Mandarin Orange Salad with Fennel (Vegan Friendly)

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Mandarin Orange Salad with Fennel is a vibrant salad full of sweet mandarins, tossed in a homemade citrusy dressing. This citrus salad is gluten-free and vegan friendly.

I am on a bit of a citrus kick this winter! Not only is winter citrus season, so all the citrus fruits are at their peak ripeness, but cold and flu season is a great time to load up on some extra vitamin C!

This mandarin orange salad is perfect for sneaking in some extra citrus.

I am team canned mandarins - I love the texture. Best if you can find them canned in orange juice, not syrup.

Either way, this salad has a lovely sweet-tart flavor from the mandarins. Balanced with minty fennel. A crunch from some cashews or other nuts. And it needs some smooth, creamy avocados to balance it out!

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Why You'll Love This Mandarin Orange Salad with Fennel
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Step-By-Step Instructions
FAQ & Expert Tips
Recipe Prayer
More fruity salads
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Dressing being poured onto a platter of mandarin orange salad.

Why You'll Love This Mandarin Orange Salad with Fennel

Dietary needs - this recipe is dairy-free, plant-based, oil-free, and sugar-free
Seasonal ingredients - winter is citrus season, so load up on your favorite citrus fruits!
Balanced flavor - sweet, tart, salty, and nutty all in one bite

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Mixed Greens: feel free to use your favorite greens.
Fennel Bulb: if you haven't tried fennel before, you definitely should! Fennel has a sweet, minty flavor that perfectly complements the brightness of the citrus
Cashews: or sub another nut or seed. Sliced almonds would be good, or pepitas or sunflower seeds
Mandarin Oranges: I used canned mandarins! This cuts down significantly on prep time. Ideally, look for mandarins in orange juice, not syrup
Avocado
Dried Cranberries: or sub your favorite dried fruit - raisins, cherries, and blueberries would all be great!
Vegan Feta: this is optional, but it contributes some nice briny, salty flavor. I recommend using Violife feta because it has the cleanest ingredients.

Orange Dressing

This is an orange version of my classic oil-free salad dressing.

Orange Juice: you can use juice from the can of mandarins, or juice a separate orange, or use store-bought juice
Agave or Maple Syrup: for sweetness! I used agave for a neutral sweet flavor
Water or Olive Oil: I used water to keep the dressing oil free, but feel free to use olive oil
Dijon Mustard
Salt & Pepper

Mandarin orange salad dressing ingredients.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1. In a small bowl whisk together the dressing ingredients.

Mandarin orange salad step 1 - whisk the dressing.

Step 2. Assemble the salad. Place a bed of greens on a large platter or in a large bowl. Top with the fennel, mandarins, avocado, cashews, cranberries, and feta if using. Drizzle with the dressing.

Mandarin orange salad step 2 - assemble the salad.

Pro Tip: Toast cashews lightly for added depth of flavor

FAQ & Expert Tips

Can I use fresh mandarins instead of canned?

Yes! I used canned mandarins for ease, but fresh are perfect too! Be sure to peel, segment, and remove any seeds.

Storage

Store un-dressed salad in an airtight container in the fridge. If you want to prep ahead assemble for lunch/dinner each day, I recommend also keeping the mandarins separate and only slicing as much avocado as you need.

Recipe Prayer

Thank you God for seasonal foods that show us the fruits of your creation all year. Amen.

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