Mandarin Sesame Crunch Salad (Printable)
Crisp vegetables, sweet mandarin oranges, and crunchy sesame topping with a tangy Asian dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Base
01 - 6 cups mixed salad greens (romaine, spinach, or 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 plant-based 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 freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Steps:
01 - Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add sesame seeds and chow mein noodles or slivered 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 salad greens, shredded red cabbage, shredded carrots, thinly sliced red bell pepper, drained mandarin orange segments, and sliced green onions. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
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. Adjust sweetness or acidity as desired.
04 - Just before serving, drizzle the dressing over the assembled salad and toss to coat evenly. Sprinkle the cooled sesame crunch topping over the salad. Serve immediately to maintain optimal texture and freshness.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sesame crunch topping is genuinely addictive and you will want to double it every single time.
- It walks the line between fresh and satisfying, making it equally welcome at a weeknight dinner or a backyard gathering.
02 -
- Do not dress the salad until the very last minute or the greens will wilt and the crunch will lose its magic.
- Let the sesame crunch cool completely on the skillet before adding it, because warmth will make it soggy fast.
03 -
- Double the sesame crunch and store the extra in an airtight container for up to three days because it disappears fast.
- Grate the ginger directly into the dressing using a microplane so the juices blend in without any fibrous chunks.