What comes in your mind when you think of the Salad? A healthy food enriched with nutrients… but the point is how often do you enjoy having it?

When it comes to taste you have to force yourself to eat all those greens bearing the same taste every day in fact, your eyes are tired of looking at the same ingredients now and then.

This is because you are restricting yourself to all those traditional salad ingredients that have been in use for a long when you think of salad, thoughts of having broccoli, cabbage, chickpeas, and beans enter your mind and you no longer enjoy your healthy food, and end up eating the same junk which brings you more harm than the benefit. 

Incorporating avocado into your diet in different styles will not only bring taste to your monotonous eating options but also it is a versatile ingredient that works best for your skin, cardiac health, blood pressure, and many more.

It is enriched in vitamins and fibers thus boosting your healthy eating. I am going to share a few ways of including avocado in your diet and adapting them alternatively you can enjoy this fruit every day without getting fed up with it.

Let’s start!

1- Southwest Avocado Pasta Salad

Long gone are the days when avocado was rarely known to the world. As the world progressed so did the avocado, today it is being used in several recipes, smoothies, salads, toasts, sushi, soups, and scrambled eggs.

Today we will learn how we can make salads using avocados in one way or the other. In pasta salad, avocado is used as a creamy dressing over the salad and the ingredients are: 

Ingredients: 

For the salad, you will need: 

• Spiral or penne pasta. 
• Corn. 
• Bell pepper. (Yellow and red). 
• Black olives. 
• Tomatoes. 
• Onion. 
• Cheddar cheese. 
• Black beans

For avocado dressing you need: 

• Avocado. 
• No fat Greek yogurt.
• Chili powder. 
• Lime. 
• Avocado oil.
• Honey. 
• Cilantro. 
• White vinegar. 
• Cayenne pepper (optional).
• Ranch seasoning mix. 
• Chopped jalapeno to make it spicy. 

Instructions: 

1- Take enough water in a large bowl, add the pasta in it followed by a pinch or two of salt and a little bit of oil. So that the pasta does not stick let it boil as per the recommended time mentioned on the package.  Make sure not to overcook the noodles. Once it’s done drain it, rinse with cold water, and keep it aside. 

2- Drizzle the corn with olive oil or any cooking oil, then using a grill or non-stick skillet pan quickly toss it until it’s done from all sides, and then remove the kernels off the corn when it gets cold. 

3- Either chop using a food processor or roughly slice the remaining ingredients such as black olives, bell pepper, onions, and tomatoes, etc. for salad. 

4- For creamy avocado ranch dressing, pour all the ingredients in a blender and blend it until you get a nice homogenous and creamy avocado ranch dressing. 

5- Mix some of the dressing with the boiled pasta in a large bowl, take out a little to pour over the top of the salad. Gently mix the pasta and dressing, once it’s coated nicely add the remaining chopped or sliced ingredients along with black beans and corn. 

6- Fold all the ingredients using a spatula and then sprinkle grated cheese. Afterward, pour the leftover avocado dressing over the top for garnishing. 

Calorie count: 

Southwest Avocado pasta typically has 300-400 calories per serving. If you want to reduce calories you can either use more vegetables and proteins (shredded chicken) or avoid using high-calorie toppings. Another suggestion is to consider lighter dressing for pasta. 

2- Creamy Avocado Tuna Salad

Do you know a tablespoon of mayo has as many calories as 1 oz of cheddar cheese that is 100 calories? Now most of people do not know this and may take mayo for granted in regard of calorie count.

Including mayo in your diet even 1 tablespoon especially when you are on a healthy diet journey might impact your diet control efforts adversely.

So from today in fact from now on consider replacing your mayo with creamy avocado for quick results and here is the recipe. 

Ingredients: 

• Two cans of drained tuna (7 oz each).
• Two finely chopped carrots and half a red onion.
• Two celery stalks, chopped finely.
• One minced or grated garlic clove.
• Two avocados.
• To taste, add salt.
• One lemon.
• Pepper. 

Instructions: 

1- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients the tuna, chopped carrots, red onion, celery stalks, and grated garlic, break the chunks and mix until everything is well combined. 

2- Peel off the avocados cut and mash them properly. 

3- Season with pepper and salt and to prevent browning squeeze lemon juice over the avocado. 

4- After thorough mixing enjoy your avocado tuna as salad or layer it over brown bread as a sandwich. 

Calorie count: 

This creamy avocado tuna recipe is a low-calorie high protein option with 250-300 calories as healthy fats from avocado provide creaminess without adding excessive calories. 

3- Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad

Loaded with basic vegetables, juicy tomato, classic cucumber, creamy avocado, and sharp lemon juice and with a subtle pop of colors cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad is not only pleasing to the eyes but also has a balanced tang flavor.

