Spicy Mandarin Spinach Salad

German mustard, mandarin oranges, and Chinese five-spice powder may make this seem an exotic recipe, but you'll find it a familiar spinach and fruit salad with sweet and spicy pecans.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 20 mins
• Calories: 373 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 3 cups fresh spinach leaves
• 1 cup mandarin oranges, drained with liquid reserved
• 1 tablespoon Dusseldorf-style German mustard
• 0.5 cup pecan halves
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 0.5 teaspoon white sugar
• 0.125 teaspoon ground cloves
• 0.125 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Combine reserved liquid from mandarin oranges, canola oil, olive oil, mustard, cloves, and Chinese five-spice powder in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; seal jar and shake vigorously until the dressing emulsifies.

Step 2

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir pecans and sugar into the butter; let simmer until hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Season the pecans with rosemary and cayenne pepper; continue cooking another 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and drain pecans on a plate lined with paper towels.

Step 3

Toss spinach leaves and green onion together in a large mixing bowl; top with mandarin oranges and pecans. Drizzle dressing over the salad to serve.