This delightful orange salad in mandarin-cider vinaigrette recipe is a refreshing blend of citrusy sweetness, crunchy texture, and creamy richness. It's the perfect dish to brighten up any meal and is sure to impress with its vibrant colors and complex flavors.
Photos of Orange Salad in Mandarin-Cider Vinaigrette Recipe
Most of the ingredients for this recipe are common and can be found in any supermarket. However, blood oranges and mandarin oranges might require a trip to a more specialized grocery store or farmers market. They enhance the salad with their unique sweet-tart flavor profiles and beautiful color. Gorgonzola cheese, known for its crumbly texture and distinct, sharp flavor, can be substituted with any blue cheese if it's difficult to find.
Ingredients for Orange Salad in Mandarin-Cider Vinaigrette
Salad greens: A variety of leafy vegetables that provide a crunchy base for the salad.
Blood orange: A type of orange with a distinctive dark flesh and a flavor that's more tart than a typical orange.
Mandarin oranges: Small, sweet citrus fruits that lend a delightful sweetness to the salad.
Almonds: These add a crunchy texture and a subtle nutty flavor.
Red onion: Adds a sharp and slightly sweet flavor to balance the sweetness of the fruits.
Gorgonzola cheese: An Italian blue cheese with a tangy, complex flavor that complements the fresh and sweet ingredients of the salad.
Olive oil: Used as the base of the vinaigrette, it adds a rich, fruity undertone.
apple cider vinegar: Gives the vinaigrette a sweet-tart flavor that enhances the fruit in the salad.
Mandarin orange juice: Adds sweetness and citrusy brightness to the vinaigrette.
Orange peel: Adds a hint of citrusy bitterness to contrast the sweetness of the vinaigrette.
Salt and freshly ground pepper: Used to season the salad and vinaigrette, enhancing the overall flavor.
One reader, Jacintha Prado says:
The orange salad in mandarin-cider vinaigrette recipe is a delightful burst of flavors. The combination of fresh greens, juicy oranges, and crunchy almonds, all dressed in the tangy vinaigrette, creates a refreshing and satisfying dish. It's a perfect blend of sweet and savory, making it a delightful addition to any meal.
Essential Techniques for Crafting This Salad Recipe
Tossing the salad: Combine the salad greens, blood orange, mandarin oranges, almonds, gorgonzola, and red onion in a large bowl and mix gently to combine.
Making the vinaigrette: In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, mandarin orange juice, orange peel, salt, and pepper until well combined.
Serving the salad: Once the salad is tossed with the vinaigrette, top it with crumbled gorgonzola and serve immediately.
How To Make Orange Salad in Mandarin-Cider Vinaigrette
Whip up a colorful bowl of orange salad, topped with citruses on a bed of crisp greens and tossed in a tangy vinaigrette, for a more flavorful meal.
Serves:
Ingredients
- 8ozsalad greens,used spring salad mix, rinsed and chopped
- 1blood orange,peeled, sectioned
- 11ozmandarin oranges,(1 can), reserve juice
- ¼cupalmonds,toasted, or smoked, or toffee-coated
- ½red onion,sliced
- 4ozgorgonzola cheese,or feta, blue, or goat cheese
For Vinaigrette:
- ¾cupolive oil
- ¼cupapple cider vinegar
- 2tbspmandarin orange juice
- 1tsporange peel,optional
- dashsalt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
-
Toss the greens, orange, mandarin, almonds, gorgonzola and onions together in a large bowl.
-
Add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, orange juice, orange peel, salt, and pepper, then toss to coat. Top with crumbled gorgonzola.
