I have a delicious mandarin orange salad recipe for you today, and it's so good that Leo has already asked me to make it again! This recipe is an old one that I used to make a lot, but I had forgotten about it until I was looking for my lemon cheesecake recipe.
When I ran across it in my old recipe book, I knew that I'd be making it soon and sharing it with you guys because it's that good!
Even though this salad would be good anytime of the year, it's especially wonderful right now because spring onions and fresh lettuces are available.
We just happen to have some growing in our raised beds. These are spring onions that we planted about 6 weeks ago.
Here's some lettuce and herbs growing in another raised bed. They are so easy to grow that I encourage all of you to grow your own lettuce, even if you grow it in a pot. If you use transplants, you'll be harvesting lettuce within 2 weeks! Our lettuce is not quite ready since I just got it planted this week, so I snuck a few leaves from Jim and Jean's raised bed since they planted theirs earlier. (Shh! Don't tell!)
I used fresh mandarin oranges in my salad today because these "Cuties" are so readily available right now. But I've also made this salad with canned mandarin oranges.
To make the salad you will need: iceberg lettuce and another variety of lettuce such as romaine or red lettuce, 2-3 sliced green onions, peeled and segmented mandarin oranges, ¼ cup sliced almonds and ½ cup bacon bits.
What makes this salad so refreshing is the homemade dressing and to make it you will need: ¼ cup vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons sugar (I used Splenda), 2 tablespoons white vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 fresh chopped basil leaves, and a few dashes of hot sauce (I used Texas Pete)
Now, I'll go ahead and fess up. I added more bacon than ½ cup! I fried about 10 strips and crumbled it! Perhaps that's why Leo asked for this salad again!
After I fried my bacon, I peeled those "Cuties." They are so good that I had to eat a few while I was making the salad.
To make the dressing, just combine all the ingredients. Don't leave out the hot sauce or the fresh basil because those 2 ingredients make the dressing SING! You know what I mean! Assemble your salad and wait until just before serving to dress it.
What a flavorful combination of ingredients! Besides, do you know anyone who doesn't like bacon?
I think I could eat this salad everyday! Trust me on this one......you'll love it too!
If you'd like a printable copy of this recipe, click HERE.
Mandarin Orange Salad
Ingredients for the dressing:
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoon sugar or Splenda
- 2 tablespoon white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 basil leaves (chopped)
- 3 dashes of hot sauce such as Texas Pete
Ingredients for the salad
- ¼ bunch romaine
- 8 pieces bacon
- 3 green onions
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- 10 fresh mandarin oranges ((I use Cuties) segmented)
- ¼ head lettuce (shredded)
Prepare the dressing by mixing all the ingredients.
Assemble the salad and add the dressing immediately before serving.
I have made this salad using canned mandarin oranges and it's still very good. Just drain the oranges before using. You can also use any variety of lettuces in your salad that you like. And if you're in a real time crunch, you can add jarred Real Bacon Bits.
Jane Burkey
Hi Jane: Your web-site is so enjoyable ~ Thank you for sharing~
The Rhodes dinner rolls are a necessary product in the freezer, always.
The homemade spaghetti sauce is a favorite on my shelves. jb
Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage
You had me at bacon - looks amazing!
Kelly
Stacey
That looks absolutely wonderful! So fresh and yummy for spring and summer.
Janelle
Now that looks delicious! It turned chilly here today, but by next week it will be back to the high 80s, so I think I'll be adding this to our dinner menu for next week! I give it the YUMPTIOUS stamp of approval!
[email protected] Cozy Place Called Home
Jane, I can't wait to make this salad for my family. We enjoy fresh tasting fruit salads but the crispy bacon in your recipe sealed the deal for me. The photo looks like a cookbook shot, very nice!
Shannon
Rattlebridge Farm
One of the prettiest salads I've ever seen. So fresh and colorful, perfect for spring. My husband will love it.
Jean Windham
Jane I am so happy you shared this recipe. It is a favorite that you made for us years ago in Charleston. I plan to go to the market today and get my ingredients to make this salad. The salad not only looks great but it is wonderful... Thanks for sharing. Jean
Wanda
I also have a salad that uses onions and mandarin oranges that we love but yours is different and looks so yummy. I can't wait to make your version. Who doesn't love bacon? Thanks for sharing. I'm visiting from Met Monday. Have a great week! ~Wanda
Valerie
Jane,
This looks delicious, my Grandma made something similar to this and I haven't thought about it in years... it was marvelous. Thanks for posting this, we are definitely going to be making it soon. I also loved the tips on tomatoes, we have one more frost scheduled for this week and then out they come.
Hugs,
Valerie
Cottage Making Mommy
http://www.lovingmyheartandhome.blogspot.com
Savannah Granny
Lordy,Lordy! This looks awesome. I am certainly going to try this. I am pinning it so I will be able to quickly find it. Love that pinning thingie.
xoGinger
Donnamae
It sounds delicious and looks beautiful! Very pretty salad bowl too! Enjoy your weekend! 😉
Mary
Beautiful salad Jane! The dressing sounds delicious and I've never met a salad I didn't like with bacon 🙂 I've never tried to grow lettuce, it's probably to late to try to plant some in a pot this spring since with the warm temperatures but I need to remember for next year!
[email protected] Designs
Jane...such a great refreshing Spring salad...and the fact that you can just pluck some of the ingredients from your garden is just so wonderful...talk about fresh!...I too could eat this everyday!! Have a wonderful weekend you two!!
Melanie
Jane, Have Y'all posted on how to grow lettuce.? I have tried unsuccessfully a few times. Lettuce is something we eat on a daily basis and I would love to know how to grow it.
Barbara F.
Gorgeous salad, Jane, can't wait to get my ingredients together and make it! xo
Suzy @ Worthing Court
This is one of my favorite salads ever, Jane! I didn't have a recipe and thought it was more complicated than it is - so thanks for sharing.
Gail Gambrell
This sounds really good. I will have to try it soon!
Dawn
Jane, now you have me wanting some of your yummy looking salad:) I am so envious of all the things you have growing in your garden. They look so green and beautiful.
Ann
Mmmmm. This looks delish. Love the combo of the sweet oranges and the salty bacon. Definitely pinning this for later. I am dreadfully behind on blog visits so forgive me for not stopping by sooner. I have been helping my daughter at her house on the weekends so I'm scrambling during the week to get things done. Have a good time at the flower and plant show!
Olive
It looks yummy and beautiful Jane. I have spent the morning making curried chicken and lime salad and broccoli salad. I am tired. Happy Friday, Olive
kim
I bet it would be good with some grilled chicken added to it, too. Yum.