Get your own box of sweet little Mandarins

Sweet, juicy and delicious! Did you know that this little citrus wonder can make both sweet and savory mandarin orange salads? Check out our fantastic recipes!

It's a new year and you're devoting yourself to a healthier diet. But after a few days, you're getting tired of the same, simple salads. 

Well, you don't have to give up your healthy diet to have an exciting new lunch! It's time to branch out and see how citrus fruits can add a pop of acidic freshness to your greens.

Below you will find 3 of the best mandarin orange salads you can make for yourself at home!

1. Mandarin Orange Summer Salad

There's nothing quite as good as a crisp, refreshing salad on a hot summer day. And this mandarin orange summer salad is the perfect combination of fresh citrus, crunchy walnuts, and hearty spinach.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups spinach
• 2 cups arugula
• 1 cup toasted walnuts
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 11 oz mandarin oranges
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

For the salad, toast walnuts first in the oven or on the stovetop. Mix together spinach and arugula. Next, add your walnuts, cranberries, and mandarin oranges. Top with parmesan cheese.

For this mandarin orange salad recipe, you can buy a simple balsamic or you can make your own dressing. Here is a dressing for any spinach salad with mandarin oranges.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 tbs fresh orange juice
• 1 tbsp. honey
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Mix together all ingredients for the dressing and pour over greens. Enjoy!

2. Mandarin Orange Sweet and Sour Asian Salad

Looking for a side to go with your Asian-inspired meal? Look no further! This sweet and sour Asian salad with mandarin oranges can be served as a side or a main course.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup slivered almonds 
• 1 tbsp. + 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 head lettuce
• 1 head romaine lettuce
• 2 stalks chopped celery
• 2 scallions (greens and whites)
• 11 oz mandarin oranges

Toast the almonds with the sugar on the stovetop. Be careful not to burn them. While you are toasting the almonds you can prepare the simple sweet and sour dressing.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• Dash of Tabasco (or other hot sauce)
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tbsp. vinegar
• 1 tbsp. fresh parsley or 1 tsp. dried
• 1 tbs. mandarin orange juice

Mix together ingredients for the dressing and adjust the spice as you like it.

3. Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad

For a simple, family-favorite try this mandarin orange chicken salad recipe with either of the dressing recipes above.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups chicken (cooked, chopped, chilled)
• 16 oz chopped cabbage or coleslaw mix
• 1/4 cup green onion
• 1 head romaine lettuce
• 11 oz mandarin oranges
• 1 1/2 cups chow mein noodles (toasted)

Mix together these ingredients with a premade Asian salad dressing or one of the recipes above. It's simple, quick, and pleases crowds of all ages!

Mandarin Orange Salad Recipe Tips

When making mandarin orange salads, you can always replace the canned version with the fresh version for more flavor.

High-quality citrus is what makes these salads so healthy and delicious.

So instead of your usual Cobb or Caesar salad, try something new - make one of the mouth-watering mandarin orange salads above.

Try our seasonal citrus box while its available...the Craft Citrus Club!

Our Rio box is a 15-lb curated box of our fresh-harvested citrus from South Texas. The fruit is NOT gassed, rather it is tree-ripened. Our season runs from Nov-May for oranges, grapefruit and mandarins.

Our Grande box is a 30-lb box of either fresh-harvested Rio Red Grapefruit or Sweet Oranges from South Texas.

If you want to try out our fresh-harvested Clementine Tangerine Box from South Texas, click here!