This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our privacy policy.
Once you try this delicious Cranberry-Avocado Salad with Sweet White Balsamic Vinaigrette, you'll find yourself craving it again and again! It's bright, fresh and beyond versatile.
It's perfect for a quick lunch, a fancy brunch, a lovely side salad or a complete meal with chicken, shrimp or pork tenderloin piled on top. You can add goat cheese, blue cheese or any other fun cheese that strikes your fancy. It's wonderful with spinach, Romaine, field greens, Bibb lettuce, arugula ................ did I miss your favorite? Well, it's great with that too! Feel free to change out the nut also - don't have any almonds? Candied Spiced Pecans would be a fabulous switcheroo!
For holidays, you could add a sprinkle of crimson pomegranate seeds or how about a scatter of blood orange or ruby red grapefruit wedges? Slivers of mango are beautiful as well as grape halves or sliced crisp apples or pears. Are you starting to get the picture? It's another Little Black Dress Recipe; totally adaptable, simple or elegant, dress it up or down depending on the occasion. I keep a jar in the fridge so we can have a delicious salad on the spur of the moment with whatever's in season and/or whatever's stashed in my fruit/veggie bins!
The recipe below is for my Cranberry-Avocado Salad with Candied Spiced Almonds and Sweet White Balsamic Vinaigrette (the almonds from yesterday's post) but feel free to have use the dressing for other salads and to adapt the recipe according to your tastes, whims, cravings, pantry and budget!
Want to see more delicious recipes from The Café? Sign up for our EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION. That way you'll never miss a post, or any of our "TIPS, TRICKS and IDEAS" emails, which you won't find here on the blog.
You can join us on FACEBOOK and TWITTER as well as INSTAGRAM - we have lots of fun over there!
We're forever pinning recipes and inspirational ideas on PINTEREST - just click to follow us.
- Ingredients for the dressing:
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons poppy seeds
- 1 ½ tablespoons sesame seeds
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried mustard
- 1 tablespoon minced sweet onion
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup white balsamic vinegar
- ⅓ cup vegetable oii
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Ingredients for the salad:
- 12 ounces baby spinach arugula, field greens
- 1 small bunch cilantro washed and dried, leaves removed whole from stems
- 2 medium avocados peeled and halved
- ¾ cup dried cranberries
- ¾ cup Candied Spiced Almonds
-
For the dressing, combine all ingredients in a pint sized glass jar and shake well to dissolve sugar.
-
For the salad, place greens and cilantro leaves in a large bowl. Add avocado and dried cranberries and about ¼ cup of the dressing and toss gently. Scatter candied almonds over salad and sprinkle lightly with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pass extra dressing at the table.
Kristi Rimkus says
Hi Chris - I saw this recipe pinned and had to stop by to tell you how fantastic it looks. I have to make your vinaigrette. It's perfect for leafy greens!
Katie says
Hi Chris,
I made this salad on Christmas Eve to RAVE REVIEWS!! I followed your recipe to a T, with the only change to add some roasted sweet potatoes (like in the autumn salad). Thank you for such a great recipe here - I love your blog. Happy 2015!
Katie
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much Katie!
Judi Hoefs says
I don't see sugar in the recipe
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Judi, sugar is the first ingredient. 🙂
Marcie FlavortheMoments says
This salad sounds delicious! I love the sound of that dressing as well!
Yelena Pasternak says
Hello, love the salad, any ideas what can be used to substitute your own dressing with one you can buy at the store...anything closed to the taste to yours?
Chris Scheuer says
Hello Yelena! Thanks for stopping by. I'm not familiar with store bought dressings so I wouldn't be a good one to ask. The dressing is super simple though, just throw all the ingredients in a jar and shake, that's it. If you don't have all the seeds, don't worry, it will still be super good!
www.you-made-that.com says
I would say yes to seconds and thirds on this salad, it has everything I love!
Shirlee Smith says
Do you know what the calories are per serving? Also, if I serve it as a side salad, do you have any suggestions for what I might serve as a main course? Thanks, S. Smith
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Shirlee, I don't know the calories, sorry though I think there are sites where you can submit a recipe and get all the nutritional info. I love to serve this with grilled chicken or pork and some oven roasted potatoes. It also goes well with paninis and sandwiches!
Shirlee Smith says
Do you know what the calories are per serving? Also, if I use this as a side salad, do you have any suggestions for what I might make as a main course to go with it?
The Café Sucré Farine says
Thanks Laura, it is quite yummy! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment!
Laura says
I have made this salad/dressing a dozen times...it's the best salad ever!!!! Didn't use cilantro. Put all dressing ingredients except poppy seeds in vitamix (can use regular blender) then stirred poppy seeds in by hand.
The Café Sucré Farine says
Thanks Christy, we love it too and I think your salad sounds fabulous!
Christy says
This salad dressing is so delicious!! It has become my family's favorite. We have made the cranberry avocado salad and it was amazing, but I've also used on a salad with apples, cranberries, blue cheese and sugared pecans. Thanks for the great recipe!
The Café Sucré Farine says
Hi! I think rice vinegar would work just fine and also be very delicious.
Anonymous says
I was wondering if there was a substitute for the balsamic vinegar. I cannot consume any alcohol or wine. If there is an answer to this, it would be very helpful! Beautiful pictures by the way!!
joey says
Thank you ... sounds wonderful! Gonna serve this today with my New Year Tourtière.
The Café Sucré Farine says
Hope you enjoy it!
Claudine says
Trying out this salad for Christmas Eve dinner tonight :). It really looks savory, however my almonds do not look as pretty as yours :). Thanks for the recipe and Merry Christmas!
Kelly Mulcair Registered Nutritionist. Content © 2011 Trinity Nutrition. says
I can see why this salad is such a huge hit Chris... then again, I do refer to you as the salad lady. Nobody makes a salad like The Cafe Sucre Farine! Love the click of the vinaigrette and those almonds... oh my... ;0)
Kelly Mulcair Registered Nutritionist. Content © 2011 Trinity Nutrition. says
I can see why this salad is such a huge hit Chris... then again, I do refer to you as the salad lady. Nobody makes a salad like The Cafe Sucre Farine! Love the click of the vinaigrette and those almonds... oh my... ;0)