Spinach and Avocado Salad with a Basil Vinaigrette
PUBLISHED ON: 05.16.2010
Summer is almost here! This salad is a wonderful way to say goodbye to Spring. I have been serving up this salad for several years, and use it often when entertaining guests.
We rarely serve salads in bowls. Instead, we serve up our salads on large family style platters, where everyone helps themselves, and encourages the communal style dining experience.
Spinach and Avocado Salad with a Basil Vinaigrette
Serves 12
Ingredients:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2-6 ounce packages baby spinach leaves
1 red onion, peeled and halved, then thinly sliced
1-cup walnuts, toasted, coarsely chopped
3 avocados, peeled, pitted and sliced
Directions:
Whisk oil, vinegar, dried basil, garlic and sugar in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Whisk in fresh basil, season dressing with salt and pepper.
Mix spinach, red onion and walnuts in a large bowl. Add avocados and dressing. Toss gently to coat. Transfer to a large serving platter.
Enjoy!
Joanne
What a fantastic salad, for summer or any other time of year! Love the overabundance of avocadoes!
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types
Beautiful! I love the thought of a platter filled with lush Spring greens to celebrate the season.
Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen
What a beautiful salad. I especially love how it looks on the platter. The addition of the walnuts sounds so good and adds a bit of crunch to the avocado.Sam
pam
Gorgeous salad. I always grab avocadoes when they are on sale, and then wonder what to do with them!
Julie
Velva: This salad is so beautiful!! I love the idea of spinach and avocado together!
Ana Powell
Beautiful and delicious ♥
Angie's Recipes
The avocado salad looks so spring and healthy!
tinyskillet
What a beautiful presentation on a platter like that. I love all the fresh ingredients in a salad. I'll try this one!
My Little Space
What a wonderful combo! Oh wow, summer is just at the corner. Time really flies, wasn't it? Hope you have a wonderful day!Cheers, Kristy
Trish
Velva, this looks gorgeous!
Christo Gonzales
this huge platter so green and lush and inviting is a vision to behold – it seems unreal in its richness…
Bo
Very refreshing looking salad! I make a similar version, but with no spinach and oranges.
Jen_from_NJ
What a lovely platter of salad! I love the spinach and avocado combination. Perfect!
buffalodick
You fix it, I'll eat it! Looks darn good!
musik_okie
I've got fresh spinach from the garden, I've got ripe avocados in the fridge, guess what I'm having for dinner tonight? Looks great!
Unknown
that looks wonderful Velva….I love salads like that.
Lori
I just thought about that this weekend. I can't believe summer is so close. This salad looks delicious, beautiful too with all that green.
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy
Excellent summer salad! I love red wine vinegar and avocado, thanks!
Rosaria Williams
Ah, avocadoes! Wish I could grow them. Here they are very expensive. Your salad made me hungry!
Jayanthy Kumaran
Wow…so healthy n nutritious dish…Loved your cute presentation. Awesome click too.YOu are most welcome to my space.
Catherine
I love avocado salad! This looks beautiful and delicious Velva! Wonderful job!Cheers~
Faith
All the flavors and textures in this salad are wonderful! It looks really beautiful too.
Claudia
Gorgeous salad. We are in the midst of spring and fresh spinach is everywhere. This is a must do.(I do communal salads also).
Stella
To me, Velva, this kind of dish is real food. It is the best food in my book. Every meal should have a fresh, crisp salad. Well, in a perfect world every meal would have one…
Betsy Banks Adams
Hi Velva… Thanks for stopping by… I always enjoy reading your blog. The Spinach and Avocado Salad with Basil Vinaigrette sounds wonderful. I love salads like this especially in Summer. I also loved the Fettuccine with Peas, Asparagus and Pancetta… YUM.Thanks for sharing..Hugs,Betsy
Rebecca
LOVE avocados! Looks like a perfect salad for summer!
Jessica
What a lovely and refreshing salad. That basil vinaigrette sounds amazing. I'm so ready for summer and salads and lighter fare and this looks like a perfect recipe.
tasteofbeirut
I might want the whole platter for myself! Love that salad and the addition of walnuts!
