast sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring frequently until they are lightly golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Prepare the salad: In a large bowl, combine baby spinach, mandarin oranges, very thinly sliced red onion, goat cheese crumbles, dried cranberries, and the cooled toasted almonds.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and black pepper until smooth and thoroughly combined.
- Dress and serve: Just before serving, toss the salad with about half of the dressing. Add more dressing as desired to coat all ingredients evenly. Serve immediately for the freshest taste.
- Store leftovers: Store the undressed salad and the dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. If the salad is already dressed, it is best consumed within 2 days for optimal freshness.
Notes
- For extra flavor, always toast the almonds before adding them to the salad.
- You can substitute feta cheese for goat cheese if preferred.
- For a nut-free option, use pepitas or sunflower seeds instead of almonds.
- Make it vegan by using maple syrup as the sweetener instead of honey and omitting or replacing the cheese with a vegan alternative.
- Add grilled chicken or salmon to turn this salad into a complete, protein-rich meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
