Springs Salad with Avocado, Sweet Potato Croutons & Balsamic Glaze

I used to think that salads were just iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and croutons, which you enjoyed as a side dish or only at the start of a meal.However, I eventually learned they could be so much more by adding a diverse range of fresh, chopped veggies, herbs, spices, quinoa, rice, etc. I love to make salads a meal by adding lots of texture, crunch, and healthy ingredients.My Spring Salad with Avocado, Sweet Potato Croutons, and a tangy balsamic glaze is a tasty dish you can enjoy as a salad or meal, adding your favorite protein.

Springs Salad with Avocado, Sweet Potato Croutons & Balsamic Glaze

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Ingredients

  

Sweet Potato Croutons

• 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
• 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• extra virgin olive oil (or spray)

Salad

• 1/2 c. arugula (stems off)
• 2 T. fresh basil, chopped
• 1 Persian cucumber (sliced)
• 1/4 c. Pistachio nuts, shelled
• 1/4 c. candied pecans
• 3 c. butter lettuce
• 1/2 c. goat cheese crumbles (dairy or vegan)
• 1 1/4 c. sweet potato croutons
• 1 avocado (peeled and sliced to top salad)

Avocado Balsamic Dressing

• 1 avocado, peeled and diced
• 1/4 c. balsamic
• 3 T. olive oil*
• 2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice to taste (optional)

Instructions

 

Sweet Potato Croutons

• Preheat oven to 425 Degrees F
• In a large bowl, add sweet potatoes, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper
• Drizzle extra virgin olive oil (spray or oil) over potatoes and mix gently
• Place sweet potatoes on a cookie sheet and bake until crispy

Avocado Balsamic Dressing

• In a bowl, combine 1 avocado, balsamic, olive oil, and lemon juice (optional)
• Mix well with a balloon whisk (or blender) and set aside

Salad

• In a large bowl, add in arugula, basil, cucumbers, Pistachio nuts, pecans, butter lettuce, goat cheese, sweet potato croutons
• Drizzle the avocado balsamic dressing over the salad and mix
• Top salad with avocado slices and more nuts, croutons, and goat cheese

Notes

*Balsamic dressing is usually made with 1 part balsamic vinegar to 3 parts olive oil. However, I like to go light on the olive oil and sometimes include freshly squeezed lemon juice into the mix along with some salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe serves two people. Double it for four people and so on.

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