Spring Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

I'm pretty lazy when it comes to salads. I pretty much always buy the pre-washed spring mixes and rarely dress them with little more than a squeeze of lemon juice and some olive oil. It's what I eat for lunch several times a week--with grilled chicken, crispy salmon, steak.

And honestly? If the greens are interesting--peppery arugula and spicy mustard greens are my fave--that simple preparation is enough. But every so often, I do like to mix things up.

This is the kind of easy salad that doesn't require much work, but which looks super pretty on the dining table. It's a great brunch salad or an easy accompaniment for a springtime dinner party.


You start of with a simple base of mixed greens (pick your fave!), then toss in handfuls of fresh blueberries, mandarin orange segments (or any kind of sweet citrus), and crunchy spiced almonds (or...again...any kind of nut).

The dressing is an easy vinaigrette that gets a special touch from a few tablespoons of orange juice. You can use fresh or bottled--both work!

The result is light and bright and beautifully balanced. Perfect with all your springtime mains!

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Loved this recipe? Here are three other Easy Salad Recipes you might like:

• Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pecorino
• Kale Salad with Dates, Hazelnuts & Spicy Lemon Dressing
• Napa Cabbage Salad with Apple Butter Vinaigrette

And let's connect so you can find out the next time I post! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates.

Thanks so much for reading

Mixed Greens Salad with Orange Vinaigrette
Serves 6

Ingredients

For the dressing:
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons red wine or apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons honey
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the salad:
10 ounces mixed greens, prewashed
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup peeled citrus segments (mandarins, oranges, grapefruit, etc.)
3/4 cups spiced or candied nuts (such as almonds or pecans)

Directions
Make the dressing by combining orange juice, vinegar, olive oil, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender. Puree until very smooth.

Place the greens, blueberries, and citrus segments in a large salad bowl. Add dressing to taste and toss until evenly coated. Garnish with the nuts and serve immediately.  (You will have extra dressing.)