-
Serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Calories: 1180.78kcal
- Fat: 107.07g
- Saturated Fat: 22.58g
- Trans Fat: 0.00g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 69.29g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 11.42g
- Carbohydrates: 43.03g
- Fiber: 9.19g
- Sugar: 27.55g
- Protein: 19.95g
- Cholesterol: 42.52mg
- Sodium: 1324.76mg
- Calcium: 494.59mg
- Potassium: 994.19mg
- Iron: 2.90mg
- Vitamin A: 594.73µg
- Vitamin C: 95.37mg
Pro Tip for Perfecting the Mandarin-Cider Vinaigrette
When preparing the blood orange and mandarin oranges for the salad, make sure to segment them properly. This not only makes the salad easier to eat, but also helps to distribute the citrus flavor more evenly throughout the dish. To do this, cut off the top and bottom of the orange. Then, using a sharp knife, cut away the peel and white pith, following the curve of the fruit. Hold the peeled fruit over a bowl to catch any juice, and cut along the membrane on both sides of each segment to free it. This method will give you perfect orange segments without any pith.
Time-Saving Tips for Preparing Orange Salad
Prep ahead: Prepare the vinaigrette and chop the ingredients in advance to save time when assembling the salad.
Use pre-washed greens: Opt for pre-washed salad greens to skip the step of washing and drying them.
Multi-task: While preparing the vinaigrette, simultaneously toast the almonds to save time in the kitchen.
Organize ingredients: Arrange all the ingredients and tools needed for the recipe before starting to streamline the cooking process.
Invest in a citrus juicer: Using a citrus juicer can expedite the process of extracting juice from oranges, making it quicker and more efficient.
Prep in bulk: Consider preparing a larger batch of vinaigrette to have on hand for future salads, saving time in the long run.
Efficient slicing: Use a mandoline slicer for quick and uniform slicing of the red onions, ensuring consistent results in less time.
Substitute Ingredients For Orange Salad in Mandarin-Cider Vinaigrette Recipe
mandarin oranges - Substitute with canned pineapple chunks: Canned pineapple chunks can provide a similar sweet and tangy flavor to the salad, adding a tropical twist to the dish.
blood orange - Substitute with navel orange: Navel oranges can be used as a substitute for blood oranges, as they also offer a sweet and juicy citrus flavor to the salad.
gorgonzola cheese - Substitute with feta cheese: Feta cheese can be used as a substitute for gorgonzola, providing a tangy and slightly salty flavor to the salad.
apple cider vinegar - Substitute with white wine vinegar: White wine vinegar can be used as a substitute for apple cider vinegar, offering a similar level of acidity and tanginess to the vinaigrette.
almonds - Substitute with walnuts: Walnuts can be used as a substitute for almonds, providing a similar nutty flavor and crunchy texture to the salad.
salad greens - Substitute with baby spinach: Baby spinach can be used as a substitute for salad greens, offering a tender and mild flavor to the salad.
How to Beautifully Present This Citrusy Salad
Elevate the salad greens: Arrange the salad greens in a visually appealing manner, ensuring they are evenly distributed and create a bed for the other ingredients.
Highlight the blood orange: Segment the blood orange beautifully and place the segments strategically on top of the salad to add vibrant color and a burst of citrus flavor.
Showcase the mandarin oranges: Arrange the mandarin oranges in a visually appealing pattern, ensuring they are evenly distributed to provide bursts of sweetness throughout the dish.
Sprinkle the almonds: Toast the almonds to perfection and sprinkle them over the salad, ensuring they add a delightful crunch and nutty flavor to each bite.
Incorporate the red onion: Slice the red onion thinly and scatter it over the salad, ensuring it adds a pop of color and a mild, sweet onion flavor.
Crumble the gorgonzola cheese: Gently crumble the gorgonzola cheese over the salad, ensuring it is evenly distributed to provide a creamy and tangy contrast to the citrus flavors.
Craft the mandarin-cider vinaigrette: Drizzle the mandarin-cider vinaigrette over the salad, ensuring it is delicately and evenly distributed to enhance the flavors without overwhelming the dish.
Garnish with orange peel: Finely grate fresh orange peel over the salad, ensuring it adds a pop of citrus aroma and a hint of bitterness to complement the sweetness of the fruits.
Present with finesse: Carefully plate the salad to showcase the vibrant colors and textures, ensuring each ingredient is thoughtfully arranged to create an enticing visual appeal.
