The health benefits of avocados and apples combine in this summer salad to accompany grilled steaks, hamburgers, fish, or chicken. The salad is also excellent served alone or as a first course. Avocados contain nutrients good for overall health and useful in a heart-healthy diet. Apples are known for their health benefits, and when combined with avocados, make an excellent salad.
Ingredients
The salad is prepared in three steps: Make candied walnuts, prepare the dressing, assemble the salad.
Candied Walnuts
- 1 cup walnuts
- ½ cup of sugar
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon of butter
Dressing
- 2 Tablespoons of Dijon-style mustard
- 4 Tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil (approximately)
- Balsamic or red wine vinegar
- Juice of one lime
- 1 Tablespoon of fresh, chopped cilantro
Salad
- 2 large, ripe avocados (about the size of a pear)
- 1 large apple (Granny Smith recommended)
- 1 tangerine or 1 small can of Mandarin oranges
- Salt
- Pepper
- Juice of one lime
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation in Three Stages
First, prepare the candied walnuts. In a frying pan over medium heat, add the sugar (brown and granulated white sugar), a dash of cinnamon, and a small amount of butter. Pour in the walnuts and start stirring. Keep the heat on medium so the sugar does not burn. As the sugar starts to melt, stir the walnuts to coat them with melted sugar. Once the sugar has all melted, remove the walnuts from the pan and place them into a ceramic bowl or a bowl that will not melt when it contacts the hot sugar. Lightly toss until the walnuts are sufficiently cooled and will not stick together. Set these aside.
Next, prepare the dressing. In a bowl, combine the mustard and lime juice. Whisk briskly while adding the olive oil a little at a time until the dressing starts to emulsify to a light consistency. Splash in a little red wine or balsamic vinegar, and stir in the chopped cilantro. Set aside.
Finally, prepare the avocados and apples. Cut the apples into ½ inch pieces and place them in a salad bowl. Avocados should be ripe but not too soft. Cut the avocados in half, remove the pit, and slice them vertically then horizontally into ½ inch pieces. Use a tablespoon to scoop the avocado pieces into the bowl with the apples. Sprinkle lightly with salt and toss lightly with lime juice. Try not to break apart or mash the avocado. If the salad will be combined later rather than eaten immediately, a fruit protector product (e.g. Fruit-Fresh or Ever-Fresh) can be added at this time.
Serving
When it is time to serve the salad, stir in the dressing until all the avocados and apples are lightly coated. Add the Mandarin oranges and stir again. Top the salad with grated Parmesan cheese and candied walnuts then serve with your favorite grilled meat. Also, serve it alone with good crusty bread. This recipe makes enough for about four servings, depending on size of avocados and apples, as a side dish.
Tom Wolsey - Tom Wolsey, Ed.D., is an educator and author. His articles on literacy have appeared in professional publications such as Action in ...
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