Mandarin Sesame Crunch Salad (Printable)
Crisp vegetables, sweet mandarin oranges, and a crunchy sesame topping with tangy Asian dressing. Ready in 30 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Salad Base
01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, spinach, arugula)
02 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
03 - 1 cup shredded carrots
04 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup canned mandarin orange segments, drained
06 - 2 green onions, sliced
→ Sesame Crunch Topping
07 - 1 cup crunchy chow mein noodles or slivered almonds
08 - 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
09 - 1 tablespoon butter (or vegan butter for vegan option)
10 - 1 tablespoon sugar
→ Sesame Dressing
11 - 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
12 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
13 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
14 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
15 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
16 - 1 garlic clove, minced
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add sesame seeds and chow mein noodles or almonds, sprinkle with sugar, and toast for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, shredded red cabbage, shredded carrots, sliced red bell pepper, drained mandarin orange segments, and sliced green onions. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey or maple syrup, freshly grated ginger, and minced garlic until well blended. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - Pour the dressing over the assembled salad just before serving and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle the cooled sesame crunch mixture generously over the top and serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sesame crunch topping is genuinely addictive and you will want to put it on everything.
- It comes together in thirty minutes with zero oven time, which is a lifesaver on busy weeknights.
02 -
- Add the dressing at the very last second because the greens wilt fast once they are coated.
- The sesame crunch loses its snap after about an hour so store it separately if you are prepping ahead.
03 -
- Press the mandarin oranges gently between paper towels to remove hidden syrup that can make the dressing overly sweet.
- Toasting the sesame oil in the crunch mixture for just a few extra seconds deepens its flavor dramatically.