Artificial Food Coloring Free Spinach Mandarin Almond Salad
Bright, refreshing, and packed with texture, this spinach salad is the kind of dish that looks impressive but comes together in minutes. Tender baby spinach meets juicy mandarin oranges, crunchy dry-roasted almonds, and paper-thin slices of red onion for a combination that hits every note — sweet, savory, and a little sharp. The homemade dressing is where things really shine: a quick whisk of olive oil, fresh orange juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, grated ginger, and a pinch of turmeric creates something vibrant and complex without a single artificial ingredient in sight. That matters more than you might think, because bottled dressings and store-bought salad kits are some of the sneakiest sources of synthetic dyes and artificial additives hiding in an otherwise wholesome meal. Here, every component is clean and recognizable — nothing on this ingredient list needs a chemistry degree to decode. A scatter of torn fresh mint over the top adds an optional but genuinely lovely finishing touch. Toss it right before serving and it's ready to steal the show at any table.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salad
- 5 oz baby spinach
- 2 cans (11 oz each) mandarin oranges, drained
- ½ cup dry-roasted almonds, roughly chopped
- ¼ red onion, very thinly sliced
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp honey
- ½ tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, torn (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, grated ginger, turmeric, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and emulsified.
- 2
Add the baby spinach, drained mandarin oranges, chopped almonds, and sliced red onion to a large salad bowl.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!