MSG Free Spinach Mandarin Almond Salad
Bright, fresh, and genuinely satisfying, this spinach salad is the kind of dish that looks like it came from a restaurant but comes together in minutes with ingredients you can easily verify yourself. That matters more than people realize — many bottled dressings and packaged salad kits sneak in additives and flavor enhancers that have no business being in a simple salad. Here, the dressing is whisked together from scratch using olive oil, fresh orange juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, grated ginger, and a pinch of turmeric, so you know exactly what's going in. The mandarin oranges bring a juicy sweetness that plays beautifully against the peppery spinach, while the dry-roasted almonds add a satisfying crunch in every bite. A few thin slices of red onion give it a subtle sharpness, and torn fresh mint lifts the whole thing with a cool, herby finish. It's the kind of salad that actually makes you want to eat your greens — no mystery ingredients required.
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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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