Mandarin Orange Vinaigrette

Oranges are a versatile ingredient that can really add something special to salads and dressings.

Mandarin Orange Dressing

To make your mandarin Orange Dressing you will need:

• 1/4 of a cup of red wine vinegar
• A can of mandarin oranges. The juice drained from these can be used for the dressing
• 1/2 a cup of vegetable oil
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
• A tablespoon of honey

First take the can of mandarin oranges and drain the juice from them. This can be retained and added to the dressing if you so desire. Next blend the mandarin oranges, honey, salt, pepper and vinegar in a food processor before gently pouring in the oil until it has blended well. Some of the mandarin juice, retained from the tin, may also be added at this stage. Once this is complete you can either serve immediately or place in your fridge until you are ready to serve.

Orange Vinaigrette Chicken Salad

In addition to being the prime ingredient in dressings, oranges can also be used in salads. One such example is the orange vinaigrette chicken salad. To make this delicious and healthy salad, that can be made in approximately 45 minutes, you will need:

• 1/4 of a cup of olive oil
• A tablespoon of white sugar
• 3/4 of a cup of orange juice
• 1 and a 1/2 lb of chicken breast halves, that have had their bones and skin removed
• 1/2 a cup of white wine vinegar
• 1 and a 1/4 cup of chopped carrots
• 1 and a 1/4 cup of chopped broccoli
• A can of mandarin oranges, that have been drained
• A head of lettuce that has been rinsed, dried and chopped
• A pinch of salt

First take a bowl and mix together the vinegar, salt, sugar, orange juice and olive oil. It is important to retain approximately 1/4 of a cup of this dressing for use in basting the chicken later. Next, after lightly oiling the grate of the grill, place the chicken breasts under a medium heat grill, cooking for between 7-10 minutes on each side. Make sure that during the grilling you base the chicken using the retained dressing from earlier.

After the chicken has been well cooked, set it aside to cool down. When cool you can cut the chicken breasts into strips. Next take a bowl and mix the oranges, broccoli, lettuce and carrots together before topping off with the strips of chicken and dressing.

Pear and Mandarin Orange Salad

Another salad with an orange theme is a pear and mandarin orange salad. This can also be prepared in approximately 45 minutes. To make this salad you will need:

• A pear that has been sliced and had its core removed
• 4 mandarin oranges, that have been peeled and broke into segments
• 1/2 an onion that has been sliced
• 4 cups of mixed greens such as spinach, coriander and lettuce etc.

To make the dressing to go with your pear and mandarin orange salad you will need:

• 1/2 a tablespoon of honey
• 1/2 a cup of pecans, that have been chopped and toasted
• A tablespoon of Dijon mustard
• 1/4 of a cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 of a cup of balsamic vinegar

To make your pear and mandarin orange salad you should first take a large bowl and mix the onion, lettuce, pear and orange. To make the dressing to go with your salad you should use a bowl to mix the honey, olive oil, mustard, vinegar and pecans. When this has been completed, pour the dressing over the salad and either serve immediately or place in the fridge until ready to serve.