Tired of eating the same old salads?  This Mediterranean Diet themed avocado salad will get you excited again!  It has an amazing crunch to it and is full of healthy fats from the avocado and extra virgin olive oil. It’s also a great weight loss recipe as it has filling fats, but still is low in calories because of the vegetables. All in all, don’t be surprised if this becomes your new favorite salad!
Benefits of Healthy Fats
Foods high in healthy fats include: olives, avocados, nuts and seeds and certain kinds of seafood. Most healthy fats fall into a category known as mono-unsaturated fats, which includes, the Mediterranean Diet staple, olive oil. I won’t go into detail about why these fats are considered mono-unsaturated but know this – consuming these types of fat are associated with lower risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes, especially with extra virgin olive oil.
A diet high in healthy fats will also keep you satisfied and energized throughout the day. It will help sustain you while eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, restoring your body with nutrients it needs to work efficiently. And, this is why a diet higher in healthy fats is actually great for weight loss, despite it seeming like a counter intuitive strategy. Check out more of our Mediterranean Diet recipes for weight loss here.
The Best Avocado Salad
The tastiest avocado salads are ones that use perfectly ripened avocados and balance out the creaminess of the avocado and olive oil with a little crunch. I like to buy avocados at the store when they are super green so I can choose to use them at the perfect time for recipes like this. Also, adding in ingredients like radish will balance out the textures of the dish.
Here are some meal recommendations to go along with the salad:
Lunch:
Avocado Salad with Cucumber and Radish with  Savory Skillet Cornbread
or
with Lentil Soup
Picnic/Grill/Party:
Mediterranean Fried Potato, Tomato and Arugula Salad Â
Grilled Lebanese Corn with Cinnamon and Cumin
Avocado, Radish and Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
- 2 medium radishes, chopped
- 1 large cucumber, cut into quarters lengthwise and then chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
- 1 ripe avocado, cut into small chunks
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oilÂ
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a large salad bowl. Toss well and serve.
Nutrition
About the Author: Christine Kenneally
