This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, refined sugar-free and soy-free and.. quite YUMMY!
It is my new favorite summer salad (although I don’t like avocado so left that out). The combination of strawberries, basil, avocado (if you like it) and tomatoes tossed with a touch of extra-virgin olive oil, and drizzled with homemade balsamic reduction is refreshing and a lightly sweet salad that’s great on a hot day. This recipe is lightly adapted from the Love and Lemons Cookbook (2016).
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup hulled and sliced strawberries
- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium ripe avocado, pitted and diced
- 1/3 cup loosely packed basil leaves
- 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Pink Himalayan salt or fine sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Toasted sesame seeds or chopped pecans, for serving
Directions:
- In a small saucepan, bring the vinegar to a simmer over medium heat. Once the vinegar starts to simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 6 to 10 minutes, uncovered, until the vinegar thickens, and reduces in volume by half. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, add the strawberries, tomatoes, avocado, and basil into a large shallow bowl.
- Drizzle on the oil and gently toss until the veggies are coated. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss again briefly.
- Scatter on your desired amount of toasted seeds or nuts. Drizzle on all of the balsamic reduction.
- Serve immediately. This salad is definitely best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for a few hours if necessary.
Love and Lemons Cookbook, 2016