Finding recipes that have a light but sweet taste, alongside a bit of crunch to them, might not be the hardest ones to find, and during the summer, you might be looking for something that is light but is still refreshing enough to raise your mood.
However, you might have made salads in the past that use the usual staples and thought they were a bit uninspired or lacked a diverse flavor profile that would make it a simple recipe that you could really get your teeth into.
Is there a recipe that combines many elements and something that you can throw together quite easily in case you’re at a loss for time?
No fear, as we’ll show you a delicious avocado salad with an even better mango lime dressing that is going to amaze you and any guests who may want a try.
Read on further to raise your salads to the next level.
How To Make Berry Avocado Salad
Ingredients You’ll need
10 ounces of baby spinach
10 ounces of blackberries
¼ of a cup of pine or macadamia nuts
1 Hass avocado that is peeled, pitted, and nicely sliced
Mango vinaigrette
Instructions
Step 1
Prepare your ingredients while preheating the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and arrange your pine or macadamia nuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet so that you can toast these in the oven for around 7 minutes.
Make sure to keep an eye on them, and you’re looking for them to turn a nice golden color.
Step 2
Wash and arrange your spinach, berries, and avocado on serving plates, then drizzle your mango vinaigrette over the top, then top it with your pine or macadamia nuts, and squeeze some lime over the top for extra flavor, or even use as a garnish if you prefer.
And that’s it, you have a lovely avocado salad with a sweet and slightly spicy dressing.
Get More From Your Salad
This is a very simple recipe, and there are many ways you can add a bit more spice or maybe different fruit, but it might be overwhelming to know where to start, and what if you have a vegan diet, only to find out that your dressing has a dash of honey in it?
That’s why below, we have listed some ways that you can make a salad that fits your requirements and might even showcase a bit of your personality in the recipe.
Use Other Fruits To Pair With The Avocado
You can use other fruits, but to make it even tastier, you want a combo that works well with the avocado, as the ripe variety can be sweet, mild, buttery, and even creamy in taste, so fruits like oranges, kiwis, grapes, cranberries, pomegranates, honeydew, or even watermelons can work well in this recipe.
It could depend, though, on the quality of your avocado, as older ones might lose a bit of that sweetness and creamy texture, so bear this in mind when picking out your fruit, and ensure that you don’t go overboard with a particular type of fruit.
Neutral fruits like melons can make it even more refreshing, but regular or blood oranges might hide the mango vinaigrette you top it with, especially if you use some lime in your vinaigrette mixture.
Want To Use A Different Dressing?
We’re a good fan of using different dressings, and there is an opportunity to make your own, but some recipes use raw honey, so you can still make a vinaigrette using chopped mango, some extra virgin olive oil, some white wine vinegar, and some water to dilute it all.
You can use alternatives to honey, such as date syrup or even bee-free honee, which is a branded syrup made from apples, sugar, and lemon juice.
You might not like mango, and you can simply replace this with another fruit, as long as it’s not too neutral in flavor otherwise, you might have to add sweetener to get that zing you want from your dressing.
Raspberry, blueberry, and even gooseberry are good picks you can use for this but ensure you use some water in your dressing so it isn’t too thick and the flavors have a chance to blend together well.
You could even add some red pepper flakes and mineral salt alongside apple cider vinegar if you want to raise the spice profile a little bit, but it’s always best to keep things simple if you’re unsure about what sort of dressing you decide to use.
Try Other Seasonings
You could use the sweet aromas of fresh cilantro that can work wonders with the mango and avocado, and you might be able to get away with some nutmeg, parsley, and even a bit of black pepper to make this recipe even better.
You get a more natural tasting dish if you combine these with organic ingredients, which can make this dish even more uplifting, and if you decide to store some away, it can stay fresher for longer while not affecting the taste all that much.
Ultimately, it’s about which seasoning works best with the avocado and the mango dressing, as there are many suitable inclusions, but you want to avoid adding enough that leaves you with a bitter or spicier taste than you’d like, as the lime can bring some of this on its own.
The Bottom Line
We forgot to mention that your finishing result is going to look fantastic, as you have some choice over how you want to arrange your ingredients, so you can get creative with your layout and have some fun with it.
Your guests are going to appreciate the look and taste, which is what anyone can ask for.
Hi, my name is Kimberly Kidd and I love to cook and eat delicious, nutritious meals featuring natural, organic plants.
Since my sister introduced me to vegan cooking four years ago, I have discovered so many delicious alternatives to the traditional meaty meals I used to eat.
Today I enjoy trying and making my own vegan-friendly alternatives. If my sister can do it, then so can I (and you can, too). It is easier than you may think, promise!
