California Grape and Avocado Salad

November 18, 2013 · Last Updated on April 25, 2019 By Anjali Shah on· Last Updated on

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Salads are one of my favorite side dishes to add to my holiday table. They help bring an element of lightness among all of the delicious desserts and comfort-food-dishes, and with the right combination of ingredients – they can be super tasty and filling too!

Chopped salads are awesome, because all of the ingredients end up being roughly the same size and you can throw just about anything in there and it will taste great. This particular salad has creamy avocado, crunchy pumpkin seeds, spicy jalapeño, and instead of tomatoes – we’re changing it up and adding in grapes!

Grapes are in season in the winter (California Grapes are available through January) so they are a much more seasonal ingredient to add to this dish (vs. tomatoes – which are best in the summer). I love the unexpected punch of sweetness they add to this dish!

Today’s recipe comes from my friend, registered dietitian, and weight loss expert, Heather K. Jones.

The Ingredients

Dressing

1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 teaspoons honey

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Salad

3 cups red seedless California grapes, halved

2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon minced jalapeño pepper

2 green onions, sliced

1 ripe avocado, cubed

1/4 cup roasted, salted pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup crumbled Cotija cheese (optional)

The Directions

There are only two steps!

Step 1: To prepare the dressing: Whisk together the oil, lime juice, honey, and salt in a large bowl.

Step 2: To prepare the salad: Stir the grapes, cilantro, jalapeño, and green onions into the dressing. Add the avocado and stir again lightly. Sprinkle the top with the pumpkin seeds and cheese, if desired.

This recipe makes 6 huge servings, but each serving has less than 130 calories!

That’s not surprising considering that 3/4 cup of grapes has only 90 calories, no fat and no cholesterol; contains potassium and vitamin K, and has beneficial antioxidants that may contribute to a healthy heart.

Now that’s a salad I can get behind.

Print Recipe 0 from 0 votes California Grape and Avocado Salad This particular salad has creamy avocado, crunchy pumpkin seeds, spicy jalapeño, and instead of tomatoes – we’re changing it up and adding in grapes! Prep Time 20 mins Total Time 20 mins Servings: 6 servings Calories: 127 kcal Ingredients Dressing: 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 teaspoons honey

1/4 teaspoon sea salt Salad: 3 cups red seedless California grapes halved

2 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon minced jalapeño pepper

2 green onions sliced

1 ripe avocado cubed

1/4 cup roasted salted pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup crumbled Cotija cheese optional Instructions To prepare the dressing: Whisk together the oil, lime juice, honey, and salt in a large bowl. To prepare the salad: Stir the grapes, cilantro, jalapeño, and green onions into the dressing. Add the avocado and stir again lightly. Sprinkle the top with the pumpkin seeds and cheese, if desired. Notes Recipe from Heather K. Jones Nutrition Calories: 127 kcal | Carbohydrates: 14 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 8 g | Sodium: 153 mg | Fiber: 1 g

Anjali Shah