June 17, 2014 Strawberry Avocado Salad

DSC_7813aIn this salad of my own design, strawberries and avocado are combined not once, but twice, in the salad as well as the dressing that tops it. Juicy sweet strawberries are in season locally and are the perfect contrast to smooth creamy avocados. I combined chopped strawberries with avocado oil to make a dressing that compliments the salad perfectly.

Avocado oil has a mild nutty flavor and is high in monounsaturated “good” fats, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. It has a high smoke point (500 F) making it well suited for frying but I haven’t tried that yet.

The  greens, fresh from our garden are in their third planting now. I used Lolla Rosa and Oak leaf lettuces along with some arugula and mâche. French feta is one of my favorites, it’s creamier and milder than other varieties, a mild blue cheese would be interesting as well. I topped my salad with walnuts, almonds or pistachios would be good choices as well.

This salad is a combination of vibrant flavors, colors and textures. Add some roasted chicken and you have a great lunch or light supper.

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Strawberry Avocado Salad

Serves two

Ingredients

  • Salad greens-I used a combination of oak leaf and Lolla Rosa with a little arugula, mâche and cress, enough to fill the plate or bowl of your choice
  • 2c strawberries, hulled and quartered
  • 1 avocado, cut into chunks
  • 1/2c creamy goat cheese, I love French feta
  • 1/2 c coarsely chopped walnuts
  • Strawberry-avocado dressing (recipe follows)
  • Freshly ground pepper

Strawberry Avocado Dressing

Ingredients

  • 1c roughly chopped strawberries
  • 3T lime juice
  • 2T balsamic vinegar
  • 1T(more or less) of agave sweetener or honey
  • 1/2c avocado oil

Directions for Dressing

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Directions for Salad

  1. Place salad ingredients on a plate or toss in a bowl. Add dressing to taste. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

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