Healthy Recipe: Strawberry & Cherry Tomato Salad with Avocado

We don’t always think of tomatoes as a fruit, but this salad, lightly adapted from loveandlemons.com, is a dazzling and delicious way to remind us of their sweeter side. Here they’re paired with strawberries and dressed simply in tangy balsamic vinegar that’s been reduced to a syrupy consistency, along with a drizzle of good olive oil, sea salt, and a grinding of black pepper.

Fortify this combo with creamy mozzarella, avocado, toasted nuts, and a shower of fresh herbs and it becomes a nutrient-packed, protein-rich light meal that needs only a hunk of bread for accompaniment. Or toss it together if you need a contribution to a summer potluck that won’t require heating up your kitchen. It’s sure to be a hit. Serves 4 – Susan Puckett

·         ¼ cup balsamic vinegar

·         1 cup sliced strawberries

·         1 cup mozzarella pearls (or diced fresh mozzarella)

·         1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

·         1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced or thinly sliced

·         1/3 cup torn basil and/or mint leaves

·         1/3 cup toasted, coarsely chopped pecans

·         2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more, as needed

·         Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

·         A few handfuls of tender lettuces (optional)

1.      Pour the vinegar into a small saucepan and bring it to a high simmer over medium heat. Stir, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the vinegar has thickened and reduced by half (about 2 tablespoons), 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool.

2.      Place the strawberries, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, avocado, pecans, and basil in a shallow bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and gently toss. For a dressier presentation, line a platter with lettuce leaves and arrange the strawberry-tomato mixture on top.

3.      Drizzle the salad with the reduced balsamic and a little more olive oil, if desired.

Susan Puckett is an Atlanta-based food writer and cookbook author.