A bright and colorful salad full of chopped vegetables and fresh herbs tossed in a lemon-avocado vinaigrette.
September is a magical time of year here in Michigan because apples are in season but the farmers markets are still bursting with produce like peppers, zucchini and fresh herbs. This rainbow chopped salad is perfect for using up whatever fresh fruits and vegetables you have on hand.
One fruit I’ve been having trouble getting my hands on? A perfectly ripe, buttery, light green California avocado. For whatever reason, the avos sold in my local grocery stores are never from California which means they are rarely worthy of purchasing.
After making a casual joke on Facebook about the lack of good avocados, my beautiful cousin Sabrina OVERNIGHTED a box from her local farmers market in Berkeley. I was so happy I almost started crying. We are heading to Berkeley in February and I plan to stock up!
One of my favorite tricks for dressing a salad is to use a chopped avocado in lieu of oil. As you toss the salad, the acid (lemon juice in this case) and the kosher salt break down the avocado. As it breaks down, it emulsifies into a rich, buttery and creamy vinaigrette packed with heart-healthy fats.
Thank you for my beautiful avocados, Sabi! I love you.
Your fork is waiting.
Rainbow Chopped Salad with Apples and Avocados
Ingredients
- 1 apple cored and diced
- 2 carrots diced
- 1 yellow pepper seeded and diced
- 3 celery stalks diced
- 1 large zucchini diced
- 1 red onion diced
- 1 avocado cubed
- 1 cup fresh herbs - minced (i.e. basil, parsley, cilantro)
- 1 juice of lemon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a large bowl and toss until combined. As you continue to toss the vegetables, the avocado, salt and lemon juice will emulsify into a creamy and delicious vinaigrette - no oil required.
Very good! For herbs I used cilantro.
One of my favorites!
This looks absolutely delicious. I can’t wait to try it! Question: How do you keep your avocados from spoiling when you “stock up”? I’m fortunate enough to live in CA, but can’t keep an avocado for more than 2-3 days or they turn brown inside. Any tips would be soooo helpful!
Oh umm… I don’t stock up. Good avocados are really hard to find around here. I’m in Michigan and it’s rare that I can find CA avocados. So I don’t have much advice for you other than eat them with wild abandon when you get a good ripe one – haha. :)
Haha! Got it, Liz. I think that those of us in Cali forget how lucky we are – at least I know I do. Will add that to my gratitude list!!
This is absolutely stunning, Liz! How can you not feel amazing eating from this delicious, color-packed plate?! YUM!
Thank you so much Kelly! I hope 2015 is off to a great start for you!!
It’s beautiful! I love all of the colors in this salad!
Thanks so much Angie! Happy New Year!
I.AM.SALIVATING!! Seriously–what a stunning salad! Pinned :)
Aww thank you so much Alexis!! I love color!
This needs to be my lunch this week! So delicious!
-Jamie
Yes it does Jamie!!
This salad is my kind of dinner!
Now that is a salad! I love using seasonal ingredients in salads, especially apples.
Me too Julia!!
Rainbow salads for life!!! Love this, Liz!
Fist pump!!
Liz, this salad is GORGEOUS! And so sad about the avocados! I haven’t had a chance to see my avocado fate here in WA, but I hope I can find one
Or have a really nice relative – lucky girl! Pinned!
I bet you’ll get CA Avos!! You’re so close now!
Such a pretty salad and that avo dressing sounds delicious! We get Cali avocados here in VA so I will be making this.
You’re so lucky!! I hope you enjoy!
I thought it was just us Phoenicians having bad luck with avocados. They’ve been small, hard yet rotted more often than not :( I could eat one ever.single.day. so I’m hoping the issue gets resolved asap so I can make this salad!
Same here Gwen!!
Love that you have apples and avocados in this bright salad!
Thanks Amanda!
You have an super sweet cousin there!!! Beautiful salad!
Isn’t she amazing??
It’s like I can taste the rainbow with this salad. It’s a beauty and I love everything about it.
Aww thank you Meagan!!
What a beautiful salad. I love the combination of apples and avocados I almost added them to my apple salad this week!
Such a good combo!!
Beautiful salad Liz!! And I love how you don’t need oil here.
Thank you so much Brandon!!
Oh my gosh that quote about the avocados = DYING.
hahah isn’t it classic?
I love the avocado quote! And the best part of the salad is how bright and pretty it is – just like a rainbow :)
Aww thank you so much! I love colorful food. Isn’t that avocado quote the best?