Blackberry Salad with Avocados Recipe
A fresh and vibrant Blackberry Salad with creamy avocados, crunchy pecans, tangy goat cheese, and a zesty lemon-Dijon dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a colorful side dish, this salad combines a mix of greens, sweet berries, and savory elements for a balanced and delicious meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (toasting pecans)
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Base
- 4 cups mixed greens (such as arugula, spinach, or radicchio)
- 2 ripe avocados
- 2 cups fresh blackberries
- ½ red onion
- ½ cup pecans
- ½ cup goat cheese
- Fresh herbs for garnish (we used thyme)
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Wash and dry the mixed greens thoroughly. Peel, stone, and slice the avocados. Wash the blackberries and dry them gently. Slice the red onion thinly. Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and slightly golden. Crumble the goat cheese into small pieces for topping.
- Assemble Salad: In a large salad bowl or serving platter, combine the mixed greens, sliced avocado, fresh blackberries, sliced red onion, toasted pecans, and crumbled goat cheese, distributing ingredients evenly.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, and honey or maple syrup until emulsified. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Adjust ingredients as needed for desired balance of acidity and sweetness.
- Toss Salad: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Gently toss the salad to coat all components evenly without bruising the delicate berries or greens.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle fresh thyme leaves over the tossed salad for aromatic flavor. Serve immediately to maintain freshness and texture.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm avocados to maintain good texture.
- Toast pecans carefully to avoid burning and achieve the best flavor.
- For a vegan option, substitute goat cheese with a plant-based cheese alternative and replace honey with maple syrup.
- This salad is best served fresh; avoid making it too far in advance to prevent sogginess.
- Feel free to swap mixed greens with lettuces of your choice for different flavor profiles.
Keywords: blackberry salad, avocado salad, mixed greens salad, goat cheese salad, healthy salad, fresh salad, pecans, lemon dressing
