Queensland Macadamia and Wattleseed Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-30 · Updated 2026-06-30

A refreshing salad featuring crunchy Queensland macadamias, native wattleseed, mixed greens, and a tangy citrus dressing. This australian-inspired salads (vegetarian) ready in about 15 minutes pairs mixed salad greens, Queensland macadamia nuts, chopped, wattleseed, toasted and ground into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 190 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 5 cups mixed salad greens
• 1/2 cup Queensland macadamia nuts, chopped
• 1 tbsp wattleseed, toasted and ground
• 1 cup orange segments
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp orange juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a small dry skillet over medium heat, toast 1 tbsp wattleseed for 2 minutes until fragrant, then grind finely and set aside.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp orange juice, 1 tsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper to create the citrus vinaigrette.
3. Step 3: In a large salad bowl, combine 5 cups mixed salad greens, 1 cup orange segments, 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, 1/2 cup chopped Queensland macadamia nuts, and the ground wattleseed.
4. Step 4: Drizzle the citrus vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
5. Step 5: Serve immediately as a light, bright accompaniment or starter.