Spinach Mandarin Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing
Brighten your mealtime with this vibrant Spinach Mandarin Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing. This refreshing dish combines nutrient-rich baby spinach, sweet mandarins, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy almonds for a delightful medley of flavors and textures. Perfectly balanced with a homemade honey balsamic dressing, this salad is not only quick to prepare—taking just 15 minutes—but also versatile enough to serve as a side or main dish at any gathering. Whether you’re enjoying a casual weeknight dinner or hosting a festive event, this salad is sure to impress your guests and satisfy your cravings for something fresh and healthy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 oz baby spinach
- 1 can mandarin oranges (approx. 15 oz) drained or 4 fresh mandarins peeled and sectioned
- 1/4 c red onion thinly sliced
- ½ c goat cheese crumbles
- ½ c sliced almonds
- ½ c dried cranberries
- 1/2 c olive oil
- 1/4 c balsamic vinegar
- 1–2 T honey
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- Sea salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread sliced almonds on a baking sheet and toast for 4-6 minutes until fragrant and golden.
- In a large bowl, combine baby spinach, mandarin oranges, red onion, goat cheese, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and pepper until smooth. Adjust consistency if needed by adding water.
- Just before serving, drizzle dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all ingredients.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (150g)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 8mg