’Tis the season to find beautiful Mandarin oranges, replete with their fresh greenery! I’ve never been a huge fan of Winter, but I enjoy the bounty of citrus fruit available this time of year.
The gorgeous citrus that’s now available gets me through the season in more ways than one since it’s filled with the nutrients that help get us through the dark and chill in one piece. Throw in some pomegranate arils, and you get a little dose of antioxidants and a lovely pop of color.
Here’s a simple salad to help celebrate citrus season—it’s easy to make and healthy. I like to serve it with my favorite balsamic vinaigrette, though you can use what you want.
Winter Mandarin Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups spinach and arugula mix
- 2 Mandarin oranges, peeled
- 1 avocado, sliced
- A handful of fresh mint leaves
- Arils from ¼ pomegranate
Gently toss all ingredients together. Serve with the basic vinaigrette below or dressing of your choice. In case you want to try a good, basic homemade vinaigrette, here’s a favorite.
Basic Balsamic Vinaigrette
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp honey
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
Place all ingredients in a glass jar, shake, and serve. That’s it! Perfect on any salad!
