Not-Your-Ordinary Fruit Salad

This is not-your-ordinary fruit salad because tomatoes, olives, and avocados are not often thought of as fruits. Technically, they are fruits. Add apples to the ingredient list and that makes four fruits in this salad. This salad is a bit like a party in your mouth because of the great textures and flavors. The creamy texture of the avocados offsets the crunchiness of the apples and carrots. You also can taste bitter and sweet flavors from the lettuce and a nice salty bite from the olives. I recently inherited this recipe from a friend who discovered this combination completely by accident. When my friend put a salad together one night for her and her husband, she used what she had on hand. Her husband liked the combination so much that he asked her to make this for a dinner party a few nights later. My husband and I were at this dinner party. After my first two bites of this salad, I was begging her for the recipe. I hope you try it and like it as much as I do.

Not-Your-Ordinary Fruit Salad 
(makes enough for 1 large family-style salad, 2 large entree salads, 4 side salads, or 6 appetizer salads)
4 cups red leaf lettuce any sweeter lettuce (about 1/2 head)
4 cups escarole or a bitter/strong lettuce (about 1/2 head)
1 medium carrot
1/2 red apple (Ambrosia, Pink Lady, or Honey Crisp are delicious choices)
1/2 ripe avocado
2 green onions
3 to 4 sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil
6 green olives with or without pimento

Optional additions:
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (I only had mild and it was still delicious)
grilled chicken
crumbled bacon
Serve with Ranch Dressing or Balsamic Vinaigrette
Note: this recipe can easily be doubled for a large dinner party

Gather and wash all the salad ingredients.

Tear lettuce by hand into bite sized pieces. Chop the next six ingredients into bite sized pieces: carrot, apple, avocado, scallions, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives.

Top with your favorite ranch dressing or balsamic vinaigrette.
Optional: add shredded cheddar cheese, grilled chicken, and/or crumbled baked bacon.

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Not-Your-Ordinary Fruit Salad

July 24, 2012

Servings: 2-6

Prep: 10 min

Cook:

Total: 10 min

Difficulty: Easy

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By: Michele Tedrick, NBC-HWC, A-CFHC, Holistic Chef

Ingredients

• Not-Your-Ordinary Fruit Salad
• (makes enough for 1 large family-style salad, 2 large entree salads, 4 side salads, or 6 appetizer salads)
• 4 cups red leaf lettuce any sweeter lettuce (about 1/2 head)
• 4 cups escarole or a bitter/strong lettuce (about 1/2 head)
• 1 medium carrot
• 1/2 red apple (Ambrosia, Pink Lady, or Honey Crisp are delicious choices)
• 1/2 ripe avocado
• 2 green onions
• 3 to 4 sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil
• 6 green olives with or without pimento
• Optional additions:
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (I only had mild and it was still delicious)
• grilled chicken
• crumbled bacon
• Serve with Ranch Dressing or Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Note: this recipe can easily be doubled for a large dinner party

Directions

• Step 1 1) Gather and wash all the salad ingredients.
• Step 2 2) Tear lettuce by hand into bite sized pieces. Chop the next six ingredients into bite sized pieces: carrot, apple, avocado, scallions, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives.
• Step 3 3) Top with your favorite ranch dressing or balsamic vinaigrette.
• Step 4 Optional: add shredded cheddar cheese, grilled chicken, and/or crumbled baked bacon.