Cooking Lesson #1059: Summer Salad

…from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’? It’s summertime and the weather is beautiful. If you’re like me, you resist cooking in the oven or on the range top. In fact, I really don’t want to cook or eat anything hot… when it’s hot.  The good news is there’s nothing better than a wonderful, colorful chilled entrée salad for lunch or dinner.
 
My Summer Salad is the perfect base making it possible to add so many other ingredients to gussy-up your Summer Salad. I like a lot of texture in salads… consider croutons, crisp bacon, jicama, onions and even potato chips. If your taste goes to the sweet side consider sliced ripe mango, little Mandarin oranges (I prefer Cuties) or even chilled chunks of watermelon. There are so many choices you can make and have a little different salad every day of the week.
 
Prep time:  20 minutes
Yield:  4 servings
 
Ingredients
For the salad
3 medium avocados, peeled, pitted and chopped
1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 whole tomato sliced
1/2 cucumber peeled, 1/2-inch slice, quartered
3/4 cup fresh corn kernels
1/3 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
1/3 cup crumbled queso fresco
1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
 
For the dressing
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
 
Directions

1. Peel, pit and chop the avocados.
2. Combine the avocado chunks, tomato, cucumber, corn, bell pepper, queso fresco, jalapeño and cilantro in a large bowl.
3. Blend the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lime juice and salt in a small bowl.
4. Toss the salad ingredients with the dressing.
5. Top with more chopped cilantro, if desired.

-------------------------------------------
ChefSecret:  If you have leftover chicken or steak bring it on! The add protein makes it seem more like an entrée.
-------------------------------------------
Quip of the Day:  Scientists are saying salads will be a thing of the past. Lettuce romaine calm.
-------------------------------------------
Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/perspectives-on-food
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to  Feeding America, Tunnel to Towers, Union Rescue Mission and/or American Red Cross.

#Entree #SideDish #SummerSalad #Avocados #Tomatoes #Cucumber #Jicama #QuesoFresco #SweetCorn #PerspectivesOnFood #Recipes2025 #URM #T2T #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #SamaritansPurse #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup 
 
                                                                                 ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2025

---