Spinach, Strawberry And Avocado Salad

With a vibrant array of colors, flavors, and textures, this salad is the perfect refreshing dish for a baking hot summer afternoon. The sharpness of the onions brings out the sweetness of the fruit, and the smooth, creamy texture of the avocado adds more substance with a healthy dose of fat. I’ve included a recipe for baking some salmon to go with the salad; add it to the fruit and vegetables for a complete meal, or leave it off to keep the recipe as a snack or side dish.

Needless to say, this salad is as nutritious as it is beautiful. A common rule of thumb for healthy meals is to “eat the rainbow,” and a plate full of green, yellow, red, and purple certainly delivers. Avocado in particular is a micronutrient superstar, and the dark green layer towards the outside of the flesh is especially valuable so try to preserve this while you’re peeling the fruit.

This is the perfect recipe for recovering from a nasty summer cold: between the avocado, the pineapple, and the strawberries it’s full of Vitamin C. Avocado is also rich in B vitamins, minerals, and Vitamin E, and the fat in it helps you absorb the fat-soluble vitamins from the other parts of the salad. Toss in some salmon, and the story gets even better; as well as one of the only food sources of Vitamin D, salmon is rich in Omega-3 fats, B vitamins, and minerals. If you use canned salmon with the bones, it’s also an excellent source of calcium.

This is a wonderful meal to introduce a guest to the idea that fat is good for them, since it’s very high in fat, but almost all of it the kind that everyone recognizes as “good fat.” Dish it up, and let your friends notice how much better they feel when they’re not trying to ban every last molecule of fat from their forks – at worst, it’s a delicious lunch, and at best, you might just plant the seed of a better diet.

Spinach, Strawberry and  Avocado Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh spinach or baby spinach;
• 1 cup cooked fresh salmon, cut into chunks, or canned salmon; (optional)
• 1 cup strawberries, thinly sliced;
• 1 avocado, cut into chunks;
• 1 cup pineapple, thinly sliced;
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced;
• ½ cup fresh pineapple juice;
• ¼ cup white wine vinegar;

Simple lemony salmon ingredients

• 1 salmon filet, pin bones and skin removed;
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced;
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary;
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil;
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste;

Preparation

1. Preheat your oven to 400 F.
2. In a baking dish, place half of the sliced lemon on the baking dish and top with a rosemary sprig. Lay the salmon filet on top of the lemon slices.
3. Season the salmon to taste with sea salt and black pepper; then place the remaining lemon slices and rosemary on top and drizzle with olive oil.
4. Bake until done (about 20 minutes) and let the salmon cool down.
5. In a small bowl, combine the pineapple juice and the white wine vinegar.
6. In a big salad bowl, combine the spinach, the strawberries, avocado, pineapple, red onion, and cooked salmon chunks. Drizzle the pineapple dressing on top and toss gently to coat.