This salad is full of spinach that provides vitamins A, C, and K. The dressing is made with heart-healthy olive oil and the juice of fresh mandarin oranges, which adds even more vitamin C. Serve it as a starter or as a side with grilled salmon or roasted tofu.

Yield: 4 servings

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

Dressing:

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 ½ tbsp fresh mandarin orange juice
• 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ tsp fine-ground sea salt
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/8 tsp ground ginger

Salad:

• 6 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 3 fresh pearl onions, sliced
• 1/3 cup raw cashews
• 2 mandarin oranges, peeled and segments chopped

Directions

1. Add the garlic to a small dish and stir in the orange juice. Whisk in the olive oil. Add the salt, pepper, and ginger, and whisk for about 30 seconds until all ingredients are combined.
2. Place the spinach in a large serving bowl. Top the spinach with cucumber, onion slices, cashews, and mandarin orange segments. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat before serving.

Lori Rice, M.S., is a nutritional scientist and author with a passion for healthy cooking, exercise physiology, and food photography.