Somehow, I kind of forgot about grapes.
Like, I basically spaced off that they existed for about a year. I just kind of forgot about them. They never crossed my mind when planning ingredients for a big salad. They never made it into my shopping bag. I’m pretty sure they never made it into my mouth for nearly a year, save for (ahem) a few glasses of wine.
How did I forget aboutย grapes?!?
Please tell me I’m not the only one who completely spaced off the existence of a delightful food for awhile. (And even if not, you can just pretend so I don’t feel crazy.)
Anyway, big dramatic grape story aside, you can probably guess that this wave of fruit amnesia finally lifted and this story had a happy ending when my eyes landed on a beautiful bunch of red seedless grapes at the store a few weeks ago. And something clicked and I finallyย saw them. And then immediately started craving their sweet, crisp, pop-able, grapey goodness. And then this beautiful salad happened when I came home with — oh — about 5 pounds of grapes. You know, to make up for lost time. With me. And the grapes.
And let me tell you, it was grape-a-licious.
I feel like salad photos are always a bit like Where’s Waldo puzzles for me. I always want to play detective and see if I can spot the red and white hatย ingredients before they’re listed. Can you see them all?
Well, let’s just dive into it. Because they make for a heck of a yummy combination when tossed together to make a salad.
You’ll need:
- arugula (fresh, peppery, and still my all-time favorite salad green)
- grapes galore (I went for multicolor using halved red and green seedless grapes)
- avocado (because I can’t seem to make a salad without it)
- goat cheese (or any soft cheese)
- toasted walnuts (or pecans, or whatever nut sounds good)
- red onion (thinly sliced, and also quite pretty)
- not pictured: white balsamic vinaigrette (made with my favorite white balsamic vinegar, but you could also use traditional vinegar)
If you want to add in some extra protein, I recommend adding in either:
- grilled chicken
- grilled shrimp
- crispy tofu
If you want to make it vegan:
- just nix the goat cheese, and add in a tablespoon or two of nutritional yeast or vegan cheese if you’d like
- or just don’t even worry about adding cheese (the salad stands well on its own without it)
If you want to make it gluten-free:
- hakuna matata — it’s already naturally gluten-free
You’ll need to:
- Add all of your ingredients together in a big bowl, drizzle on your dressing, and toss everything until combined
- (That’s it!)
And then if you want to be like me, be sure to get a grape in every delicious bite to make up for lost time.
Seriously, this salad was wonderfully light and fresh and flavorful and I plan to make it again immediately when I get back from Europe, because it wasย that good.
Viva the grapes!
Grape, Avocado and Arugula Salad
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 -4 servings
Description
This grape, avocado and arugula salad is fresh and light, and it makes for the perfect meal or side salad.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients:
- 6 cups fresh arugula, loosely packed
- 2 cups halved seedless grapes, red or green or a mix
- 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
- 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
- half a small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- balsamic vinaigrette (ingredients below)
White Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (or traditional balsamic vinegar)
- 2 Tablespoons honey or agave nectar, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
Instructions
To Make The Salad:
- Add salad ingredients to a bowl, and drizzle with vinaigrette. Toss to combine. Serve immediately.
To Make The Vinaigrette:
- Whisk all ingredients together for 30 seconds until combined.
Made this for a family gathering today with vegans and gluten free people. I served cheese on the side and added spinach. The bowl was emptied and I received several compliments. Strongly recommend.
How long can I keep the salad dressing in the refrigerator
I literally *just* made this for myself for lunch and I cannot rave enough. No one in my family likes salads so when I find these amazing recipes I have to file them away for โI guess Iโll make this somedayโฆโ Today I was in the mood and this recipe did. not. disappoint! I made a half recipe and ate the whole thing shamelessly by myself. And yes, at least a grape or two in every bite. The flavorsโฆ oh my goodness. That dressing is so simple but SO yummy!!
Ok, raving over ๐ Thank you for this!
This is my favorite salad to make for company. It’s light and the combination of arugula, grapes and avocado is different, refreshing, and beautiful. I omitted the onlons and put the nuts on the side (for those who don’t eat nuts).
Espectacular!!! Fue todo un รฉxito!!
This is a delicious salad! I always get compliments whenever I serve it. My favorite way to serve it is whenever I have leftover flank steak or tri-tip, I thinly slice the meat and serve it cold on top of the salad. The arugula is a perfect complement to the meat! Thanks so much for sharing!
This is one of my favorite salad recipes! Thank you