Sweet and Zesty Walnut Orange Salad
Elevate your salad game with this Sweet and Zesty Walnut Orange Salad, a delightful blend of textures and flavors. The caramelized walnuts add a sweet crunch, perfectly complementing the juicy, refreshing mandarin oranges. With creamy avocados, ripe tomatoes, and crisp butter lettuce, each bite is a burst of flavor. Tossed in an Asian-style dressing, this salad is not only quick to make but also a fantastic choice for a light lunch or as a stunning side dish for dinner. Share it at your next gathering and watch it disappear!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
11
Ingredients
Ingredients
vegetable oil cooking spray
as needed (for greasing the cookie sheet)
sugar
6 tablespoons (3 tablespoons for caramelizing with walnuts and 3 tablespoons mixed with cinnamon)
orange juice
3 tablespoons (freshly squeezed or from a can)
walnuts
2 cups (chopped large)
ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon (to mix with sugar)
butter lettuce
2 heads (washed and dried)
mandarin orange segments
16 ounces (from 2 cans)
red onion
1/2 (very thinly sliced)
avocados
2 (chopped)
tomatoes
2 (chopped large)
Asian-style dressing
1 cup (such as miso dressing or ginger dressing)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with vegetable oil cooking spray to prevent sticking.
2
In a 10-inch skillet over medium heat, combine 6 tablespoons of sugar with 3 tablespoons of orange juice. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
3
Once simmering, add the chopped walnuts to the skillet. Stir constantly for about 2 minutes until the sugar has absorbed and the mixture begins to caramelize around the walnuts.
4
In a small bowl, mix the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar with 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Once your walnuts are ready, toss them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until evenly coated.
5
Spread the coated walnuts in a single layer on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 8 minutes, or until the walnuts appear crystallized and toasted. Remove from oven and let them cool.
6
Meanwhile, chop the butter lettuce and place it in a large salad bowl. Add the mandarin orange segments, thinly sliced red onion, chopped avocados, and diced tomatoes.
7
Once the walnuts have cooled, add them to the salad mixture. Drizzle with 1 cup of your favorite Asian-style dressing and gently toss until everything is well combined.
8
Serve immediately, drizzling an additional 2 tablespoons of dressing over each serving as desired.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Sweet and Zesty Walnut Orange Salad?
It is a flavorful salad combining caramelized walnuts, mandarin oranges, creamy avocados, and butter lettuce, all tossed in a zesty Asian-style dressing.
What temperature should I preheat my oven to?
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to toast the walnuts.
How do I prevent the walnuts from sticking to the cookie sheet?
Line a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with vegetable oil cooking spray.
How do I caramelize the walnuts for this salad?
Simmer 6 tablespoons of sugar with 3 tablespoons of orange juice in a skillet, add the walnuts, and stir for 2 minutes until the mixture caramelizes.
What is the cinnamon-sugar mixture used for?
It is used to coat the caramelized walnuts before baking them for extra flavor and crunch.
How long should I bake the walnuts?
Bake the walnuts for approximately 8 minutes until they appear crystallized and toasted.
What type of lettuce is best for this recipe?
The recipe calls for two heads of butter lettuce, washed and dried.
Can I use canned mandarin oranges?
Yes, the recipe specifically recommends using 16 ounces of mandarin orange segments from two cans.
How should the red onion be prepared?
The 1/2 red onion should be very thinly sliced for the salad.
How many avocados are needed?
You will need 2 avocados, chopped into bite-sized pieces.
How should the tomatoes be chopped?
The recipe calls for 2 tomatoes to be chopped into large pieces.
What kind of dressing is recommended?
An Asian-style dressing, such as miso or ginger dressing, is recommended for this salad.
When should I add the caramelized walnuts to the salad?
Add the walnuts only after they have cooled completely from the oven.
How much dressing is used for tossing the salad?
Use 1 cup of Asian-style dressing to initially toss the salad ingredients.
Should I serve this salad immediately?
Yes, it is best served immediately after tossing with the dressing.
Can I add more dressing after serving?
Yes, you can drizzle an additional 2 tablespoons of dressing over each individual serving if desired.
What is the total count of ingredients in this recipe?
There are 11 ingredients total, including the cooking spray and spices.
Is this salad considered a healthy option?
Yes, it is tagged as a healthy and light meal choice.
What is the preparation for the walnuts before caramelizing?
The walnuts should be chopped into large pieces before being added to the skillet.
Can this be served as a main dish?
Yes, it works well as a light lunch main dish or as a side dish for dinner.
How much sugar is needed in total?
You need a total of 6 tablespoons of sugar: 3 for the skillet and 3 to mix with cinnamon.
How much cinnamon is used in the recipe?
The recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
Is the orange juice freshly squeezed?
You can use either freshly squeezed orange juice or juice from a can.
How long do I stir the walnuts in the skillet?
Stir them constantly for about 2 minutes once the sugar mixture is simmering.
What size skillet should I use?
A 10-inch skillet is recommended for caramelizing the walnuts.
What flavor profile does this salad have?
It features a sweet crunch from the walnuts and a zesty, juicy flavor from the citrus and dressing.
Do I need to peel the tomatoes?
No, the recipe instructions specify simply chopping them into large pieces.
How many heads of lettuce are required?
You will need 2 heads of butter lettuce.
Can I bring this salad to a gathering?
Yes, it is described as a fantastic choice for gatherings and a stunning side dish.
What tags are associated with this recipe?
Tags include salad, walnut, orange, quick recipe, healthy, light meal, side dish, asian dressing, avocado, and butter lettuce.