Crunchy Walnut Mandarin Salad with Avocado Dressing
The Crunchy Walnut Mandarin Salad is a nutritious mix of greens, mandarin oranges, dates, cherry tomatoes, and walnuts. Topped with a creamy cashew avocado dressing and ready in no time.
This salad is, hands down, one of the most delicious sweet and tangy salads you can eat. With crispy raw spinach, arugula leaves, and crunchy walnuts, every bite is packed with texture.
It’s the perfect blend of sweet and tangy, featuring dates, mandarins, super-sweet black cherry tomatoes, and a zesty avocado dressing with lime and cashews for an extra boost of protein, just like our Lupini Bean and Caper Salad.
I love serving this salad as a side dish with a Spicy Jackfruit and Red Kidney Bean Burger, on its own as a healthy light lunch, or paired with Poor Man’s Eggplant Recipe.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Besides being rainbow on your plate, and you know what they say about eating the rainbow, the creamy, tangy avocado dressing pairs beautifully with the bright fruits and fresh greens. It’s fork-tender.
If you think you’re not a salad person, I’m convinced you’ll be back for more! The balance of sweet and tangy is pure magic, tying the whole salad together.
Ingredient Notes
Avocados
Make sure your avocados are ripe for the best texture and flavor. A ripe avocado should yield slightly to gentle pressure but not feel mushy. The skin may darken, and the stem should pop off easily, revealing the green underneath. To prepare it, cut the avocado in half, twist it to separate the halves, remove the stone, and scoop out the flesh.
Lime Juice
For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed lime juice. Roll the lime on a hard surface before cutting to release more juice.
Olive Oil
Always use extra virgin.
Green Leaves
Use freshly picked basil for the best aroma and flavor. Baby spinach leaves are ideal as they are tender, milder in taste, and blend more smoothly than mature spinach, which can be tougher and slightly bitter. See 10 of The Best and Easiest Ways to Eat Raw Spinach.
Mandarin Oranges
For the sweetest flavor and easy preparation, use fresh, seedless mandarins. Peel and separate the segments or juice them as needed.
Nuts
Use walnuts, preferably pre-soaked, for a softer texture and better digestion.
Dates
Pitted Medjool dates are the best choice for their soft texture, natural sweetness, and caramel-like flavor.
Cashew Nuts
Use raw, pre-soaked cashews for a creamier texture in dressings and sauces. Soaking softens them, making blending easier.
How to Prepare the Crunchy Walnut Mandarin Salad
- Pre-soak the walnuts for 30 minutes to soften them and remove excess skin and debris.
- Layer the fresh arugula and baby spinach leaves in your serving bowl.
- Cut each date into four equal slices lengthwise so that each piece has a hole in the center.
- Add the walnuts and mandarin orange segments.
- Slice the black cherry tomatoes in half and add them to the salad.
- Prepare the Cashew Avocado Lime Dressing (see below).
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
How to Make the Cashew Avocado Lime Dressing
- Combine ripe avocados, freshly squeezed lime juice, pre-soaked cashew nuts, salt, olive oil, and water in a blender.
- Blend until smooth and creamy, adjusting the texture by adding more water as needed.
- Drizzle over the salad and toss to coat the center.
- For best results, serve immediately.
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Preparation Tips and Storage
Make the avocado dressing ahead – Mix it up to four days before and store it in the fridge. Remove it an hour before serving for the best consistency.
Store leftovers properly – Keep the salad in an airtight container in the fridge, but note that the greens will wilt quickly if already dressed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, soaking helps soften them, enhances digestibility, and removes bitterness.
Medjool dates have a naturally rich, caramel-like sweetness that complements the tangy flavors in the salad.
Yes, but store the salad and the dressing individually in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a maximum of two days. Mix it right before serving. Otherwise, it will become mushy and inedible.
Yes. If you don’t have baby spinach, substitute it with mixed-leaf salad. But be aware that this will not be as crispy.
Substitution Ideas for this Vegan Mandarin Salad
- Nuts – Swap walnuts for pecans, almonds, Brazil, or hazelnuts if you prefer a different crunch.
- Mandarin oranges -Try blood oranges and clementines, or even use fresh mango slices.
