Although my family loves the ham and potatoes part of Christmas dinner, we all know we need a salad to go with it. Have you ever skipped your vegetables on these occasions? Well, I say that it’s a must to have your veggies on special occasions. Today, our holiday menu continues with our favorite Mandarin Orange Salad. Not only is this salad a perfect addition to any holiday dinner, but it’s also great with the new year coming and those resolutions we are all sure to have. It’s a healthy way to end and start another year, isn’t it?
How to Make It?
This salad has very simple ingredients – lettuce, green onions, and celery, of course, mandarin oranges make up the base. The added crunch of the caramelized almonds really completes the salad. You could leave off the almonds, but it just won’t be the same without them.
It’s best to serve the dressing on the side or add it right before serving. The salad needs to be mixed ahead of time and chilled.
The original recipe came from a Mom of a gymnast I was coaching in the early 90s. We had been to her house for a team dinner, and she shared the recipe with me. It’s been a hit every time I make it.
Final Thoughts About Mandarin Orange Salad
It certainly is an appetizing dish besides its health benefits. You can do more with your oranges besides just peeling and eating them. Make sure to make this salad at your home. It is a great treat for the family. If you want to serve more healthy meals during a holiday, then check these recipes just for you.
More Holiday Salads
- Old Fashioned Orange Jello Salad
- Broccoli Tomato Tortellini Salad
- Orange and Pomegranate Salad
- Pear Salad
- Red & Green Holiday Salad
- Holiday Ribbon Gelatin
I understand that a lot of times we crave delicious turkey, chicken, or beef on the table. However, let’s not forget to balance out food intake. A healthy lifestyle is what we aim to have. Start off with what you eat. I assure you, it’s better when you try it and it’s best when you make it yourself.
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Mandarin Orange Salad
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
Description
The Caramelized Almonds totally makes this refreshing salad. Recipe from PocketChangeGourmet.com
Ingredients
- 1 head of lettuce, torn
- 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced
- 4 green onions, sliced thinly
- 1 can {11 oz} Mandarin Oranges, drained
Dressing
- 1/4 cup oil
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Caramelized Almonds
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
- 2 tablespoon sugar
Instructions
- Combine lettuce, celery, onion and mandarin oranges in a large bowl
- Cover and chill up to 3 hours
Caramelized Almonds
- In a small saucepan, add the almonds and sugar, cover over medium low heat, stirring constantly until golden {watch carefully – they will burn quickly}
- Pour onto wax paper and cool
- Break into pieces
Dressing
- Combine all ingredients and shake well
- Serve on the side or toss into salad just before serving
- Top with almonds
Notes
The dressing doesn’t seem like it will be enough, but it is plenty. Don’t forget the Caramelized Almonds…they make the salad great!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
2 Comments
Thanks for including my salad – these all look delish!