Easy Holiday Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Cranberries
A colorful holiday spinach salad with mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, feta cheese, and candied pecans, topped with creamy poppy seed dressing. An easy, no-cook side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Ingredients
- 5 oz. baby spinach
- 1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained
- ½ cup dried cranberries, such as Ocean Spray Craisins
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ½ cup candied pecans
- ⅓ –½ cup Briannas Rich Poppy Seed Dressing
Instructions
- Place the baby spinach in a large serving bowl.
- Drain the mandarin oranges well, then scatter them and the dried cranberries over the spinach.
- Sprinkle the crumbled feta and candied pecans evenly over the salad.
- Just before serving, drizzle with poppy seed dressing and gently toss to coat, or serve the dressing on the side. Start with a little dressing and add more as needed.
Notes
- Make ahead: Drain the oranges and measure out the toppings up to a day ahead. You can also assemble the spinach, oranges, cranberries, and feta a few hours before serving. Cover and refrigerate, adding the candied pecans and dressing just before serving.
- Adjust to taste: Ingredient amounts are flexible. Add more or less of your favorite toppings depending on the size of your serving bowl and how much salad you're making.
- Variations: Substitute mixed greens for the spinach, candied walnuts for the pecans, or goat cheese for the feta. Fresh apple or pear slices are also delicious when added just before serving.
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