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This Spinach, Mango and Avocado Salad makes a delicious lunch or light dinner and comes together in under 30 minutes.
Did you ever have something wonderful come out of nothing? That's the story of this salad which has, in a very short, time become a favorite here at The Café. We were on the way home from church on Sunday and I was thinking about what to fix for lunch. We were both hungry and I knew it had to be something that would come together quickly.
We're trying to eat a little lighter and leaner these days, with swimsuit weather soon to be arriving. Hmmm, something lean, light and quick. I just couldn't think of anything that would fill the bill. By the time we arrived back home, I still hadn't come up with anything. Looking in the fridge, I spotted a large box of fresh spinach and that got me going. A perfectly ripe mango and an avocado called to me from the fruit bowl. That red onion would add a bit of zip!
It was starting to sound good, but I wanted the salad to be a bit more hearty (we were hungry!). A few slices of applewood bacon caught my eye in the fridge along with a roll of creamy goat cheese. And for the dressing? Perfect! I'd been testing and tweaking a recipe for a really good balsamic vinaigrette and had a jar of the best of my efforts, right there on the top shelf.
Bacon was sizzling on the stovetop while I set about peeling, chopping and dicing. I threw it all together, and within 20 minutes, we were happy as two little pigs in mud. We pretty much inhaled the wonderful salad topped with a scatter of Sweet & Spicy Honey-Sriracha Roasted Pecans w/ Fresh Rosemary. Two Buttermilk Honey 5-Minute Dinner Rolls had been pulled from the freezer and warmed. It was a super yummy lunch, even though it was "something out of nothing". I honestly, had no intention of sharing it with you, but...
"This is AMAZING!", my husband declared as he took the first bite. "The flavors are incredible". You HAVE to write this one down. "Now", he said. "Now?", I asked. "Yup, here's your computer, just jot down what you put in this, you know you probably won't remember it in a day or so since there are at least a zillion other recipes swirling around in your brain!". I often forget the ingredients, or how I put a certain dish together, as I get inspired with new culinary adventures. So I did - and here it is. Hope you like it as much as we did.
P.S. He also told me we HAD to get pictures and blog this one. So we had the same salad again for dinner, shot some photos and enjoyed it just as much the second time!
Oh, and I'm finding the dressing is fabulous drizzled on grilled meat, seafood or poultry, sandwiches, veggies, you name it! It's sweet, mild and yet bursting with flavor!
Spinach, Mango & Avocado Salad
Ingredients
Ingredients for Salad
- 8 cups baby spinach
- 1 medium mango - peeled, cored and diced
- 1 medium ripe avocados - peeled, cored and cut in bite-size pieces
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
- 8 strips applewood bacon, cut crosswise into ½-inch strips, cooked until crisp and drained well
- ½ cup toasted pecans*, even better use these amazing Honey-Siracha Roasted Pecans
- 3-4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled**
- Balsamic Champagne Vinaigrette, see recipe below
Ingredients for Dressing
- 1 tablespoon finely minced shallot
- 1 tablespoon whole grain dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar, I like Trader Joe's Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar, it's delicious and not terribly expensive
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh rosemary
- ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Instruction:
- Divide spinach among four plates. Equally distribute mango, avocado and red onion over spinach. Drizzle with vinaigrette and scatter with goat cheese and pecans.
Patty Price says
Beautiful colorful and delicious salad Chris, don't you love the simple made from what's on hand inspired salads that turn out so delicious!! Glad you shared this one 😉
Kate says
I saw this beautiful salad this morning...I pinned it, printed it and forgot to comment! It will be on our table tonight as I have everything, even a mango that must be eaten! Perfect timing!
Valerie says
Bacon, avocado, goat cheese, mango...what's not to love about this salad? 😀
Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking says
Gorgeous salad, Chris - I would love to dig into a big bowl right now! ...And I don't say that too often about salads!
Angie Schneider says
This looks so tasty, Chris. The Champagne vinaigrette sounds so tempting.
Lenia says
What a delicious and colorful salad!Love it!
Kisses,dear Chris!
Suzie says
The salad itself sounds delicious but, that dressing is calling my name! Here is another one I'm pinning. I think I pin you the most out of everyone I read 🙂
Sandra Lee says
You worked magic once again! Tell Scott I said thanks!
Dining Alone says
This looks so good! I love having a good balsamic vinaigrette in my fridge for salads and marinades. Your husband is a good influence 😉
Ms Lemon of Make Mine Lemon says
This is so beautiful. I had to laugh that Scott said you have to write this down. Family will say to me, "Make that one dish you made when we were here before." I can't remember what the heck I fed them. I am going to have to remember to write it down. Oh, and I love mango. Pinning this one.
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Chis this really looks and sounds wonderful - sometimes husbands know best - ha ha! I hate being that hungry and having to wait and take pictures. You are a trooper! Love the dressing and can't wait to give it a try.
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
I just love light and simple salads like this! It's just beautiful!
Denise Browning@From Brazil To You says
A salad with fresh and great ingredients that makes everyone salivate...A must-have summer dish for sure!!!!
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
Another clever Chris salad. I wish I was so creative when it comes to the healthy stuff!
Esther@thefussfreechef says
Hmmm mango and avocadoes are two of my all time favourite foods, but i have never thought of combining them together in a salad. This one i gotta try. Pronto! 🙂
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
I love EVERYTHING about this salad, especially the bacon (of course) and the mango. I'm all about combining sweet with savory.
Munatycooking says
I adore this type of salads, mixture of sweet, creamy, and sharp flavors. You did a great job with the combination 🙂
Jen Laceda | Tartine and Apron Strings says
Loving this salad right now! I am on a "healthy food streak" right now, and this will fit right in to my regimen. Thanks for sharing, Chris!
Ginny says
Everything so healthy, I could never have made up something like this!!!! I love Trader Joe's...
La Table De Nana says
I visited a Trader Joe's but once..I loved it and it was years ago..and I think that is the very champagne vinegar I had bought..we loved it..has it been around a long time?We got so many neat things there..would love to go again.:-)
Liz Berg says
You know just what I love on my salads, don't you? This looks just divine...I could make a meal out of it 🙂
Sue/the view from great island says
I'm just easing myself into salad season, this looks great, especially those pecans!
Gloria Baker says
Look delicious Chris!
Kim G. says
what a beautiful and colorful salad! It really looks fantastc Chris!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Mouth-watering flavors in this salad, no wonder you both inhaled it! 🙂