Salmon, Arugula, Goat Cheese and Sunflower Seeds with Avocado Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Ingredients for the Avocado Vinaigrette:
- 1 avocado, peeled and pitted
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ tsp. sea salt, or to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
For the Salad:
- Salmon filets
- 6 – 8 cups arugula
- ½ avocado, cubed
- 1 – 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
- 1 cup radishes, very thinly sliced
- ¼ honey sunflower seeds, or to taste
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
For the Honeyed Sunflower Seeds:
- 1 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 tsp. butter
- 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp. honey
- ½ tsp. sea salt
Instructions
To prepare the avocado dressing:
- Mash the avocado at the bottom of a salad bowl; use 1/2 of the avocado for a lighter consistency or a whole one for a thicker dressing.
- Add the sea salt and taste the dressing; adjust the seasoning and add a dash of freshly ground black pepper; set aside.
To prepare the honeyed sunflower seeds:
- Pre-heat oven to 400˚F.
- Place butter and olive oil in a small cake pan; place in the oven for 1 minute or until butter is melted.
- Add honey and sunflower seeds and stir to coat.
- Place back in the oven for 10 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Remove from oven, sprinkle with sea salt and turn out onto parchment paper or foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
- Allow to cool completely; store in an airtight container; this recipe will make more than is needed for the salad but, these are also great for snacking.
To prepare the salad:
- Grill salmon fillets until cooked to desired temperature; remove from grill; set aside.
- Arrange arugula on 4 serving plates.
- Scatter with avocado, goat cheese, cherry tomatoes and radishes.
- Drizzle with dressing and add a sprinkle of sunflower seeds.
- Place grilled salmon on top and serve.
Notes
There are lots of ways to play with this basic dressing. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Use lemon or lime juice instead of vinegar.
- Whisk in avocado oil, sesame oil, or your favorite salad oil instead of olive oil.
- Add a minced chili, but be sure to start with very little, taste it, and add more if needed.
- Throw in some fresh cut herbs like cilantro, mint, dill, or parsley.
- Add soy sauce or Tamari instead of salt.
- Grate in some fresh ginger or galangal.
- Use one tablespoon of poppy or sesame seeds to add some crunch.
- Add crispy bacon to the salad. The earthy meat pairs really well with this fresh and vibrant dressing.