Winter Chopped Salad- loaded with vibrant in-season produce like mandarin oranges, pears, and apples and topped with a creamy mandarin poppy seed dressing. The weather outside might be grey and blah…but that doesn’t mean your salad has to be! Can be served as a side salad or a light main meal. {vegetarian, vegan, GF}
Mandarin oranges and clementines you’ll find them in abundance in the grocery stores now. You know those cute wooden crates and happy orange nets full of about 3 dozen little fruits. I haven’t figured out why it’s nearly impossible to find them sold separately, which probably isn’t a problem for a big family, but for a single person that means A LOT of mandarins/clementines.
Not that it stops me from buying them…it doesnt! I crave their bright citrus flavor with just a touch of sweetness. But, it does means I’m going to have a little mandarin fest over here, and come up with ways to incorporate them into just about everything 
.
Mandarins/Clemintines feature prominently in this Winter Chopped Salad, sitting right next to some other in-season winter favorites like pears, apples and avocado. I’m adding a touch of sweetness and crunch to the salad with candied walnuts and dried cranberries (aka Craisins) . Don’t forget the feta! for a punch of flavor.
Yes, you might notice that the feta was feeling a bit camera shy when I took this picture..oops! I forgot to include it in the photo, but you most definitely want to include it in you salad because it just takes the Chopped Winter Salad to a whole new level.
A creamy mandarin poppy seed dressing tops it all off …bye bye winter blahs!
- 4 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
- 1 cup arugula
- 4 mandarin oranges (or clementines or 2 navel oranges)
- 1 apple, cut into small pieces (I used Fuji)
- 1 pear, sliced or cut into small pieces
- 1 avocado, cut into small pieces
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup candied walnuts (or pecans) (you can also use roasted walnuts/pecans)
- 1 Tbsp dried cranberries (like Craisins)
- 3 Tbsp mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt -plain or honey flavor)*
- 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp poppy seeds
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- salt and pepper to taste
- Place Romaine lettuce and arugula in a serving bowl. Peel and segment two mandarin oranges (reserving the other 2 mandarins for the dressing). Top lettuce/arugula with mandarins, apple, pears, avocado, feta, walnuts and dried cranberries. Set aside.
- To make the dressing- In a mason jar combine juice of 2 mandarins (approx. ¼ cup ) (or ¼ cup orange juice), mayonnaise, mustard, poppy seeds, vinegar and garlic. and salt and pepper to taste Shake to thoroughly mix. Alternatively you could use a small bowl and whisk all ingredients together. Taste- if your mandarins are a little tart you may want to add a touch of honey.
- Pour dressing on salad and serve.
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