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Orange Raspberry Spinach Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

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Orange Raspberry Spinach Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing. Please come into my life.right.now. The orange poppy seed dressing is fab not to mention the candied pistachios on top. Yes, that is totally right. I said candied pistachios. Loves all around in this beautiful salad!

orange raspberry spinach salad with orange poppyseed dressing

Mardi Gras is tomorrow and once you take your first bite of this salad you will want to make this for Mardi Gras every year! Fun fact 👉 dump your leftover salad into a mason jar and eat it for lunch on Ash Wednesday because it’s meatless! The crazy part is that you won’t feel like you are missing out on anything on Ash Wednesday. Meat who??

The Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

Okay, now you may be thinking “What, I have to make the dressing?!” but obviously the answer to that is “no, you don’t have to.” However, the less obvious answer to that question is YOU TOTALLY SHOULD because if you haven’t tasted orange poppy seed dressing before then it is time to change that. Yes, you need to join the I Make My Own Orange Poppy Seed Dressing Club because you are awesome and you know it! It’s okay if you take time out to do the Carlton dance from Fresh Prince right now.🕺 I will be here when you get back.

orange poppyseed dressing

Cara cara oranges are the main ingredient in this salad dressing. Cara cara oranges have a darker pink to almost red flesh. They are low in acidity, which gives them a sweeter taste. Cara cara oranges are delicious! So the idea to juice them and create a salad dressing seemed like a great idea. Oh, and it was!! This orange poppy seed dressing is ideal for any dark green salad.



orange poppyseed dressing

The next item on the agenda that needs a little of the spotlight are the candied pistachios. Oh my gosh, just saying candied pistachios makes me want to go eat some right now. The plus..they take 5 minutes to make! ONLY 5 MINUTES! 🙂 I just love everything about this recipe. The recipe for candied pistachios was adapted from Carlsbad Cravings.

orange raspberry spinach salad with orange poppyseed dressing

And now let’s turn our heads to the main event:

Hellooo Mardi Gras Salad

orange raspberry spinach salad with orange poppyseed dressingorange raspberry salad with orange poppyseed vinaigretteorange raspberry spinach salad with orange poppyseed dressing

orange raspberry spinach salad with orange poppyseed dressing

Orange Raspberry Spinach Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

3 Scoops of Sugar
Delicious and healthy orange raspberry spinach salad with candied pistachios and an orange poppy seed dressing!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Salad

Ingredients
  

Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

  • 3 cara cara oranges juiced- will give you almost 3/4 cup of juice
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tablespoon diced shallot
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Candied pistachios

  • 1 cup pistachios
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Salad

  • 4 cups spinach or any dark green lettuce/spring mix you prefer
  • 12 ounces fresh raspberries
  • 5-6 mandarin oranges peeled and pulled apart into sections
  • 1/2 cup candied pistachios more if you feel like it! You could definitely substitute a different kind of nut like almonds or pecans if desired.
  • Toppings-mozzarella cheese sunflower seeds

Instructions
 

Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

  • Place all ingredients except olive oil in food processor and pulse until smooth. Slowly add in olive oil and process until combined. Transfer dressing to bowl and stir in poppy seeds.

Candied Pistachios

  • Combine ingredients in non stick skillet and stir constantly over medium heat. Remove from heat after 4-5 minutes or once nuts are evenly coated.
  • Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and spread pistachios out evenly. Let cool for 5 minutes.

Salad

  • Combine spinach, raspberries, orange slices, and pistachios in a medium-large serving bowl. Toss and mix in salad dressing. Garnish with cheese and/or sunflower seeds.
  • Make ahead- Add spinach to a medium-large serving bowl. Add fresh raspberries, mandarin orange slices, and candied pistachios on top. Store in refrigerator up to 1 day. Add salad dressing just before serving. Optional: top with mozzarella cheese and sunflower seeds

Notes

Add salad dressing just before serving for best results. If not planning to use the entire salad, store unused portion in refrigerator without dressing and add just prior to serving.
*May substitute navel oranges for cara cara oranges.
I did not include the dressing in the nutrition facts label because you will have a lot leftover. Orange poppyseed dressing makes 1 1/4 cups.

 

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Strawberry Salad with Honey Poppyseed Dressing

strawberry salad with honey poppyseed dressing

Strawberry Salad with Honey Poppyseed Dressing

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Hi Friends! Welcome to my food blog! First and foremost, I love summer! I love summer for so many reasons but one of them is because I get to eat all kinds of fresh fruit that is actually affordable. Summer brings out my better eating habits because I have to wear shorts unless I want to sweat all day long. Summer is a time when I get so dang hot that I love light and healthy lunches…like this strawberry salad! 😉 I pride myself on my salads I create in my kitchen because my husband swears you should only survive on meat and potatoes, but one bite of this salad and let’s just say he was hooked! My 3 year old was even eating it!! Now that says something!

strawberry salad with honey poppyseed dressing

Just look at all those colors! A salad like this does not stick around for long, so enjoy it while it lasts. Although, I could eat baby spinach every day, what I love about this salad is everything piled on top of the spinach! Tender and juicy grilled chicken, fresh strawberries and kiwi, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds all drenched in a sweet honey poppyseed dressing! There is no turning back! The combination of sweet and fruity plus the soft feta cheese crumbles just satisfies you! This is one of those salads that people will be eating seconds or thirds.

strawberry salad with honey poppyseed dressing

Now for some tips on great tasting salads:
1. Stock some non-perishable items like dried fruits, nuts, and seeds to add crunch and flavor to your salad. These things make a world of difference in any salad.
2. Find a go-to dressing that takes minutes to prepare. You will be surprised at how easy a homemade dressing is and how wonderful it tastes!
3. Add a source of protein, such as grilled chicken, to make your salad an entree salad and keep you fuller for a longer period of time.
4. Make your salad your own. Be creative and use what you have in your kitchen to make a more colorful salad. It is more fun to eat that way too!

strawberry salad with honey poppyseed dressing

So, if you try this recipe out let me know what you think! I hope you enjoy it!!

Strawberry Salad with Honey Poppyseed Dressing

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 - 1 pound grilled chicken cut into strips
  • 2 cups fresh strawberries sliced
  • 2 kiwis sliced
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1 tablespoon flaxseed
  • 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup feta cheese crumbles

For the dressing:

  • 2/3 cup mayo
  • 1/2 cup coconut milk
  • 6 tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 cup cider vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons poppy seeds

Instructions
 

  • Prepare grill for medium-high heat. Lightly oil chicken with non-stick cooking spray or olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill to an internal temperature of 165 degrees or your desired doneness. While chicken is cooling, make dressing.
  • Add mayo, coconut milk, honey, and cider vinegar to food processor and pulse until combined. I used my 4-cup food processor for this. Pour dressing into a medium size bowl and stir in poppy seeds. Set aside in refrigerator.
  • Assemble salad. Add spinach, strawberries, and kiwi to medium size bowl and top with remaining salad ingredients. Cut grilled chicken into thin strips and add on top.
  • Enjoy your amazing salad!
  • Author: Megan @ 3 Scoops of Sugar

Love,

3 Scoops of Sugar 🙂
Have a super duper day!!

The nutrition facts label above only accounts for the salad without the dressing, just because it can vary so much depending on how much dressing people add to it. The recipe makes about 2 1/2 cups of dressing and I added about a 1/2 cup of dressing to the salad. Per serving, this adds 65 calories and 4 grams of fat.

Strawberry Salad with Honey Poppyseed Dressing