Jan 24, 2009

Avocado Salad

One of my mother's best salad creations to date; this delicious and simple dish features creamy cubes of avocado partnered with bursting vine-ripened tomatoes and diced red onions. Add a splash of extra virgin olive oil and seasoned rice vinegar to create a subtly sweet, smooth tang. Top it off with a dash of course ground peppercorns.

In the summer, I enjoy this salad at least once a week. Its flavors are simple, yet robust, making it compatible with virtually anything! A perfect companion for any grilled chicken, beef, or fish; its clean and crisp flavor providing a refreshing contrast to any meat. For the vegetarians, it combines perfectly with a bowl of brown rice or Quinoa. Personally, I enjoy eating this salad any time of day, especially for breakfast on a sizzling summer morning.


The Perfect Avocado
Using avocados in their "prime" is a must. A perfectly ripe avocado is characterized by its creamy, nutty flavor, with a buttery texture that melts in your mouth like fresh sashimi. Finding that perfectly ripened avocado in the store is not always that easy, depending on the season. You can easily speed up the process of ripening by placing the avocado in a brown paper bag, and hiding it away in a dark cupboard. In contrast, if the avocado starts to ripen too quickly, stick it in the fridge to slow down the process.

A Few Health Benefits
This nutritious salad is packed with numerous health benefits. Avocados are extremely high in potassium; containing more potassium than a medium banana. Tomatoes are famous for containing vast amounts of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects healthy cells by neutralizing free radicals. These round, red friends also contain 40% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C! .


Preparation

Total preparation time is about 10 minutes. Slice avocados in half, then cut in a checkerboard pattern. Simply scoop out squared pieces with a large spoon. Dice tomatoes and red onions. Mix together ingredients with olive oil and seasoned rice vinegar. Add freshly ground peppercorns and your done!

Ingredients

2 avocados

3 large tomatoes

1/2 a red onion

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar

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