On regular rotations, it can be the best change of taste you might be looking for. Add feta cheese

Ingredients:  

• 2 cups cucumber (sliced or diced)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1 ripe avocado (diced)
• 1/3 cup red onion (thinly sliced)
• 1/3 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
• 1/4 cup walnuts (roughly chopped)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• Optional: Fresh parsley or basil for garnish

For dressing you will need: 

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice or balsamic vinegar

Instructions: 

1. Prepare the ingredients:
   • Wash and slice the cucumbers and tomatoes.
   • Dice the avocado and thinly slice the red onion.
2. Combine the base ingredients:
   • In a large bowl, gently toss together the cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, onion, and walnuts.
3. Add the feta cheese:
   • Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese over the top of the salad.
4. Prepare the dressing:
   • In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar (or lemon juice), salt, and pepper.
5. Dress and toss:
   • Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine, ensuring the avocado doesn’t get mashed.
6. Serve and garnish:
   • Garnish with fresh parsley or basil for a pop of color and added flavor.

Calorie Count: 

Healthy and creamy Cucumber tomato avocado salad has around 127 calories.  

4- Grilled Mexican Shrimp Avocado Salad

Looking for a salad high in proteins and fats? 

I am sure, you are going to love this grilled Mexican shrimp avocado salad, enriched with nutrients and fulfilling enough to satisfy your cravings. Let’s begin. 

Ingredients:  

 For shrimp you need: 

• 450 g large peeled and deveined shrimp. 
• 2 tbsp olive oil.
• 2 cloves garlic, minced.
• Chili powder.
• Fresh thyme.
• Lime zest. 

For salad, you need to have: 

• Corn.
• Salt.
• Avocado.
• Tomato. 
• Black beans.
• Queso fresco (Mexican style) cheese. 
• Cilantro (coriander).
• Avocado oil spray or avocado oil.
• Green leaf lettuce. 

Instructions: 

• Devein your shrimp and then sprinkle with turmeric and salt. You can also use frozen shrimp but remember, it must be patted dry or consider using jumbo shrimp. 
• The next thing is to prepare your grill by preheating it at medium heat, brush or spray the grill with little oil.
• Now marinate your shrimp after threading them into wooden skewers using olive oil, garlic, lime zest, thyme and chili powder. First whisk these ingredients altogether to get a smooth consistency then coat your shrimp with prepared marinade. After coating the shrimp thoroughly each side use salt and pepper as seasoning. 
• Grill the corn after brushing oil and let it be grilled for 12-14 minutes, do not forget to change sides so that it is cooked from all sides. 
• After corn, grill your shrimp on high flame until it is golden brown and no longer pink sprinkle salt over it. 
• For assembling salad, chop and slice all the greens in a large bowl. Then scrape off the corn from the cob and add the vegetables, the beans, the tomatoes, the avocado, cilantro, lettuce and the Mexican cheese. 
• Place the shrimp on top of the assembled vegetables after removing from skewers and its ready to serve.

Calorie Count: 

Total calories in Mexican grilled shrimp salad are about 374 calories per servings.

5- Greek chicken Avocado Salad

Not a fan of grilled shrimp… no problem. You can still enjoy your protein packed salad using chicken in it. This Greek Chicken Avocado Salad is high in protein and it can be used as a regular meal for lunch or dinner and the creamy dressing doubles the treat. 

Ingredients:  

• 2 large chicken breasts, halved to make 4 fillets. 

For salad, we need: 

• 4 cups lettuce leaves, washed and shredded.
• 2 large cucumbers, sliced lengthwise. 
• 2 tomatoes. 
• ½ capsicum, after deseeding and slicing. 
• ½ thinly sliced onion.
• 7 oz feeta cheese in cubes.
• ½ cup of  kalamata olives.
• 1 avocado. 

For dressing take: 

• ¼ cup olive oil.
• Lemon juice. 
• 1 tbsp vinegar.
• 2 large cloves of garlic, mince the cloves.
• Salt to taste.
• Pepper.
• 2 tbsp dried oregano.

Instructions: 

• In a blender, blend all the ingredients of salad dressing or use a whisk for this purpose. 
• Take out half of the dressing mixture for later use. 
• Now add the chicken fillets in the remaining marinade and coat well. Leave it for half an hour so that the chicken gets tender. 
• Chop or slice all the salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss gently. 
• Pre heat the grill or skillet pan on medium to high heat and then transfer the marinade coated chicken onto skillet or grill whatever you use. Cook each side for about 5-6 minutes or until both sides are cooked and golden brown. 
• Cut the cooked chicken fillets in juvenile and place over the salad. 
• Cut and peel off the avocado and arrange over the salad. 
• Lastly, take out the reserved dressing and pour over the Greek chicken avocado salad.  

Calorie Count: 

1 serving of Greek Chicken Avocado salad has around 372 calories, adding cheese or varying quantities of ingredients will increase the estimated calories. 

6- Avocado Corn Salad with Feta Cheese

Avocado high in natural fats, can lower the cholesterol and when it is consumed with corns a healthy gluten free ingredient works best to promote and aid digestion without compromising the taste. Let’s make a quick avocado corn salad within no time. 

