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Spinach Salad With Mandarin Oranges

Light and healthy and full of flavor and texture, this recipe for spinach salad with mandarin oranges will make a perfect meal!

view of spinach salad with mandarin oranges

Those hazy, lazy days of summer are almost here.  You know, the kind of days when it is too hot to cook.  These are the days when you crave something light and healthy, yet filling.

Like my Delicious Red, White, and Blue Berry Salad, this recipe for spinach salad with mandarin oranges comes together with simple ingredients in just a few minutes.

view of spinach salad with mandarin oranges

Why You’ll Love This Spinach Salad

This flavorful salad is sweet, crisp, crunchy, and requires very little time or preparation. Loaded with tender baby spinach, sweet mandarin oranges, tart dried cranberries, creamy goat cheese, and topped with dry roasted sunflower kernels, this recipe for spinach salad with mandarin oranges will become a summertime favorite!

While the flavor is amazing, this salad also just looks so good. The combination of colors and textures make it beautiful to serve.

close up of ingredients of spinach salad with mandarin oranges

Spinach Salad Ingredients

Baby Spinach – This leafy green is packed with iron and usually comes thoroughly washed, which makes it so simple to just open and pour.

Mandarin Oranges – These provide natural sweetness. Drain and rinse 1 can of mandarin orange segments. I usually purchase them in either water or light syrup.

Dried Cranberries – These bring a tart, yet slightly sweet taste to the salad.

Crumbled Goat Cheese – This creamy, mild, crumbled cheese is absolutely delicious.

Sunflower Kernels – Dry roasted with sea salt, these kernels are slightly buttery flavor and will bring texture to your salad.

How To Make This Recipe For Spinach Salad With Mandarin Oranges

Begin with fresh baby spinach. This leafy green is packed with iron and comes thoroughly washed, which makes it so simple to just open and pour.

close up of spinach salad

Add the dried cranberries (Craisins) to the baby spinach.

baby spinach with craisins

Next, add some natural sweetness.  Drain and rinse 1 can of mandarin orange segments. I usually purchase them in either water or light syrup.

baby spinach with craisins and mandarin oranges

Sprinkle in sunflower kernels for a salty crunch.  

baby spinach with craisins, mandarin oranges, and sunflower seeds

Finally, top with creamy goat cheese crumbles.

adding goat cheese crumbles to spinach salad
spinach salad with mandarin oranges

How To Serve This Salad

This salad is best served with Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing.

If you would like to dress the salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, toss the baby spinach with the dressing before adding the remaining ingredients.

You can always add some grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon on top to make this a substantial meal.

What are your favorite meals to eat when trying to beat the heat?  What are some simple salads that you enjoy?

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baby spinach with mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, goat cheese and sunflower kernels

Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges

Light and healthy and full of flavor and texture, this recipe for spinach salad with mandarin oranges will make a perfect meal!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Salad
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bag baby spinach Approximately 6-8 ounces
  • 1 can canned mandarin oranges, drained Approximately 11 ounces
  • 2 Tbsp dried cranberries (Craisins)
  • 2 Tbsp crumbled goat cheese
  • 1 Tbsp dry roasted sunflower kernels

Instructions
 

  • Begin with fresh baby spinach. This leafy green is packed with iron and comes thoroughly washed, which makes it so simple to just open and pour. 
  • Add dried cranberries (Craisins) to the baby spinach.
  • Next, add some natural sweetness. Drain and rinse 1 can of mandarin orange segments. I usually purchase them in either water or light syrup.
  • Sprinkle with sunflower kernels a salty crunch.
  • Finally, top with fresh goat crumbled cheese.

Notes

This salad is best served with Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing.
If you would like to dress the salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, toss the baby spinach with the dressing before adding the remaining ingredients.
You can add grilled chicken, shrimp, or salmon on top to make this a substantial meal.
Keyword spinach salad, spinach salad with mandarin oranges, summer salad

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41 Comments

  1. Looks delicious! Salads are a favorite go-to summer meal for us. We completely replaced lettuce in our house with spinach because it’s so good for you.

    1. Thanks so much, Rachel! I love all of the nutrients my family gets from spinach. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

  2. I’m on a salad kick, and this looks incredible!

  3. Pinned, looks yummy! And would get me out of the “same old salad” rut….

  4. Love having these types of delicious salads in the summer! This one looks fab!

  5. I am not a fan of those little oranges but my daughter loves them. Maybe I will make this for her.

  6. This looks delicious, healthy and colourful. I love all the ingredients in this salad so its going to be darn good. Pinning

  7. It looks absolutely delicious, I’ll be giving it a try for sure. Thank you for sharing at The Really crafty Link Party. Pinned.

  8. I love mandarin oranges in salad too! This salad sounds yummy and I’m Featuring it this week at Merry Monday. I love the beautiful milk glass bowl you served it in too! Can’t wait to see what you share with us this week at Merry Monday. Sharing.

    1. Thank you so much, Shirley! I am so excited and appreciative to be featured on Merry Monday! Wishing you a great week ahead!

  9. This looks so scrummy Lynne!! I can’t wait to try it!! So fresh and the combination makes my mouth water!

    Thank you so much for sharing your delicious recipe with us over at Waste Not Wednesday!

  10. oooh I love mandarin oranges in salad! Thanks for sharing on Homestead Blog Hop!

  11. This salad looks delicious for a hot summery day. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday.

  12. I love a salad for summer. This recipe looks so refreshing!

  13. Haven’t made a salad like this in ages; should really make one soon!

  14. This looks so yummy, Lynne! I love all of the ingredients, so I’ll have to try this!

  15. This is delicious, Lynne! I featured it in my Easy Summer Lunches post last year, and it’s so yummy!!!

  16. Your salad looks wonderful! It reminds me of my favorite lunch place in KY that served a similar salad but with blue cheese instead of goat cheese! Pinning it now! Thanks, Donna

  17. Love these kind of salads. Perfect for the summee!

  18. Rachel - Tea and Forget-me-nots says:

    This looks so refreshing, thanks for sharing.

  19. Yum, this salad looks perfect for a hot summer lunch. I cannot wait to try it.
    Happy almost summer,
    Kippi

  20. I love salads in the summer and the fact that you use mandarins makes it even easier. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

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