Citrusy Avocado Salad Recipe

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I was twelve years old when my grandfather married my step-grandmother. I had always been an adventurous eater and loved salads, which both baffled and delighted her. She still loves to tell the story of the first time I had dinner at her house and she served a giant salad comprised of vine ripened tomatoes, romaine, thinly sliced onion and a perfectly ripe and buttery avocado. It was the first time I’d had avocado in a salad and I almost single handedly devoured the entire bowl myself. She LOVED it. After 35 years of teaching fifth grade, she’d never seen a kid plow through a salad like I did.

To this day, I am still a lover of salads. I love trying new combinations, but avocado usually sneaks it’s way in somewhere…it’s always California Avocado when the fruit is in season. In summertime, I go with the classic fresh from the garden tomato/avocado combination. In the autumn, I pair beets and with California Avocados before the season ends — they are so delicious together.

For this salad, I’ve paired citrus and creamy California Avocado to create a satisfying, yet light, salad…along with some crisp, salty bacon for crunch. It has enough substance to stand up as a winter salad, and is great for those days where you might have overdone it the day before and need a nice, light meal.

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Citrusy Avocado Salad Recipe

Serves: 2

Ingredients

  • 6 ounces arugula (this is about the equivalent of a bag of prewashed leaves)
  • 1 ripe California avocado, halved, scooped out of the shell and sliced
  • 2 medium oranges, sectioned (look for blood or valencia varieties for vibrant color)
  • ¼ red or purple onion, sliced very thin
  • 3 slices bacon, cooked till very crispy, then crumbled or chopped
  • Vinaigrette (see make-ahead recipe below)

Instructions

  1. Assemble all salad ingredients in a large bowl.
  2. Dress salad with Vinaigrette and toss ingredients until thoroughly mixed.

Vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Place all of ingredients in a blender and mix at a low speed until combined.

*Large avocados are recommended for this recipe. A large avocado averages about 8 ounces. If using smaller or larger size avocados adjust the quantity accordingly.

Did You Know?

Salads with California Avocados are a great way to enjoy the benefits of in-season eating. Salads also go well with grilling recipes.

Recipe Categories: Salads & Dressings

As with all fruits and vegetables, wash avocados before cutting. Check out our tips for how to choose and use California Avocados

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