Mags @ the Other Side of 50
What a gorgeous, gorgeous salad. Absolutely beautiful!
Lorraine
This looks great. Awesome summer salad. It will go great with your yummy burgers too!
KennyT
It looks so yummy, I'm gonna try this salad out!
chow and chatter
this salad rocks I will try it for sure
Sharon K. Mayhew
It looks and sounds wonderful. We are growing spinache for the first time….We're so excited to see what fresh spinache tastes like. 🙂
S Lloyd
Perfect salad for summer. I'll give it a try
Carol
We love salad, yours looks excellent!
La Bella Cooks
Perfection! I never tire of avocados and am always trying to use them in my meals. This looks wonderful.
MaryMoh
This looks really healthy and delicious…mmm
Tina
Beautiful! Love avocado..
Mimi
Simple ingredients, delicious results.Mimi
bobbinis-kitchen.com
This salad is verry interesting with the avocados.Thank you for the ideaDo you think a twist of lemon would do the job instead of vinegar?À bientôt !
teresa
absolutely gorgeous salad, perfect and refreshing for hot summer days!
Susan Fields
Look at all those lovely avocados – one of my absolute favorite foods. This salad sounds delicious!
Barbara
Oh I love avacado, Velva! What a marvelous salad this is. What a presentation! I like the touch of sugar in the vinaigrette too.
Chris
Gorgeous salad, I love the avocado and thin sliced red onion! I'll skip the walnuts though;)
Unknown
This is one fabulous salad, Velva. I like the nuts added and the red onion.
Unknown
Please add this to My Meatless Mondays.http://sweetsav.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-meatless-mondays.htmlIt would be a great alternative to meat.
love lives in the kitchen
i love all the ingredients of this salad so i definitely love this salad!thank you for sharing and wish you a sweet day!justyna
We Are Not Martha
Oh hello summer!! I love avocado anything and this looks amazing with the basil vinaigrette!Sues
buffalodick
Good looking plate of food today!
Lea Ann
Beautiful salad Velva. I collect leaf plates/bowls, so you know I noticed that one. 🙂
Kim
Salad looks much prettier served a beautiful serving dish like yours! I love all the components of this salad Velva. It looks absolutely delicious.
3 hungry tummies
That is a beautiful plate of goodness Velva!
From the Kitchen
Velva, I'm on my way to \”Mitford\”. Come join me and bring the asparagus salad please! I now have to stop blogging and fix some lunch. Alas, I have no spinach or asparagus. I'll put them on the grocery list.Best,Bonnie
The Sweetest
Holy crap, that salad is absolutely gorgeous, and so is your blog. Can't wait to come back.
The Rowdy Chowgirl
What a lovely platter of salad! And I like the idea of serving it family-style–my only problem being that it's hard for me to take no more than my share when avacadoes are involved…
Hungry Dog
Lovely! This salad says \”summer,\” all right!
Erica
What a fresh and delicious salad!!! I am a huge avocado fan….!!!
Sarah
This is fabulous! I am lucky to get a coupla avocados! Look at that salad!
Lyndas recipe box
Delicious! Such a mouthwatering photo and a healthy salad.
Sophie Sportende Foodie
Waw, velva!! A stunning salad & avocado plate of fine foods!! I so much love the basil dressing!!
Eliana
There is nothing like a good summer salad. This one ROCKS especially with the basil dressing. YUM!!!
Marguerite
Looks like a wonderful salad! Love spinach and avocados and both are so nutritious, too. And that basil dressing looks fab!
Karen
That's one green salad! Beautiful… I love avocado in salads.
figtree
Velva from now on I will always place my salads on pretty platters and think of you!!!I read chef Es post….now Im craving a martini!!!
~Lavender Dreamer~
I would love that! I'm enjoying catching up on your recipes and seeing what I would like to try! ♥
Unknown
Spinach Health Benefits
Unknown
I love this salad and I made it for my family who loves it! Even my 4 year was munching away at some spinach leaves!!! Incredible! Quick to make and deliciously surprising flavor. Thank you so much for this recipe!