- Black cherry tomatoes – Replace them with grape tomatoes, heirloom cherry tomatoes, or even pomegranate seeds for a pop of color and sweetness.
- Medjool dates – Use dried figs, golden raisins, or chopped apricots for a similar natural sweetness.
- Avocados – Substitute with silken tofu or soaked sunflower seeds for a creamy, dairy-free dressing alternative.
- Cashew nuts in the dressing – Swap with macadamia nuts, blanched almonds, or sunflower seeds.
- Aquafaba – Replace water with aquafaba for a creamier and fluffy consistency.
What makes Medjool dates so popular?
Many recipes specifically recommend them because they are significantly larger, often two to three times the size of standard pitted dates in the baking aisle.
Medjool dates have a rich, caramel-like sweetness and a soft, juicy texture, making them a standout choice for both sweet and savory dishes.
What are Black Cherry Tomatoes?
When ripe, black cherry tomatoes are tiny, round, dark purple, or almost black. They taste super sweet and a little tangy, kind of like a richer flavor than regular red cherry tomatoes.
They’re smaller than normal cherry tomatoes but have a good flavor, making them great for snacking, tossing in salads, or roasting. The dark color comes from anthocyanins, which also give them that yummy taste!
More Salad Ideas
Lupini Bean and Caper Salad -A protein-packed, tangy salad combining buttery lupini beans with briny capers and fresh herbs.
Roasted Vegetable Salad with Squash, Chickpeas, and Sweet Potato -A hearty, nutrient-rich salad featuring caramelized roasted squash, chickpeas, and sweet potatoes tossed with warming Za’atar, a classic Middle Eastern seasoning.
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Recipe Card and Notes
Crunchy Walnut and Mandarin Salad with Cashew Avocado Lime Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados – Ensure they are soft for a creamy texture.
- Juice of 1 ½ limes – Preferably freshly squeezed. 4 tablespoons approximately
- 1 ½ cups A handful of fresh arugula handful
- 1 ½ cups A handful of baby spinach leaves handful
- 1-2 seedless mandarin oranges – Peeled and segmented.
- ⅓ cup walnuts – Preferably pre-soaked for 30 minutes. 50 grams
- 4 Medjool dates – Pitted and sliced into quarters.
- 10 -15 Black cherry tomatoes – cut in halves
Cashew Avocado Lime Dressing
- 2 ripe avocados – Pitted and ensure they are soft for a creamy texture.
- Juice of 1 ½ limes – Preferably freshly squeezed for optimal flavor. 4 tablespoons
- ⅔ cup raw cashew nuts – Pre-soaked for a creamy dressing. ⅔ of a cup 100 grams
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil – Adds richness and depth.
- 3 tablespoons of cold water and 3-5 tbsp of water – depending on desired texture
Watch me Make it (Video)
Instructions
- Prepare the Crunchy Walnut and Mandarin Salad:
- Pre-soak the walnuts in warm water for 30 minutes to soften them. This helps remove any bitterness and enhances their texture. Once soaked, drain and pat them dry with a kitchen towel.
- Prepare the base of the salad by placing fresh arugula and baby spinach leaves in a large serving bowl. Arrange them evenly for decoration.
- Slice the Medjool dates into quarters lengthwise. Since they have a naturally sticky and caramel-like texture, cutting them this way allows them to distribute well throughout the salad and each piece is seen with a hole hole in the center.
- Peel and segment the mandarins, ensuring there are no seeds. Add them to the salad.
- Slice the black cherry tomatoes in half and toss them into the mix. Their sweetness adds flavor.
- Drizzle the dressing generously over the salad and toss gently with tongs or stir with serving sppons to evenly coat the salad. (see below)
Prepare the Cashew Avocado Lime Dressing
- Prepare the Cashew Avocado Lime Dressing
- Pre-soak the cashews for twenty minutes or longer.
- Blend the cashews, ripe avocados, lime juice, extra virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt in a food processor or blender.
- Add water gradually while blending until you achieve a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more lime juice for tanginess or salt to enhance flavor.
Serving Suggestion
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor. Enjoy as a light meal or a side dish to complement your main course.
Notes & Suggestions
Nutrition Profile
The nutritional information is an estimate, calculated automatically per serving, with all values, including calories, based on one serving.
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