Our Mandarin Orange Salad with Farmer Cheese is a bright and flavorful recipe with nutrient-rich ingredients that’s light, yet filling since it’s made with protein-rich Lifeway Farmer Cheese.
Our cultured farmer cheese is an excellent source of protein making it great for salads that are typically less filling and low in protein. It’s also easy to digest, free of added salt and sugar, and is nearly lactose-free for even the most sensitive tummies.
Here, our farmer cheese pairs perfectly with tart, sweet mandarins, earthy greens, nutty sliced almonds, and a homemade dressing that comes together in just minutes. The dressing features our lowfat plain kefir, which adds an incredible creamy texture to the dressing and provides a boost of live probiotics. So if you’re looking for an easy way to pack more produce, probiotics, and protein into your day, look no further than this delicious and refreshing recipe!
Find Lifeway Farmer Cheese at a store near you to give this recipe a try. We’re sure you’ll love it just as much as we do!
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 15 mins Servings: 4Ingredients
Salad:
- 8 cups spring greens or mix of spinach and baby greens (one 16 ounce container)
- 4 mandarins, peeled and segmented
- 2 cups Farmer Cheese
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- optional: 1/4 cup freshly sliced fennel or diced celery
Dressing:
- 2 tbsp. Lowfat Plain Kefir
- 3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp. fresh mandarin or orange juice
- 1 tsp. vinegar of choice
- 1 tsp. raw honey or pure maple syrup
- 1 tbsp. mustard of choice
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
Directions
- Blend the ingredients for the dressing until emulsified. Set aside.
- Add the greens to four separate salad bowls and fennel or celery if using. Drizzle 2-3 tbsp. of the dressing on top of each one.
- Add the mandarin orange segments and sliced almonds evenly over the tops of each salad.
- Top with farmer cheese by adding 1/2 cup per salad. Drizzle more dressing on top if you like, and add salt and pepper, if desired. Serve and enjoy!
