Description
Summer’s classic tomato avocado and arugula salad melds fresh Mediterranean flavors with crisp ingredients. Delicate greens complement ripe tomatoes and creamy avocado, offering you a refreshing light meal perfect for warm afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 ripe avocados, diced
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved, or 3 large tomatoes, diced
- 4 cups fresh arugula
- 1 large cucumber, diced
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Dressing and Optional Toppings:
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) balsamic vinegar
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup (75 grams) feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
- 1/4 cup (15 grams) fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Dice ripe cherry tomatoes, slice creamy avocados, and roughly chop fresh arugula leaves into a spacious mixing vessel.
- Thinly slice crisp red onion and cucumber, adding them to the vegetable medley along with delicate torn basil leaves.
- Create a vibrant vinaigrette by whisking together zesty lemon juice, rich olive oil, tangy balsamic vinegar, and finely minced garlic.
- Season the dressing with a pinch of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, blending the ingredients until smoothly incorporated.
- Drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over the salad, using gentle folding motions to coat each ingredient without bruising the delicate greens.
- Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese across the top for an additional layer of creamy, salty flavor if desired.
- Allow the salad to rest for 2-3 minutes to let the flavors meld together, then serve chilled or at room temperature for optimal taste and texture.
Notes
- Choose ripe but firm avocados to prevent the salad from becoming mushy and maintain a fresh, vibrant texture.
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients like crisp arugula and sweet cherry tomatoes to enhance the salad’s overall flavor profile.
- For a dairy-free version, replace feta cheese with toasted pine nuts or sunflower seeds to add crunch and protein.
- Prepare the dressing separately and add just before serving to keep the arugula crisp and prevent wilting from excess liquid.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Shaking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg