Mandarin Sesame Crunch Salad (Printable)
Crispy Asian salad with mandarin oranges, toasted sesame, and a tangy sesame dressing.
# What You 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 It:
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, fresh lime juice, grated ginger, minced garlic, and toasted 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 - Scatter the crunchy chow mein noodles and toasted sliced almonds over the top just before serving to preserve their texture. Garnish with additional sesame seeds if desired and serve immediately.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The sweet mandarin oranges against salty soy sauce and nutty sesame oil create a flavor balance that makes it almost impossible to stop eating.
- Everything comes together in under thirty minutes with zero cooking skills required beyond toasting almonds without burning them.
- It holds up beautifully as next day leftovers because the sturdy vegetables refuse to wilt and surrender.
02 -
- Add the noodles and almonds only right before serving because once they hit the moist salad they start softening within minutes and you lose that glorious crunch.
- Taste the dressing before you commit it to the greens because mandarins vary wildly in sweetness and you may need to adjust honey or lime to compensate.
03 -
- Toast your sesame seeds in the same pan you use for almonds and do both at once to save time, pulling them off the heat the moment you smell their fragrance bloom.
- For gluten free, swap in tamari for soy sauce and replace the chow mein noodles with crushed rice crackers for an even louder crunch.