Avocado Grapefruit Salad

This easy and flavor packed avocado and grapefruit salad over winter greens is the perfect light salad for a quick side salad or dinner. Add some edamame, ham, or salmon to make it a full meal.

[This recipe was originally posted in February 2019. It has been updated with new cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

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How will this grapefruit salad make your life easier?

I like to rely on pantry staples in my salads. Nuts, seeds, crunchies, and vinegars that I have on hand. Homemade salads can have a bad rap, and one I totally understand and stand by, because they can be BORING. That’s why I rely on pantry staples because I can just grab random crunchy bits and throw them over the greens I have on hand. So for you, keep pistachios and hemp hearts on hand for 2 really easy, delicious, and exciting salad toppings. Plus, if you have citrus around (which I hope you usually do during the winter) and avocado, this is full on pantry salad. You’ll love how refreshing and smooth this avocado and grapefruit salad is, and maybe want to add the dressing to everything you can get your hands on too. Just sayin’

Here are a few other great salad recipes Warm Kale Salad with Pomegranate Dressing, Kale Pecan and Apple Salad, Beet & Arugula Salad, Summer Berry Salad, Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Dressing, and this Simple Sauteed Kale Salad.

What makes this grapefruit salad so good?

• Baby spinach/kale mix
• Grapefruit
• Avocado
• Pistachios
• Hemp hearts
• Olive oil
• White balsamic vinegar
• Orange juice

How do I make this grapefruit salad?

Slice and peel 1 whole grapefruit. Slice 1 whole avocado in half, then remove pit.

Make parallel slices in both sides of avocado, then slide spoon between skin and avocado to remove from avocado skin. Place avocado and grapefruit sections on top of 2 c greens.

Expert Tip: Slice grapefruit however you feel comfortable. Use whatever greens you have on hand, it’s great on lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, etc.

Add 1 tsp hemp hearts and 1 T chopped pistachios to salad.

Expert Tip: Swap out hemp hearts for chia seeds or other seeds, same with pistachios-they can be swapped for other nuts.

Make dressing by adding 2 tsp orange juice, 2 tsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp white balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt to the salad. Then pour over veggies.

Expert Tip: Use fresh or concentrate orange or mandarin orange juice because they’re sweeter than grapefruit juice.

To make it a full meal, add edamame, tofu, pork, ham, or salmon to salad and serve with crusty bread.

Expert Tips

• Slice grapefruit however you feel comfortable. Use whatever greens you have on hand, it’s great on lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula, etc.
• Swap out hemp hearts for chia seeds or other seeds, same with pistachios-they can be swapped for other nuts.
• Use fresh or concentrate orange or mandarin orange juice because they’re sweeter than grapefruit juice.

FAQ

What goes good with grapefruit?

According to the Vegetarian Flavor Bible, grapefruit goes well with avocados, ginger, honey, salads, yogurt, and many other foods/flavorings.

How do you segment a grapefruit for salad?

I learned from my grandpa, you peel the outside like an orange, then grab a knife and slice the membrane (the one where the seeds grow) of each section. Peel back each membrane and place in a bowl. My grandpa was technical, meticulous, and great at it. He was an engineer, I feel like that explains it all. Anyways, I’m not an engineer, not technical or meticulous. I like to quarter the grapefruit, then peel the pith away. I’m not afraid of leaving a bit of skin on because just a bit won’t make your grapefruit overly bitter and will save you time. Instead of taking 15+ minutes to peel it, just remove as much as you feel you need to get the sweetness you want. Besides the pith probably has some fiber in it, so why not?!

Can you peel a grapefruit and eat it like an orange?

That’s my favorite way, but it may be too tart for some people, so you can slice it down the center and add sugar or slice it up and then peel off the peel.

What can I make with leftover ingredients?

• (spinach/greens) Warm Kale Salad with Pomegranate Dressing, Kale Pecan and Apple Salad, Beet & Arugula Salad, Summer Berry Salad, Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Dressing, and this Simple Sauteed Kale Salad
• (avocado) Add it to this Breakfast Casserole, these Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches, Veggie Burrito Bowl with Queso, Breakfast Tacos, or Microwave Egg Bowl.
• (grapefruit) Eat plain, add to any salad, or roast it.
• (orange/juice) Add orange slices to this Sparkling Cider Mocktail, Mimosa Mocktail, in the whipped cream for this Gingerbread Pound Cake, or Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad.

Did you make this grapefruit salad? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!

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