Mandarin Sesame Crunch Salad (Printable)

Crisp vegetables, sweet mandarin oranges, and toasted sesame crunch tossed in 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, thinly 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 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 for vegan version)
15 - 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
16 - 1 garlic clove, minced
17 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the 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 greens, shredded red cabbage, shredded carrots, thinly sliced red bell pepper, 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 salad just before serving and toss to coat all the ingredients evenly. Sprinkle the cooled sesame crunch mixture over the top and serve immediately to maintain maximum crunch and freshness.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sesame crunch topping is dangerously addictive and you will want to put it on everything from soups to ice cream.
  • It comes together in thirty minutes flat with zero cooking skills required beyond stirring something in a pan.
  • The sweet mandarin oranges against the tangy ginger dressing create a flavor balance that makes people think you spent hours planning it.
02 -
  • Keep the dressing and the sesame crunch separate from the greens until the very last minute or you will end up with a wilted soggy mess that breaks your heart.
  • The sesame crunch will lose its texture after about two hours on the salad so only dress what you plan to eat right away.
  • Pressing the mandarin oranges gently between paper towels before adding them prevents a watery pool at the bottom of your bowl.
03 -
  • Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan for thirty seconds before adding the butter and noodles to bring out a deeper nuttier flavor that makes people ask what your secret is.
  • Grate the ginger directly into the dressing bowl so you capture every drop of juice instead of losing it on a cutting board.

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