Mandarin Sesame Crunch Salad (Printable)
Crisp greens, juicy mandarin oranges, and crunchy noodles tossed in a savory-sweet sesame dressing with toasted seeds.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Base
01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, napa cabbage, or spinach)
02 - 1 cup shredded carrots
03 - 1 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup mandarin orange segments (drained if canned)
06 - 1/2 cup shelled edamame
07 - 1/2 cup crunchy chow mein noodles
08 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
→ Sesame Dressing
09 - 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
10 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
14 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How To Make:
01 - In a large salad bowl, toss together the mixed greens, shredded carrots, sliced bell pepper, green onions, mandarin orange segments, and edamame until evenly distributed.
02 - In a small bowl or mason jar, whisk together the toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey or maple syrup, lime juice, grated ginger, minced garlic, and sesame seeds until fully emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Pour the sesame dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Sprinkle the crunchy chow mein noodles and toasted almonds over the top just before serving to preserve their texture. Garnish with additional sesame seeds if desired and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sweet and savory sesame dressing clings to every single bite and you will want to put it on everything else you make for a month.
- It comes together in under thirty minutes with zero cooking stress and looks gorgeous on any table without any extra effort.
02 -
- Adding the noodles and almonds too early is the fastest way to turn something spectacular into a soggy disappointment so always save them for the very last second.
- Canned mandarin segments carry a surprising amount of liquid so drain them on a paper towel first or your dressing will thin out and pool at the bottom of the bowl.
03 -
- Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat and watch them constantly because they go from golden to burnt in seconds.
- Making the dressing a day ahead actually improves the flavor because the ginger and garlic have time to infuse the oil.