Mandarin Sesame Crunch Salad (Printable)
Crisp veggies, sweet mandarin oranges, and crunchy sesame topping with tangy Asian dressing.
# 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/oil for vegan version)
10 - 1 tablespoon granulated 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
# How To Make:
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 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant. 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.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey or maple syrup, freshly grated ginger, and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
04 - Just before serving, drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle the cooled sesame crunch mixture over the top and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sesame crunch topping is genuinely addictive and you will want to put it on everything once you taste it.
- It comes together in thirty minutes flat with zero cooking stress.
- The contrast of sweet mandarins, tangy dressing, and crunchy textures keeps every bite interesting.
02 -
- Wait to add the sesame crunch until the very last second or it will lose its signature snap and turn soggy.
- Toasting the sesame seeds in butter requires constant attention because they go from golden to burnt in seconds.
03 -
- Use a vegetable peeler to shred the carrots into thin ribbons for a more elegant presentation and better texture.
- Massaging the kale if you use it as part of your greens with a drop of sesame oil before assembling makes it tender and flavorful.