Heirloom Tomato Avocado Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

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This Heirloom Tomato Avocado Salad is a creamy half avocado filled (to overflowing) with diced heirloom tomatoes, jalapeño, and cotija tossed with a fresh and fabulous citrus vinaigrette... a beautiful and healthy side to enjoy with a Mexican main dish or simple grilled fish or chicken!

Jump to:

• 👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks - About Avocados
• 🥑 Are Avocados Healthy?
• 📋 Ingredients You'll Need
• 🔪 Instructions
• 💭 Tips
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks - About Avocados

I'm curious... Where do you "come down" on the avocado debate? For years I considered avocados a "splurge" ingredient, laden with fats and calories. In recent years, however, my approach to a healthy diet begins and ends with macronutrients. By the simplest of definitions, macronutrients provide energy, and include protein, carbohydrates, and fat.

There is no diet that is healthier than another, nor one that is more correct than another. It all boils down to those "macros" as we call them. IMHO. I have seen people take fat out of their diets, and languish; I have seen people cut carbs out almost entirely for years at a time, and it's not healthy. I've had friends stay on a high fat diet long enough to put their cardiovascular health at risk. If you have dietary restrictions, by all means, do what your doctor recommends. Otherwise, target those macronutrients and total calories! It really is the best long-term, healthy approach...

We love avocados in guacamole, but this versatile ingredient is showing up in smoothies and frozen desserts, mixed into hummus (I had that at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Asheville last summer), and spread on toast. Lately we've enjoyed ripe avocado spread on a pan-toasted ancient grains tortilla eaten alongside eggs poached in spicy tomato sauce (shakshuka). What's your favorite way to enjoy avocados?

🥑 Are Avocados Healthy?

Yes, the avocado is fat dense, but most of that fat is "good fat." One medium 150 g avocado has 22 g fat (34% of the recommended daily allowance), 13 g carbohydrates (4%), 10 g dietary fiber (40%) and has 240 calories.

So if you're trying to eat a healthy diet, what do you do with that information? This Heirloom Tomato and Avocado Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette provides an excellent example. Rather than have your avocado mashed up with sour cream and tortilla chips (loads of calories and fats), enjoy it with other nutrient-rich foods in a healthy salad. Each serving of this lovely salad contains 245 calories, and 18 grams of fat. Served with grilled tuna, salmon, or chicken breast, and whole grain tortilla, you've got a healthy and delicious meal.

📋 Ingredients You'll Need

Here is a quick look at the ingredients in the recipe – it’s handy to use at the grocery store or as a summary of what you need. Skip to the recipe for quantities.

Citrus vinaigrette

• citrus zest - Remove the zest before squeezing!
• fresh citrus juice - I used blood orange and meyer lemon as they're in season here (as I'm writing the post). Any orange or tangerine should be an easy substitution. You can also use a combination. The agave nectar will probably need to be adjusted for lemon and lime juice. Grapefruit juice is another nice option. Taste and adjust the sweetener (salt and pepper too)! Don't forget to zest the citrus before squeezing.
• white wine or rice vinegar
• olive oil
• agave nectar
• cilantro
• sea salt/fresh ground pepper

Heirloom Tomato Avocado Salad

• firm but ripe avocados
• heirloom tomatoes - I've used both full-sized heirloom tomatoes and tiny heirloom tomatoes. I love a variety of colors. Use the freshest, most flavorful you can find in any combination. You want to cut them pretty small to make the salad easier to eat.
• cotija cheese - Queso fresco or feta are good substitutions.
• jalapeño - Fresno and serrano chiles are great substitutions. You probably know your heat level preference better than I.  😉 Choose accordingly. If you just can't handle heat at all, use red bell pepper or omit the pepper entirely.
• sea salt and fresh ground pepper
• cilantro to garnish

🔪 Instructions

Citrus Vinaigrette

1. Make the vinaigrette - Combine all ingredients in a mason jar (or similar). Shake vigorously. Taste for sweetness and seasoning. Set Aside.

Heirloom Tomato Avocado Salad

1. Prepare the avocados - Using a spoon, carefully remove the avocado halves from their skins.
2. Prepare the filling - Combine tomatoes, cotija, and chile pepper in a medium prep bowl. Toss well. Season lightly (vinaigrette is seasoned to taste already). Pour the vinaigrette over the tomato mixture, and gently fold to combine.
3. Assemble - Spoon the tomato mixture into the avocado halves. Spoon any remaining vinaigrette over top. Garnish with chopped cilantro if desired. Enjoy!

💭 Tips

• This heirloom tomato avocado salad is best prepared right before serving. We all know how unappealing an oxidized avocado can be. If you have half of an avocado leftover, put the half with the pit in a zip bag and store in the refrigerator.
• Any remaining vinaigrette can be stored in the refrigerator for a week or more.
• Try this salad with simple grilled tajín chicken and Mexican cilantro rice or red rice for a spectacular summer dinner!

My approach to food and cooking is one that includes a vast variety of foods, and lots of moderation. Fitness is a priority, so I try to include protein throughout the day. I limit my fats to mostly "good" fats - olive oil, nuts, avocados, etc. My carbohydrates are almost exclusively whole grain and minimally processed like my Spring Vegetable Freekeh Salad. This approach has served me well. I have rarely had to battle my weight.

So, enjoy your avocados, just keep in mind the fat and calories, and adjust in another area. They're high in several B vitamins and vitamin K, and a good source of vitamins E and C, and potassium. Avocados can remain on your list of healthy foods, and you'll definitely enjoy my Heirloom Tomato Avocado Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette (Veracruz Style) if you love them!

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