Ingredients:  

For avocado corn salad you need: 

• 1.5 cup corns (fresh / frozen).
• 2 avocadoes, chopped in cubes.
• 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes, each cleaved into two halves.
• 2 tablespoons fresh basils (chopped) or can be swapped with parsley. 
• 1/3 cup feta cheese or blue cheese or goat cheese will work well. 
• ½ thinly sliced onion. 
• 1 tbsp of butter or ghee. 

For dressing ingredients are: 

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning. 
• Salt as required. 
• 1 tbsp water.
• 1 tsp honey, optional. 
• 1 tbsp lime juice.
• 3 tbsp olive oil. 

Instructions: 

• In a skillet, add 1 tbsp of butter or ghee. Gently sauté the 1.5 cup corns for 3-4 minutes and stir regularly until corns are tender. After that transfer them to a container and let them cool. 
•  Chop and slice all the ingredients of salad and then transfer corn to the same bowl, followed by basil and feta.
• In a blender or using a whisk blend dressing ingredients until they are well combined. 
• Drizzle the dressing over the avocado corn salad and you may sprinkle feta cheese and basil as well and your avocado corn salad is ready to serve.

Calorie count: 

 Generally, avocado corn salad with feta cheese contain 197 calories but changing the concentration of any ingredient will change the calorie count as well. 

7- Avocado Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps Recipe

Are you team avocado or team mayo? Which one do you prefer? Adding mayo to your salad wraps or mashed avocado. Well, consider swapping mayonnaise with mashed avocado to get health benefits and its thick, creamy texture melts in mouth and you will never miss the mayo. 

Ingredients:  

• Butter lettuce leaves (8-10 in number). 
• ½ tsp Garlic powder. 
• Chicken (preferably breasts), it can be shredded, roasted or poached one.  
• 1 medium ripe Avocado as its perfect for mashing. 
• 1 tbsp Lime juice. 
• 2 tbsp Cilantro, it should be finely ground. 
• 2 tbsp minced Onion. 
• 2 tbsp Sour cream or Greek yogurt. 
• Salt and pepper as required. 

 Instructions: 

• In a mixing bowl, add ripe avocado with sour cream and lime juice, mash the avocado along with other two ingredients. 
• Pour all the remaining ingredients the shredded or cubed chicken, minced cilantro and onion, in the mixing bowl except lettuce leaves. Fold all the ingredients twice or even thrice and season with salt and pepper. 
• Afterwards, spread the salad mixture over lettuce leaves using a table spoon and your quick avocado chicken salad lettuce wraps are ready. 

Calorie count: 

1 avocado chicken salad lettuce wrap carries around 148-158 calories. 

8- Healthy Avocado Chicken Salad wrap with Greek yogurt

Are you looking for an easy and healthy salad recipe, which takes hardly 5 minutes to make and taste delicious, fulfills your appetite and no grocery runs to grab the ingredients for recipe? Its home made and with easily available kitchen ingredients. Quickly grab the enlisted ingredients and get to work. 

Ingredients:  

• 2 cups shredded chicken.
• 1 mashed avocado.
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice.
• 1 cup Greek yogurt do not replace it with regular yogurt otherwise salad will have runny consistency. 
• Kosher salt and black pepper (powdered).
• ¾ cup celery. 
• 1/3 cup chopped onion.
• Cilantro. 
• ½ cup red grapes.
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon.
• Dried cranberries, it’s optional.

Instructions: 

• In a bowl add Greek yogurt, with avocado and lemon juice. Mash the avocado in the yogurt and lemon juice. Add kosher salt and black pepper, and keep it aside. 
• In a large mixing bowl add shredded chicken to the celery, chopped onions, cilantro, red grapes and tarragon. Pour yogurt mashed avocado sauce in chicken mixture. Fold all the ingredients together until well combined season with salt and pepper if needed. 
• This chicken avocado salad wrap with Greek yogurt can be used as a sandwich filling with bread, can be a  filling of pita wraps,  whole wheat tortilla wraps  or can be spread over lettuce wraps. 

Calorie count: 

Considering avocado chicken salad with whole wheat tortilla wraps contain 351-381 calories. While changing wraps consider the changes in the calorie count. 

9- Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

A vibrant and refreshing salad featuring sweet strawberries, creamy avocado, and nutrient-packed spinach. Tossed with a tangy poppyseed dressing, this dish is perfect for a healthy lunch or a colorful side at dinner.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup strawberries (sliced)
• 1 ripe avocado (diced)
• 1/4 cup red onion (thinly sliced)
• 1/4 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
• 1/4 cup almonds (sliced or slivered, toasted if preferred)

For the Poppyseed Dressing:

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp poppy seeds
• 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the salad base:
   • In a large bowl, combine spinach, sliced strawberries, diced avocado, and red onion.
2. Add the toppings:
   • Sprinkle feta cheese and almonds over the salad.
3. Make the dressing:
   • In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, poppy seeds, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
4. Dress the salad:
   • Drizzle the poppyseed dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
5. Serve and enjoy:
   • Plate the salad and enjoy its perfect balance of sweetness, creaminess, and crunch!