Description
Ina Garten’s guacamole salad combines zesty Mexican flavors with fresh ingredients. Creamy avocados mingle with crisp vegetables, creating a delightful side dish that brings Southwest charm to your table.
Ingredients
Scale
Fresh Produce:
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and ½-inch diced
- ½ cup small diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) minced jalapeño peppers, seeded (2 peppers)
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated lime zest
- 2 ripe Hass avocados, seeded, peeled, and ½-inch diced
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic
Protein and Beans:
- 1 (15-ounce/425 grams) can black beans, rinsed and drained
Dressing and Seasonings:
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) freshly squeezed lime juice (2 limes)
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) good olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing vessel, combine diced grape tomatoes, rinsed black beans, finely chopped red onion, minced jalapeño peppers, freshly grated lime zest, and diced yellow bell pepper.
- Create a vibrant dressing by whisking together extra virgin olive oil (30 milliliters), freshly squeezed lime juice, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, minced garlic cloves, and a pinch of cayenne pepper in a separate small bowl.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing over the vegetable mixture, gently tossing to ensure each ingredient is evenly coated and infused with the zesty flavors.
- Just before serving, carefully fold in ripe, cubed avocados to prevent browning and maintain their creamy texture.
- Allow the salad to rest momentarily at ambient temperature, which helps the flavors meld and develop a harmonious taste profile. Perform a final seasoning check, adjusting salt and pepper if needed, then serve immediately.
Notes
- Dicing matters big time for consistent bites and beautiful presentation throughout the entire dish.
- Freshness is key, so add creamy avocado slices right before you’re ready to serve to keep that vibrant green color intact.
- Handle the mixture with care, using light folding motions to preserve delicate ingredient structures and prevent unwanted mushing.
- Chilling the salad for 15-20 minutes before serving allows flavors to meld together beautifully and enhances overall taste profile.
- Experiment with different herb combinations like cilantro or parsley to personalize your salad’s final flavor punch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg