Mandarin Sesame Crunch Salad (Printable)
Fresh Asian-inspired salad with mandarin oranges, crisp vegetables, and a savory-sweet sesame dressing tossed with crunchy noodles.
# 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
# Directions:
01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, shredded carrots, sliced bell pepper, green onions, mandarin orange segments, and edamame.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, grated ginger, minced garlic, and sesame seeds until fully emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle the chow mein noodles and toasted almonds over the top just before serving to maintain maximum crunch.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional sesame seeds if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The dressing comes together in about sixty seconds and tastes like something from a restaurant that charges eighteen dollars for a side salad.
- That contrast of juicy citrus, crisp vegetables, and crunchy toppings makes every bite interesting.
02 -
- If you dress the salad and let it sit the noodles and almonds will go soft within fifteen minutes so always add them at the very last second.
- I once used regular sesame oil instead of toasted and the dressing tasted completely flat which is how I learned that one word on the label changes everything.
03 -
- Toast your almonds in the same pan you used for nothing else and they will pick up residual warmth and cook faster so shake the pan constantly.
- The secret to restaurant quality dressing is shaking it in a jar instead of whisking because the seal creates a thicker emulsion that clings to every leaf.