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This bright and refreshing Mandarin Orange Salad is loaded with juicy citrus, crunchy almonds, sweet golden raisins, and shaved parmesan. Tossed in a zippy homemade dressing with mandarin juice, Dijon, and a little chili flake heat, it’s quick, simple, and packs a serious flavor punch. Keep it vegetarian or vegan-friendly by skipping the cheese or using a dairy-free swap – easy!
Growing up, I got used to mixing fruit into savory dishes, so tossing mandarins into a salad feels totally normal to me. And with five kids and never-ending kitchen chaos, I’m all about a recipe that comes together fast with ingredients I already have. For the best finishing touch, just shake up the dressing in a jar, toss it all in a bowl, and you’re good to go!
If fruity, fresh salads are your thing (they definitely are over here!), you’ll also want to try my Arugula Pear Salad or this juicy Grilled Peach Salad.
Recipe Overview
Tips From my Kitchen
Before You Get Started
A few helpful tips to make this Mandarin Orange Salad the absolute best:
- Drain the mandarins really well so they don’t water down the dressing. Use that juice where it counts.
- Use fresh-shaved Parmesan instead of the bagged kind for better flavor and texture.
- Don’t toss the salad until you’re ready to eat it. That keeps the arugula crisp and the almonds crunchy.
- The dressing can be made a few days ahead and kept in the fridge. Just give it a good shake before using.
Common Questions
Yes! Just peel and segment them, and swap the mandarin juice in the dressing for freshly squeezed orange juice. It’s a little extra work, but worth it if you’ve got sweet, in-season mandarins.
Spring mix, baby spinach, or a mix of both works great. Arugula gives it a peppery bite, but feel free to use your favorite greens instead.
Yes, especially with added protein like grilled chicken, salmon, or chickpeas. It’s super easy to build on.
Ingredients you will need
Below is a quick overview of what I used to make the salad and what you can swap some of the ingredients with. Full measurements are listed further down in the recipe card.
- Greens: I used arugula, but feel free to use any greens of your choice.
- Mandarin segments: If you do not want to use canned mandarins, you can use fresh ones.
- Onion: red onions taste great in salads, and white sweet onions work too.
- Nuts: Roasted almonds are a great choice. Other nuts like pecans and walnuts are fine.
- Shaved parmesan cheese: store-bought or shave it from scratch at home.
- Golden raisins: You can swap this with craisins if you like.
- Mandarin juice from the can you will be using, or fresh orange juice.
- Apple cider vinegar: white distilled will work, or balsamic vinegar.
- Dijon mustard: Honey mustard is also fine to use.
- Salt and chili flakes
- Extra virgin olive oil
How to Make Mandarin Salad
Here’s how to get perfect results every time:
1️⃣ Shake Up the Dressing
Add all the dressing ingredients to a jar with a lid and shake well until fully combined and emulsified.
✏️ No need for a blender. A good shake does the trick and saves you time.
2️⃣ Layer the Arugula
Place the arugula in a large serving bowl as the base for your salad.
✏️ Make sure it’s dry so the dressing sticks and doesn’t water things down.
3️⃣ Add the Mandarins and Onions
Scatter the mandarin segments and thinly sliced red onion over the arugula.
✏️ Gently pat the mandarins dry so they don’t dilute the vinaigrette.
4️⃣ Top with Almonds, Parmesan, and Raisins
Sprinkle on the chopped almonds, shaved parmesan, and golden raisins.
5️⃣ Dress and Toss
Drizzle the salad with the vinaigrette, then toss everything together just before serving.
Variations & Tips
Easy ways to switch it up based on what you’ve got or what you love:
→ Leave out the chili flakes for a milder dressing, or add a tiny pinch of cayenne if you like just a little heat.
→ Skip the parmesan or use a dairy-free cheese – this salad still has plenty of flavor without it.
→ Swap the almonds for roasted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds to keep it nut-free but still crunchy.
→ Try adding fresh pineapple or mango for a tropical twist that works beautifully with the citrus dressing.
Storage & Make-Ahead Tips
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. For best texture, keep the dressing separate if you can.
- Freezer: Freezing isn’t recommended for this salad, as the arugula and mandarins won’t hold up well after thawing.
- Make-Ahead: You can prep the dressing, slice the onions, and chop the almonds ahead of time. Store everything separately and toss together just before serving to keep it fresh and crisp.
Mandarin Orange Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 8 cups arugula, packed
- 11 ounces can mandarin segments
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup roasted almonds, coarsely chopped
- ½ cup shaved parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup golden raisins
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons mandarin juice, from can
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon fine kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon chili flakes
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Add all the dressing ingredients to a jar with a lid and shake well until fully combined and emulsified. (3 tablespoons mandarin juice -from can, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon fine kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon chili flakes, and ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil)
- Place the 8 cups arugula in a large serving bowl as the base for your salad.
- Scatter the 11 ounces can mandarin segments and thinly sliced 1 red onion over the arugula.
- Sprinkle on the chopped ½ cup roasted almonds, ½ cup shaved parmesan cheese, and ¼ cup golden raisins.
- Drizzle the salad with the vinaigrette, then toss everything together just before serving.
Notes
- Drain mandarins well to keep the salad from getting soggy.
- Use fresh-shaved Parmesan for the best flavor and texture.
- Toss the salad just before serving so the greens stay crisp.
- Dressing can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Swap almonds for seeds to make it nut-free.
Storage & Make-Ahead
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Keep dressing separate if possible.
- Make-Ahead: Prep dressing, slice onions, and chop almonds ahead. Assemble just before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What to Serve with Mandarin Orange Salad
This salad is light and fresh, which makes it perfect as a side or starter – but it can totally hold its own as a main dish with the right pairings. Serve it alongside grilled chicken, salmon, or even a simple soup for a balanced meal that’s full of flavor and texture.
Here are a few recipes that go really well with it:
- Grilled Lemon Chicken
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Easy Honey Garlic Chicken
- Greek Turkey Meatballs
- Honey Garlic Air Fryer Tofu (great plant-based option)
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