Summer Salad Riff
Summer days mean garden-fresh vegetables, whether you harvest them from your backyard garden, find unusual specimens at the local farmer’s market, or buy them from your trusty grocer. Any way you slice it, the beauty of summer is that there is an abundant supply of fruits and vegetables just waiting to be relished.
Plain and simple is fine and dandy, but it’s always fun to throw delicious produce into a salad or a chunky salsa. When the flavors of the vegetables are given some time to marry in a bit of acid and spices, it can never get boring.
All year round, but during this time especially, there are four ingredients that are absolute basics in my kitchen. I always have on hand: avocados, cilantro, jalapenos, and limes. The possibilities are endless with these four items – I can garnish and I can add some zing, whether it’s a soup, a sandwich, or, you got it, a salad.
Avocados, cilantro, jalapenos and limes create the base for some fun summer salad riffs. If that’s all you have, of course, you can whip up a mean guacamole. But if you take a step back and leave it diced and chunky, you can riff endlessly to create delicious sides for your summer grilling.
If you’ve got some left over corn on the cob, slice and save those kernels and thrown them into your salad base, along with some red onions and grape tomatoes.
Or maybe you feel like a crunchy cucumber salad. Dice some up with some red onions or scallions, and toss it into the salad base.
Have some mango? Go for it!
Whatever you choose, it will be wonderful. Serve it on the side, on top of a chicken breast paillard, over pork chops or over fish – it will definitely add a lot of pop and color. And the best part: it makes for a simple but healthy weeknight meal.
Avocado-Corn-Tomato Salad
- 1-2 ripe avocados, diced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced lengthwise
- 1 corn cob, kernels removed
- 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
- handful cilantro, finely chopped
- 1/2 jalapeno, minced
- 1 lime, juiced
- salt & pepper to taste
Toss ingredients and enjoy!
Avocado-Cucumber Salad
- 1-2 ripe avocados, diced
- 1/2 English cucumber, peeled and diced
- 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
- handful cilantro, finely chopped
- 1/2 jalapeno, minced
- 1 lime, juiced
- salt & pepper to taste
Toss ingredients and enjoy!
GORGEOUS! GORGEOUS! GORGEOUS! Love the photos and the composition. So beautiful, Liren. Nice work. :)
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:37 pm
Thank you Donna!! I’m so glad you love it — your thoughts on photos always mean so much!
It looks like I’ve found my side for tonight’s dinner!
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:37 pm
Wonderful! It really is perfect for these summer weeknights!
Beautiful salad. I always have these four ingredients at home, too, but I’ve never put them together this way–my husband would really like this.
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:38 pm
Thank you, Jean! Hope you make the salad(s) soon – they’re so refreshing.
We really seem to think alike when it comes to food. I did corn salad with your chicken marinade and it was amazing. All about the corn though, wish I could take credit. Yum.
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:39 pm
Angela, great minds think alike! I’m so glad you enjoyed the POM marinade — and it’s true — the corn right now is so delicious, they are the star of the salad.
Fabulous summer salad!
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:39 pm
Thanks Maria!!
Love your new digs! Both salad looks delicious and fresh, the one with corn looks especially tasty. I sometimes do a similar corn salad during summer with leftover grilled corn, a bit of bell pepper and always avocado =).
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
Thank you- glad you like the newish site! Ah, love the bell pepper — I’ll be adding that next time I make this salad.
Lovely! Looks so fresh.
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
Thank you!! It’s definitely fresh and light!
Nice post for your new digs! I have all three in my frig right now and will be adding them to a grilled chicken breast!
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:40 pm
Thanks Liz :) That sounds so good!
That looks really good. I have a bbq this weekend and I may use one of these.
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:41 pm
I hope you do! Let me know how you like it!
I really love the number of times you used the word ‘riff’ in this post. :) And I agree: I always have avocado, jalepenos, and of course, cilantro. Now the limes.. that is an inspired idea!
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:44 pm
Oh dear, did I use it too many times? I thought I counted three, including the title! :)
Gorgeous photos – the salad pops off the screen. Just wish I could have that right now. Thanks for the great idea!
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:44 pm
Thank you Lisa! The colors really pop, don’t they??
Love avocados in any form and dish! I have three sitting in my fridge right now and can’t wait to try this!
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:44 pm
I agree! I love avocados and eat them nearly every day!
I adore avocados and I actually have everything for the salads right now! Fantastic presentation – everything looks so vibrant and beautiful!
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:45 pm
Hi Denise – these bright summery colors are just so happy, aren’t they? I love summer!
That looks so good and summery!
Shamrocks and Shenanigans
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:46 pm
Thank you :) It tastes good and summery too, if I say so myself :)
I’m with you…we always have limes, cilantro, jalapenos and avocados in our kitchen. Congrats on a beautiful Foodbuzz Top 9 post!
Liren replied: — June 3rd, 2010 @ 11:47 pm
Thank you Kelsey. Yes, those items are always on my shopping list. I’m so excited that this made Top 9!
I think this is the first time I’m visiting your blog and I must say what an amazing blog you’ve got! I love your pictures and the simplicity in your recipes. Great work!
Beautiful, beautiful new site Liren! And lovely recipes and photos to boot – all ingredients I keep on hand during the season as well; so many choices, so little time! How’s that new grill doing?
Wow, gorgeous photos and love healthy, refreshing salads like this! I’ve made tomato, corn, black bean or green bean salads but have two avocados sitting on my counter waiting to be used. Thanks and Congrats on being in the Top 9.
I love these kinds of salads, they are refreshing and love to use them as side dishes to caribbean entrée. Your pictures are lovely
These avocado salads look terrific. Too bad I have trouble keeping avocado in the house! Looks like I will have to try harder so I can try out one of these recipes.
Those are great basic ingredients to always have on hand during the summer months. So versatile. Fresh, flavorful and welcoming salads. Congrats on the Top 9 today!
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