This Mandarin Orange Salad is a scrumptious salad combining almonds, sweet red onion, mandarin oranges and red leaf lettuce. The sweet and tangy salad comes together with a zippy dressing that has a few drops of hot pepper sauce in it. Hold me back!
There’s something magical about citrus fruit in the dead of winter. We’re thankful to have friends who very kindly send us a box of fresh Florida oranges and grapefruit each Christmas. Such a treat and an immune booster besides!
Citrus in winter is good! And we’re most definitely still in the dead of winter around here in New Hampshire. The ground is snowy and icy, and the temperature has fluctuated as much as forty degrees in the last week.
Like me, Mother Nature just can’t make up her mind. And today she says winter. While it’s very cold here in NH right now, two weekends ago we were up in Quebec City for a long weekend exploring, and it was absolutely frigid. As in -24 cold. Thankfully we were prepared!
So last week in the grocery store I noticed big bags of fresh mandarin oranges in the produce section. They got me thinking about this fabulous Mandarin Orange Salad, a staple in our house growing up.
Just a few star ingredients in this addictive salad: candied almonds, mandarin oranges, sweet red onion, red leaf lettuce and the sweet, homemade hot pepper dressing.
Toast slivered almonds or easily make candied almonds on the stovetop. Melt a few tablespoons of sugar in a skillet and stir in the almonds to coat. Carefully spread on parchment paper to cool. Break into small pieces and set aside for this Mandarin Orange Salad.
Make the sweet, zippy dressing in a mason jar. Just add all the ingredients and shake well to combine. Hot pepper sauce mingles with sugar, vinegar, vegetable oil, fresh parsley and spices.
Gently pour the dressing over the Mandarin Orange Salad, lightly toss and serve. We love this dressing so much I usually make a double or triple batch to keep on hand for other salads. I also make extra candied almonds for other uses. (Like sneaking them for snacks!)
Have a super weekend, it’s almost here. And stay warm if you can!
Tips to Make this Mandarin Orange Salad:
- Red leaf lettuce tends to go bad quickly, so get yours fresh right before making this salad..
- Toast the sliced almonds lightly in the oven or make candied almonds according to my recipe.
- Add some shredded chicken and this makes a great main dish salad.
- Use fresh or canned mandarin oranges.
Mandarin Orange Candied Almond Salad
Ingredients
Candied Almonds
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
Dressing
- 1 tablespoon sugar or honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh minced parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce Tobasco, etc.
Salad
- 1 bunch red leaf lettuce torn into bite size pieces
- 1 - 11 ounce can mandarin oranges drained
- 1 small red onion sliced thin
Optional garnish:
- Fresh mandarin slices or parsley sprigs
Instructions
Candied Almonds
- In small skillet, heat 3 tablespoons sugar over low heat until completely melted.
- Add almonds, stirring until well coated.
- Transfer to parchment paper to cool.
- Break candied almonds into small pieces and set aside.
Dressing
- In small mason jar, combine vinegar, parsley, salt, pepper, hot pepper sauce and sugar. (or maple syrup or honey)
- Shake jar well to combine.
Salad
- Just before serving, combine torn lettuce, mandarin oranges, red onion and candied almonds in large serving bowl.
- Shake dressing well and pour over salad.
- Toss and serve immediately.
You may also like: Grilled Steak & Asparagus Salad w/raspberry dressing
Kellie says
I LOVE salads! I can’t wait to try this one. Your pictures are so perfect I feel like I could start eating them 😉
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
Hold me back indeed! OHMEGAWSH – Allie – I don’t know where to start – what a feast this salad is – for every tastebud! There’s sweet, spicy, tart, crunchy, crispy AND ZIPPY – now I cannot resist a recipe with “zippy” in it’s description! I love this so much, sweet friend!
Hope your day is just as zippy as this salad is!! XO
Catherine says
Dear Allie, the sweet and spicy notes are perfect…this salad sounds marvelous and is so beautiful. I love fresh citrus and parsley in my salads too…this is just for me! Have a wonderful day dear. xoxo, Catherine
Aunt Pinkie says
Boy, does this look fabulous! Can’t wait to try it! Yummmmm!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
The weather has been totally weird here too… definitely cold and then bitterly cold. I absolutely LOVE the citrus this time of year and this salad is PERFECT! Candied anything makes me swoon, but candied almonds and mandarins adoring a beautiful salad?! YES PLEASE! I could eat this for breakfast right now! Cheers, my dear- to a wonderful weekend! xo
Karla @SmallTownRambler says
This looks so good, Allie! You can’t go wrong with those ingredients…pinning this for sure!
Summer says
I love how you used the ingredients. The salad is gorgeous ♥
summerdaisy.net
Megan - The Emotional Baker says
This salad looks so scrumptious! I love the almond addition 🙂
Allison - Celebrating Sweets says
This sounds fabulous, Allie! I’d probably eat all those candied almonds before they made it to the salad. 😉
Kristina says
this sounds amazing, Allie! pinned to make soon, I am all about the bright fresh salads lately!
Carina says
Looks wonderful- there is something so great about citrus fruit in a salad. With the colds going arounds here, this seems like the ideal time to enjoy!
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal says
Your candied almond topping looks so yummy! Such a sweet, fresh, and crunchy salad to enjoy during the dregs of winter!
Sherri Hall @ Watch Learn Eat says
I’ve been told by my children that I have a “hot sauce problem.” As soon as you mentioned hot sauce, I was in! 🙂 Not to mention the beautiful and colorful salad! Awesome recipe!
Denise Q. says
I have a friend coming for lunch on Wednesday. Three guesses what I’m making, and the first two don’t count! This looks yummy. I can’t wait to try it.
Adina says
Such a good looking salad and I love those almonds.
Eva says
J’adore cette salade, frais et gourmand au même temps ! xo
puja says
You are right Allie there is something magical about the citrus fruit in winter. Loved the addition of candied almond in this salad. Lovely sharing my dear friend. 🙂
Louise Achor says
Still.haven’t tried it yet
Shashi at SavorySpin says
I NEED some citrus this winter – I don’t think I’ve had an orange since October – and Lil Shashi took a look at this and said we NEED that dressing in our home! Hoping you are doing well, sweet friend! XOXO
Susie Mandel says
If I can get Julia to stop eating all the oranges, I can make this, LOL!
Allie says
LOL – save some oranges for your mama, Julia!!!