Thursday, May 8, 2014

Avocado, Feta, and Citrus Salad

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Well it looks like spring is FINALLY here. I don't know about you, but as soon as it gets warm I just want avocados all the time. This year winter seemed to last forever, and I started dreaming up summertime salads while watching the snow fall in late March. This salad is amazingly simple, refreshing, and healthy.  
 
The flavor combination is the perfect balance of acid from the light citrus dressing, creaminess from the avocados, salt from the feta cheese, and crunch from toasted almonds.  

The ingredients for a salad for two are:

1 bag of washed spinach or arugula (or mix it up by adding in some kale)
1 avocado
1 lemon
1 naval or blood orange 
1/4 cup almonds
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
sea salt
cracked black pepper 

On a hot summer day, the last thing I want to do is spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  This recipe will take 5-10 minutes max.  First, peel and slice the orange horizontally into round discs. 
Split the avocado in half and pull out the pit.
Slice the avocado into thin wedges and sprinkle with a little bit of sea salt. Next, take the slivered almonds and toss them into a dry pan over low to medium heat.Watch these closely because they will toast in just a minute.  Take them off the heat when they start to turn brown.  Next, make the citrus vinaigrette.  In a small bowl whisk together 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, the juice from one of the orange slices, the juice from one lemon, a squeeze from a lime wedge, and a pinch of sea salt and cracked black pepper.

Lastly, assemble your salad! I started with a bed of spinach, then topped it with the sliced naval oranges, avocado, a sprinkle of feta cheese, a couple of toasted almonds, and finally a drizzle of the dressing.