Mandarin Orange Pecan Salad

MANDARIN ORANGE-PECAN SALAD

This quick and easy salad has become one of my favorites to serve to guests over the years. It’s colorful, it’s delicious. And while the recipe is based on using canned Mandarin oranges, it works well too with fresh winter citrus from the Rio Grande Valley when that wonderful stuff starts coming in.

2 cups mixed greens/spring mix

1 cup grape tomatoes

1 large cucumber, cubed

1 small red onion, finely chopped

3/4 cup pecan halves or pieces

1 small can mandarin orange wedges, juice reserved

½ cup good-quality prepared poppyseed dressing

In a large bowl, toss the greens with the tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and pecan pieces. Add the mandarin orange wedges. In a separate bowl, whisk the poppyseed dressing with about half that amount of juice from the oranges. Toss the salad with the new dressing and serve. Serves 6.