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    Home » Main Dishes » Salads/Dressings

    Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Pancetta

    Published: Sep 27, 2018 · Modified: Jan 22, 2023 by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    Make this refreshing Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Pancetta for the holidays! With red onions, toasted walnuts and a delicious orange vinaigrette.

    Photo of plate of Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Pancetta and bottle or orange vinaigrette

    Meet the number-two salad in my life. It's the understudy to the OG Best Italian Green Salad with Homemade Dressing.

    Which means...if company's coming over for dinner, this spinach salad with mandarin oranges might make an appearance, for a delicious change of pace.

    And it steals the show, every time. You know you have a special salad when guests are exclaiming "Mmmm!" and asking for seconds.

    Photo of ingredients for Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and PancettaMaybe it's the refreshing orange vinaigrette made with freshly squeezed orange juice and zest. Maybe it's the saltiness of the browned pancetta bits complementing the sweetness of the mandarin oranges.

    Maybe it's the crunch of the toasted walnuts and the crispy red onions, both of which bring big flavor. Or maybe it's the subtle sweetness of the white balsamic vinegar (affiliate link), which is our family's secret to fantastic, homemade salad dressing.

    Overhead photo of two plates of Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Pancetta with two forks and green napkin

    I modeled this orange vinaigrette recipe after the lemon vinaigrette I use in my Bay Scallop Salad. Neither includes any added sugar, honey or maple syrup.

    Because, these refreshing citrus vinaigrettes don't need it.

    I don't know about you, but I try to pay attention to how much sugar and sweeteners are in my food. Especially savory dishes.

    There's no need for overkill in our spinach salad dressing, when we have sweetness coming from the mandarin oranges, orange juice and white balsamic vinegar.

    Plate of spinach salad with mandarin oranges and pancetta beside a fork and napkin

    In fact, this is one healthy salad, minus the pancetta! Feel free to leave it out for a vegan option.

    We do that sometimes, and this spinach salad is still delicious. Consider adding it to your holiday menu or even Sunday supper.

    More recipes like this

    • Grilled Romaine with Toasted Walnuts and Parmesan
    • Apple-Mozzarella-Pecan Salad with Maple Vinaigrette
    • 33 Italian Side Dishes (Contorni)
    • Lemon-Infused Olive Oil
    • 50 BEST Spinach Recipes for Dinner

    Enjoy!

    spinach salad topped with mandarin oranges and pancetta on a plate and a bottle of orange vinaigrette

    Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Pancetta

    You'll love this refreshing Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Pancetta! With red onions, toasted walnuts and a delicious orange vinaigrette.
    4.75 from 8 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Go to Collections
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Italian-American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 minutes
    Total Time: 18 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 206kcal
    Author: Mamma C

    Ingredients

    Spinach Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Pancetta

    • ½ cup chopped walnuts
    • 4 ounces choppped pancetta (optional)
    • ⅓ cup chopped red onion
    • 12 ounces mandarin oranges (drained)
    • 10 ounces fresh spinach (buy a container of washed spinach)

    Orange Vinaigrette

    • orange zest (from one large orange)
    • ¼ cup orange juice (freshly squeezed from half a large orange)
    • ¼ cup olive oil (not extra virgin)
    • 4 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
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    Instructions

    • Add the chopped walnuts to a skillet and place over medium-high heat on the stove, stirring occasionally, until fragrant. It should take at least two minutes. Transfer the toasted walnuts to a dish and wipe out the pan.
    • Add the chopped pancetta to the pan and saute over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until browned. It should take around six minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the pancetta to a plate lined with paper towels. Blot the pancetta with a paper towel to absorb the grease.
    • Chop around ¼ of a red onion until you have ⅓ cup of chopped onions.
    • Drain 12 ounces of mandarin oranges and set aside.
    • Place your spinach in a large serving bowl. Add the walnuts, pancetta, red onions and mandarin oranges.
    • For the orange vinaigrette, rinse and dry off a large orange. Zest the orange and set the zest aside. Cut the orange in half.
    • In a liquid measuring cup, squeeze half an orange until you have ¼ cup of orange juice. (Use another orange half if needed.)
    • Add ¼ cup olive oil to the measuring cup. Add the vinegar, zest, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Whisk to combine.
    • Mix the dressing with the spinach in your bowl immediately before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days.

    Notes

    Feel free to omit the pancetta for a vegan option. This spinach salad is still delicious without it!
    This makes 8 side-dish servings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 269mg | Potassium: 353mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3630IU | Vitamin C: 25.7mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 1.3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

    (Recipe Source: Inspired by a Kitchen Boss recipe my son discovered and began making several years ago.)

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Melissa

      October 04, 2018 at 2:48 pm

      I'm loving all these flavors! This would be perfect for a Thanksgiving salad. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        October 04, 2018 at 5:50 pm

        Hi Melissa - We love it for special dinners. Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Marie

      September 28, 2018 at 1:16 am

      5 stars
      What a tasty salad! I love all the different flavours and textures in it. Sounds perfect to have as a light lunch.

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        September 28, 2018 at 8:25 am

        Hi Marie - We usually have this as a side salad, but a big portion with something on the side would work for lunch.

        Reply
    3. Sharon

      September 27, 2018 at 9:54 pm

      5 stars
      Simple and delicious makes this kind of salad. I love the dressing and added pancetta.

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        September 28, 2018 at 8:24 am

        Thanks, Sharon! It's the perfect side salad.

        Reply
    4. Tisha

      September 27, 2018 at 8:31 pm

      5 stars
      Beautiful salad! The dressing sounds fantastic and love the oranges!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        September 28, 2018 at 8:23 am

        Thanks, Tisha! It is really good.

        Reply
    5. Demeter

      September 27, 2018 at 7:07 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a pretty salad! And the orange vinaigrette sounds amazing!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        September 27, 2018 at 8:03 pm

        Hi Demeter - Thank you! We really love this.

        Reply
    6. Krissy Allori

      September 27, 2018 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      I love the idea of putting mandarins in the salad!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        September 27, 2018 at 5:45 pm

        Hi Krissy - They're so refreshing here!

        Reply

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    I'm Andrea, also known as Mamma C. I share family-tested recipes from my Italian-American kitchen. I hope you'll visit often! Read More…

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