Essential Kitchen Tools for Making Orange Salad
- Salad spinner: A salad spinner is used to wash and dry salad greens, ensuring they are clean and crisp for the salad.
- Citrus juicer: A citrus juicer is used to extract juice from oranges, making it easier to incorporate into the vinaigrette.
- Chef's knife: A chef's knife is essential for slicing the blood orange, red onion, and almonds with precision.
- Cutting board: A cutting board provides a stable surface for chopping and slicing ingredients without damaging countertops.
- Whisk: A whisk is used to emulsify the vinaigrette, ensuring the oil and vinegar are well combined.
- Mixing bowl: A mixing bowl is essential for tossing the salad greens, oranges, almonds, and onions together.
- Grater: A grater is used to zest the orange peel, adding a burst of citrus flavor to the vinaigrette.
- Measuring cup: A measuring cup is used to accurately measure the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and mandarin orange juice for the vinaigrette.
- Salad tongs: Salad tongs are used to toss the salad with the vinaigrette, ensuring even distribution of the dressing.
- Cheese grater: A cheese grater is used to crumble the gorgonzola cheese, adding a creamy and tangy element to the salad.
Interesting Trivia About Orange Salad in Mandarin-Cider Vinaigrette
Mandarin oranges are a great source of vitamin C, providing over 100% of the recommended daily intake in just one fruit.
Is Making This Salad Recipe Budget-Friendly?
This orange salad in mandarin-cider vinaigrette recipe is quite cost-effective for a household. The ingredients are relatively affordable and easily accessible, making it a budget-friendly option. The use of seasonal fruits and simple vinaigrette ingredients keeps the overall cost low. The approximate cost for a household of 4 people would be around $15-20. The dish offers a refreshing and flavorful combination of citrus fruits, greens, and crunchy almonds, making it a delightful addition to any meal. Overall Verdict: 9/10
Is This Orange Salad Recipe Healthy or Unhealthy?
This orange salad recipe has both healthy and unhealthy elements. Let's break it down:
Healthy ingredients:
- Salad greens: Packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber
- Oranges: Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants
- Almonds: Provide healthy fats, protein, and fiber
- Red onion: Contains quercetin, a potent antioxidant
Unhealthy aspects:
- Gorgonzola cheese: High in saturated fat and sodium
- Olive oil: While healthy in moderation, the recipe uses a significant amount
- Apple cider vinegar: Acidic and may erode tooth enamel if consumed excessively
The salad itself is nutritious, but the dressing and cheese push it towards the unhealthy side. However, with a few tweaks, we can make this salad a healthier option without compromising on taste.
- Reduce the amount of gorgonzola cheese or opt for a lower-fat alternative like feta or goat cheese
- Use less olive oil in the vinaigrette and increase the mandarin orange juice for a lighter, citrusy flavor
- Add more nutrient-dense ingredients like sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, or shredded carrots to boost the salad's overall nutritional value
- Consider using a mix of salad greens, such as spinach or arugula, to introduce more variety and flavor
- Toasting the almonds can enhance their flavor, allowing you to use fewer while still enjoying their crunch and taste
Editor's Opinion on This Refreshing Citrus Salad
This orange salad in mandarin-cider vinaigrette recipe is a delightful combination of flavors and textures. The mix of blood orange, mandarin, almonds, and gorgonzola cheese creates a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and nutty notes. The mandarin-cider vinaigrette adds a refreshing and zesty touch to the salad. The overall presentation is vibrant and inviting, making it a perfect choice for a light and refreshing meal.
Enhance Your Orange Salad in Mandarin-Cider Vinaigrette Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
Similar Salad Recipes to Try
Ideal Main Courses and Desserts to Pair with Orange Salad
Why trust this Orange Salad in Mandarin-Cider Vinaigrette Recipe:
This recipe offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures, featuring fresh salad greens, juicy blood orange and mandarin oranges, crunchy almonds, and creamy gorgonzola cheese. The zesty mandarin-cider vinaigrette adds a burst of citrusy goodness, made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and a hint of orange peel. Trust the vibrant colors and harmonious blend of ingredients to elevate your dining experience.
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