Tired of the same old salads? Let’s cool things down and add a refreshing touch to your summer with a unique cucumber avocado salad. This cool and creamy dish is loaded with texture, flavor, and crunch and packs a wallop of zesty flavor that will tantalize your taste buds!
1. A Combination of Cool and Creamy: A Refreshing Summer Salad
Beat the summer heat with this combination of cool and creamy! Our refreshing summer salad is the perfect way to get your daily nutrients while staying cool and energized. Here’s what you need to make the delicious dish:
- 2 cups of crunchy romaine lettuce, chopped
- 2 cups of ripe cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1/4 cup of diced onion
- 1/4 cup of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 cup of black olives, pitted
- 2/3 cup of creamy ranch dressing
- Fresh cracked black pepper and salt
Directions:
Start by rinsing all of the vegetables under cool running water. Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and quarter the tomatoes. Set aside the lettuce and tomatoes in a large bowl. Add the onion, cheese, and olives to the bowl and mix to combine the ingredients.
Shake the ranch dressing before pouring it over the salad. Add salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste. Toss the salad to coat with the dressing, then refrigerate for about 30 minutes for the flavors to meld together before serving.
2. A Perfect Blend of Cucumbers and Avocados
When it comes to culinary creativity, cucumber and avocado make an unlikely yet incredibly delicious combination. Paired together in a salad or wrap, their contrast in flavors and textures meld together to create some truly magical food.
- Cucumber: Cucumbers are one of the most versatile vegetables with a crisp and refreshing flavor, ideal for creating savory salads.
- Avocado: Refreshing and creamy, avocados add creaminess and richness to salads and can also be added to sweet dishes.
A salad made with the perfect blend of these two ingredients will provide you with a mouthwatering combination of flavors and textures in every bite. The cucumber adds crunch and the freshness of the avocado brings out the best in the cucumber.
For an added kick, add some lime juice and a pinch of salt and pepper for seasoning. This will give your salad a spicy, tangy flavor that will tantalize your taste buds. It’s a great way to add some personality to your salads and make ordinary meals seem extraordinary.
3. The Best Dressings to Compliment This Salad
The summer sun invites vibrant flavors and tropical ingredients to the plate. As salads are the perfect party on a plate, adding a few delicious dressings will elevate the experience to a whole new level. Here, we list three dressings that will bring out the best in your next salad dish.
- For something zesty and fragrant, opt for a minty yogurt dressing with a taste of tamarind. The combination is perfect to add a bit of spice to your lettuce leaves. This dressing is also dairy-free, making it suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
- For something light and smooth, try a white balsamic vinaigrette. The combination of balsamic vinegar, honey, and extra-virgin olive oil gives this dressing a delightfully creamy texture. Delicious over both fresh and cooked vegetables.
- For something creamy and flavorful, try a garlic-sesame dressing. This delicious combination of garlic, sesame oil, and soy sauce can be paired with almost any type of salad. The addition of garlic gives the dressing an aromatic flavor that will have everyone asking for seconds.
Each of these dressings are sure to add a layer of exciting flavors to your plate. No matter what combination of greens you’re using, one of the dressings listed above will be sure to bring out its best. So, go ahead and dress up your salads with these tasty dressings!
4. Decorating Your Plate with Colorful Additions
You don’t have to be a professional chef to make your plate look like a work of art! Decorating it with colorful additions can take your meal to the next level. Here are some ideas to help you put together an irresistible presentation:
- Slice up some bright bell peppers, cucumbers or radishes to bring a vibrancy to your plate.
- Steamed artichokes or roasted beets can add a deep hue.
- Edible flowers, such as nasturtiums or calendulas, make a showy baked fish centerpiece.
Salads can be very decorative in of themselves. Softer greens such as romaine lettuce and watercress are unpretentious and versatile. Wilted spinach and bright violet radicchio are all great choices. Make sure to get creative with your toppings, like crunchy jicama, juicy mangoes and sweet persimmon.
Finally, a seasonal fruit platter displayed on a plate can be a perfect way to add color to a dish. Think bright oranges from an orange or clementine, reds from pomegranates or cherries, and purples from plums and blackberries. With a few creative touches, you can make your plate look like a Monet painting!
5. Utilizing Leftovers in a Delicious Way
There is nothing quite as satisfying as being able to make something delicious out of nothing. When it comes to completing the task with leftover ingredients, the possibilities are endless. Here are our top 5 way to utilize leftovers in a delicious way:
- Create Stir Fry: Take your favorite vegetables along with some cooked protein like leftover chicken, pork or tofu & rice and combine it into a stir fry.
- Put An Egg On It: Making homemade breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs, beans and veggies is a great way to use leftover food.
- Make Soup: Adding leftover chicken, vegetables, some spices and broth makes a delicious and hearty soup that can be enjoyed all day.
- Form Savory Pies: Combine cooked meat, vegetables, and some cheese to make a delicious savory pie. Bake it for 30-35 minutes until golden and crusty.
- Create Quesadilla: Leftover chicken, spices, guacamole, and cheese can all be use to create an amazing quesadilla.
These are some of our top favorite ways to turn leftovers into something that is delicious and satisfying. We hope that you can use these ideas as a jumping off point to come up with even more ways to utilize leftovers in fun and creative ways!
6. Simple & Satisfying: A Perfect Summer Salad
With long summer days and nights of outdoor fun come appetites for something simple and satisfying. A crisp and flavorful summer salad is one of the most perfect culinary delights to savor in the outdoor season.
A basic salad blend of spring greens, cucumbers, and tomatoes offers a delicious combination that pleases the palate. With your favorite dressing, the medley is sure to bring a refreshing flavor to any summer meal. But why stop there?
Add some clever ingredients to make this salad special:
- Avocado
- Citrus Juice
- Feta Cheese
- Toasted Nuts
- Fresh Herbs
Mix and match these ingredients to create a salad that’s as unique as your summer table. Don’t forget the cherry on top: a few sprigs of freshly-picked herbs for a truly classic summer dish.
With this simple, satisfying salad, dinner (or lunch or brunch) guests will be sure to rave about the summery flavors gracing the plate. Everyone deserves a taste of the perfect summer salad.
As the summer heats up, a refreshing cucumber avocado salad is the perfect pick-me-up. Whether you are lounging by the pool or having a picnic in the park, this cool and creamy delight is sure to hit the spot. So, what are you waiting for? Grab the creamy goodness of a cucumber avocado salad today and enjoy all the summery goodness this delicious dish has to offer.