Enjoy a vibrant beet salad with mandarin oranges, a fresh mix of sweet mandarins, earthy beets, crunchy walnuts, and creamy goat cheese. Perfect for a quick lunch or colorful side and ready in 10 minutes!
Recipe Summary
- ✅ Recipe Name: Beet Salad with Mandarin Oranges
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🧑🧒🧒 Serves: 2 people
- 🍽️ Calories: 673 kcal per serving
- 🥣 Ingredients: Cooked beets, mandarin oranges, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, dried cranberries, goat cheese cheese.
- 👏 Why You'll Love It: Healthy dressing, simple & real ingredients, perfect for meal prep.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
I first tried a similar beet salad at Food and Thought in Naples, Florida, and loved it! I could've sworn it had mandarin oranges, though their menu says otherwise 🫤.
I recreated this mandarin oranges beet salad from memory, and my best food critic (my husband 😉) gave it a big thumbs up. You can enjoy it as a main course if you're watching calories (thanks to the walnuts for a boost of protein) or serve it as a colorful side. I hope you love it as much as we do!
If you enjoy this recipe, you might also like my Creamy Sweet Potato Soup with Zucchini. It's warm, healthy, and pairs beautifully with this salad. For a cozy touch, serve it alongside my Easy Balkan Cornmeal Muffins with Feta.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Beet Salad with Mandarin Oranges
- Features simple, real ingredients: cooked beets, juicy mandarin oranges, mixed greens, walnuts, dried cranberries, goat cheese and a basic olive oil & balsamic dressing.
- Ready in ten minutes with minimal prep, yet delivers a blend of textures and flavors, from earthy to sweet to crunchy.
- Versatile: serve it as a low-calorie main for clean eating, or as an elegant side dish for a dinner party.
- Perfect for busy families or meal-prep lovers who want something nutritious without fuss.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Cooked beets: I opt for store-cooked beets (Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods) to save time.
- Mandarin oranges: Peel and chop one large or two smaller mandarins; perfect for brightening the salad.
- Walnuts: Roughly chopped for crunchy texture; use a knife for chunkier pieces or food processor for a finer chop.
- Mixed greens: Use any combination you like: spring mix or baby spinach both work well.
- Goat cheese: Crumble it by hand for a rustic look. If goat cheese isn't your thing, feta is a fine substitute.
- Dried cranberries: Add a chewy, sweet contrast to the beets and walnuts.
- Dressing: Simple and clean: extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. A pinch of salt and pepper is optional since mandarins and beets bring natural sweetness.
How to Make Beet Salad with Mandarin Oranges
- Step 1: Slice cooked beets into rounds or wedges.
- Step 2: Peel mandarins and chop into bite-sized pieces. Roughly chop walnuts.
- Step 3: In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, beet slices, mandarin pieces, chopped walnuts, Crumble goat cheese and dried cranberries. Toss gently.
- Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Drizzle dressing over the salad.
- Step 5: Toss lightly to coat.
- Step 6: Season with salt & pepper if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy your fresh beet salad with mandarin oranges!
Top Tip
Add the dressing right before serving to keep the greens fresh and the colors vibrant. For a simple twist, try my 3-Ingredient Anti-Inflammatory Salad Dressing!
Storage Suggestions
- Store this beet salad with mandarin oranges in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
- For the best texture, keep the dressing separate and drizzle it right before serving. This keeps the greens fresh and crisp.
- If you're meal prepping, layer the ingredients in a jar or container: start with the beets and mandarins at the bottom, then add walnuts, cranberries, and goat cheese, and top with the greens. Add the dressing only when ready to eat. For another make-ahead idea, try my Mason Jar Salad with Chickpeas and Quinoa.
- This salad tastes even better the next day once the flavors blend a little, making it a great make-ahead option for busy weekdays or healthy lunches on the go.
Other Salad Recipes You'll Love
⭐ Love this recipe? Leave a rating and comment below! Find me on YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram or TikTok.
📖 Recipe
Beet Salad with Mandarin Oranges
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 8 oz beets cooked
- 2 mandarins
- 2.5 oz mixed greens half of 5 oz bag
- ½ cup walnuts
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup goat cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Slice cooked beets into rounds or wedges.
- Peel mandarins and chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Roughly chop walnuts.
- In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, beet slices, mandarin pieces, chopped walnuts, crumbled cheese and dried cranberries. Toss gently.
- In a small bowl, whisk olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss lightly to coat.
- Season with salt & pepper if desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your fresh beet salad with mandarin oranges!
Notes
- Nutrition info provided is an estimate and will vary depending on your exact ingredients.
- This salad tastes even better the next day, just give it a gentle toss before serving.
- Want variation? Swap goat cheese for feta, add fresh herbs like mint or basil, or even sprinkle with pumpkin seeds for added crunch.
Comments
No Comments