Recently, my husband and I grew tired of traditional salads. They were a quick fix, but the same old lettuce-and-bottled-dressing became boring. The dilemma, however, caused yet another dilemma: finding different and easy sides to pair with our dinner entrees.
Now that spring has rolled back around, I’m back in the mood for a light side of salad. But I’m changing it up by making my own dressing and adding yummy ingredients to the salad itself. I love fruit on a salad, so this Strawberry and Goat Cheese Salad with Toasted Almonds is a winner in my book. The sweetness of the berries pairs well with the tartness of the goat cheese. And the almonds add the perfect crunch. I top it with a homemade creamy avocado dressing, which adds to the healthy factor of the dish thanks to avocados and Greek yogurt. Delicious!
Strawberry and Goat Cheese Salad with Toasted Almonds and Creamy Avocado Dressing
Serves 4 as a side
For the salad:
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ½ cup sliced strawberries
- 4 oz. goat cheese
- ½ cup toasted almonds
- For the dressing:
- 2 medium avocados
- 2 tsp. lemon juice
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup extra virgin oil
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. hot sauce
Toss salad ingredients together and set aside.
Scoop out insides of avocados, slightly chopping to help them blend well. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until well combined. Add more lemon juice and olive oil if mixture seems too thick. Top salad with dressing and toss to combine. Transfer remaining dressing to airtight container and refrigerate. Dressing keeps for about a week.
