Arugula Salad with Mandarin Orange and Maple Pepper Pecans

Arugula Salad with Clementines and Maple Pepper Pecans one plate too

4.86 from 7 votes

Arugula Salad with Mandarin Orange and Maple Pepper Pecans

Peppery arugula with crunchy pecans, creamy avocado, and sweet mandarin oranges, all dressed with winning vinaigrette dressing--the ingredients in this salad dance together--for your eyes and taste buds. Serves about 4 people.

Prep Time15

Cook Time6

Total Time21

Course: Salad, Salad Dressings

Cuisine: Gluten-free, Vegan

Keyword: salad, arugula, mandarin oranges, candied pecans, sherry vinaigrette

Servings: servings.

Calories: 374kcal

Author: Letty | @lettyskitchen

Ingredients

Maple pepper pecans:

¾ cup pecans
1 tablespoon maple syrup
¾ teaspoon coconut oil
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
⅛ teaspoon fine sea salt

Sherry Vinaigrette:

3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons maple syrup
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salad:

5 ounces baby arugula or larger arugula leaves, (see note)
2 each fresh mandarin oranges, peeled and separated into segments (see note)
1 each avocado, diced

Instructions

Maple pepper pecans:

Stir the pecans, maple syrup, coconut oil, salt, and pepper together in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Stir continuously until the pecans are golden and the maple syrup has caramelized, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat, but continue to stir so the pecans don’t all clump together. Set aside to cool.

Sherry vinaigrette:

Whisk the vinegar, mustard, garlic, maple syrup, salt, and pepper together. Continue whisking while drizzling in the olive oil.

Salad assembly:

Toss the arugula in a bowl with a few tablespoons of vinaigrette. Mix another tablespoon with the clementine segments so they are shiny, and then mix them with the arugula, adding more vinaigrette if you think it’s needed. Arrange in a bowl or on individual plates. Top with the maple pepper pecans and avocado. Finish with several grinds of black pepper.

Notes

Makes more vinaigrette than you will likely use for this salad.
Midsummer, when mandarin oranges aren’t in season, substitute canned mandarin oranges.
If you have arugula from your garden or farm share box, remove and discard the stems and tear the larger leaves into smaller (1 ½-inch) pieces.

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