
If you’re looking for a fun and fresh side dish to add to your rotation, this Irish Flag Salad is sure to deliver. While it’s not a traditional Irish recipe, it pays homage to the tricolor flag of Ireland with fresh green, white, and orange ingredients. But it doesn’t stop with gorgeous presentation, this salad brings together unique flavors for an absolutely delicious final result. It’s the kind of dish that feels right at home at a spring brunch, a St. Patrick’s Day gathering, or the birthday of your favorite Irish lad.


Just like the Irish flag, this dish has three distinct stripes. Start out by adding all of the spinach to a large and shallow bowl to make up the base. The green stripe down the left side of the salad bowl is made up of fragrant basil and crunchy roasted pistachios. Next up, the center stripe brings a creamy contrast with a generous sprinkle of crumbled goat cheese and green apple slices. And on the right, juicy mandarin orange segments bringing natural sweetness and bright citrus flavor.


The homemade dressing brings it all together. A blend of olive oil, orange juice, lime, and just a touch of honey to round it out. Apple cider vinegar gives it a bit of bite, and a pinch of salt keeps you coming back for more. It’s sweet and tangy without overpowering the salad ingredients. Be sure to wait until just before serving to dress it, so the beautiful design can be seen and appreciated before it’s tossed. Whether you’re embracing your Irish roots or simply love a good themed dish, this Irish Flag Salad is sure to be a winner!


Irish Flag Salad
Yield(s): Serves 4-6
10m prep time
Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 16 oz fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1/3 cup fresh basil, chopped
- ¼ cup roasted pistachios, roughly chopped
- 1 green apple, thinly sliced
- 8 oz crumbled goat cheese
- 5 mandarin oranges, peeled and separated
Dressing
- 3 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 ½ tablespoons orange juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
Preparation
- Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl or jar. Mix for 1 minute until well combined.
- Add spinach to a large, shallow salad bowl.
- On the left side of the bowl, add basil and then pistachios in one vertical strip to represent the green of the flag.
- Add apple slices and then goat cheese in a strip through the center for the white portion of the flag.
- On the right side, add orange slices to represent the orange stripe.
- Dress and toss salad right before serving so the flag design can be appreciated!
Recipe adapted from Reluctantentertainer.com











