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Mandarin Orange Salad

Ingredients

for 4 servings:

  • Salad
    • 1 lb cooked chicken breast, chopped or pulled apart
    • 2 1/2 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
    • 2 cups coleslaw
    • 1 1/2 cups purple cabbage, shredded
    • 1 cup sugar snap peas (or snow peas)
    • 10oz mandarin oranges (if using the can MUST use oranges in water/liquid, not syrup)
  • Dressing
    • 1 1/2 tablespoon Dijon
    • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy (or lite tamari)
    • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon ginger (minced, paste, or pieces)
    • 5 tablespoons peanut oil
    • juice from 1 orange (or half depending on preferences)
    • 1 teaspoon agave (optional but recommended for a little sweetness)
  • Garnish
    • Chow mein noodles for crunch (while these are lower calorie, you should not load up on them)
    • Almond slices for more crunch and to boost heartiness
    • Cilantro for flavor

Instructions

Step 1

Begin by preparing the orange dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, low sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced ginger, peanut oil, juice from one orange (adjust according to preference), and optional agave for sweetness. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped or pulled apart cooked chicken breast, chopped Romaine lettuce, coleslaw, shredded purple cabbage, and sugar snap peas. Gently toss the ingredients together until evenly distributed.

Step 3

Carefully add the mandarin oranges to the salad mixture. If using canned mandarin oranges, make sure to drain them thoroughly and rinse with water to remove excess syrup.

Step 4

Pour the prepared orange dressing over the salad mixture. Use a spatula or salad tongs to gently toss everything together, ensuring that the dressing coats all the ingredients evenly.

Step 5

Once the salad is well coated with the dressing, transfer it to a serving dish or individual salad bowls.

Step 6

Garnish the mandarin orange salad with chow mein noodles for a crunchy texture, almond slices for extra heartiness and crunch, and cilantro for added flavor.

Step 7

Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing and flavorful Mandarin Orange Salad!

Step 8

Orange Dressing

  • In a small bowl, combine the Dijon mustard, low sodium soy sauce (or lite tamari), rice vinegar, minced ginger (or ginger paste/pieces), and peanut oil.
  • Squeeze the juice from one orange into the mixture. Adjust the amount of orange juice based on your preferred level of citrus flavor.
  • Optionally, add a teaspoon of agave for a touch of sweetness, enhancing the overall flavor profile of the dressing.
  • Whisk all the ingredients together until well combined and the dressing has a smooth consistency.
  • Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if necessary, adding more soy sauce for saltiness, vinegar for acidity, or agave for sweetness, according to your taste preferences.
  • Once the dressing is ready, set it aside until the salad is prepared and ready to be dressed.