Chicken 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. Juicy mandarin oranges bring a burst of sweetness that plays beautifully against the peppery baby spinach, while dry-roasted almonds add a satisfying crunch in every bite. The homemade dressing is where things really shine — a citrusy blend of fresh orange juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, and a hint of ginger and turmeric that feels vibrant and a little unexpected. Thinly sliced red onion adds just enough sharpness to keep everything balanced, and a handful of torn fresh mint lifts the whole bowl if you choose to use it. Everything here is naturally plant-based and completely free of any poultry, so there's no need to swap or substitute a single thing. It's an ideal choice for a light lunch, a crowd-pleasing potluck side, or a starter that genuinely gets people talking.
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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.
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