Citrus Spinach Salad with Mazatlan Lime Dressing

Imagine a fresh spinach salad created with colorful rings of red onion; crunchy water chestnuts and sweet, juicy orange sections balanced with the brisk, tart flavor of lime in the dressing. Franciscan Sister Mary Amy Schreiner’s Citrus Spinach Salad with Mazatlan Lime Salad Dressing reminds me of a little “fiesta in your mouth.”

Sister Mary Amy didn’t like spinach when she was growing up but her taste buds changed over time. When she discovered this inviting recipe in “Cooking á la Heart” she was delighted that the combination was not only healthy but also delicious. It’s the one she shared for the “Franciscan Heritage Recipes” cookbook that her community published in 2000. (I disfrute — Enjoy!) CJK

Citrus Spinach Salad with Mazatlan Lime Dressing

(Franciscan Sister Mary Amy Schreiner)

Mazatlan Lime Salad Dressing

1/4 cup vegetable oil*

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1 tsp. lime zest

2 tbsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. garlic powder (optional)

Combine ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake well. Refrigerate until ready to serve. (Yields 2/3 cup.)

Citrus Spinach Salad

5 cups fresh spinach (remove big veins of large leaves)

1 1/2 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced

2 oranges, peeled and sectioned**

1/2 large red onion, sliced and separated into rings

1/2 (8 oz.) can sliced water chestnuts, drained

1/3 cup Mazatlan Lime Salad Dressing

In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients. Toss with dressing just before serving.

Yield: 6 servings

A note from Sister Mary Amy: *I like to use pure olive oil instead of vegetable oil for the salad dressing but tend to use less than 1/4 cup. **A 15 oz. can of mandarin oranges (drained) may be substituted for the fresh oranges.

A note from Carol: Franciscan Sister Mary Amy (Mary Katherine) Schreiner, 91, is well known as an elementary teacher in the St. Cloud Diocese. She taught for nearly 30 years at schools in Morris, Waite Park, Fergus Falls, Elk River and St. Cloud as well as for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Indiana. 


She moved into parish work and hospital chaplaincy after receiving additional educational degrees and later still, began a ministry with Hispanics in Texas and Arizona. On August 12 she will mark 71 years as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls. 

The “Franciscan Heritage Recipes” cookbook is a collection of favorite family recipes and inspirational quotes from the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minn. They are selling copies of their cookbook for $3, plus shipping and handling, if they are mailed. The books can be purchased through the Franciscan Gift Shop by calling 320-632-0601 or by emailing info@fslf.org. Other recipes from this cookbook that are featured on FFF include Aunt Sally’s Christmas Cookies and Homemade Sauerkraut.