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Ingredients
Juice of 2 lemons
2 large, firm, ripe avocados
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
Gray salt and freshly ground pepper
1 pound vine-ripened tomatoes, preferably several varieties of different shapes
and colors
About 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or signature olive oil
4 teaspoons Basil Pesto, made without pine nuts
Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted (optional)
Preparation
Prepare the grill and let it burn down to medium-hot coals. Squeeze the lemon
juice into a nonreactive bowl large enough to hold the avocados in a single
layer. Halve the avocados, discard the pits, and scoop out the flesh in one
piece with a rounded spoon. Immediately toss the avocados with the lemon juice
to prevent discoloration.
Using a mandoline or sharp chef's knife, thinly slice the onion. Separate the
onion into rings and place in another bowl. Pour some of the lemon juice from
the avocados over the onions and season with salt and pepper. Toss well and set
aside. Cut the tomatoes lengthwise into thin wedges, season with salt and
pepper, and reserve.
Remove the avocados from the lemon
juice and set the bowl aside. Season the avocados on all sides with salt and
pepper and drizzle very lightly with about 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Too
much and the oil might cause flare-ups.
Grill the avocados, cut side down,
until the outside edge looks a little dry and browned, about 2 minutes. Turn
onto the rounded side and cook for another 2 minutes. Since so little area is
exposed to the heat, this is just to soften, not cook, the avocados. If the
avocados were very firm, leave on another minute. Do not turn too often or they
may disintegrate. Return the grilled avocados to the bowl with the lemon juice.
Spoon the lemon juice over them and set aside until cool enough to handle, then
cut into thin wedges.
Place several onion rings in the
center of each salad plate. Arrange the avocados on opposite sides and the
tomatoes on the remaining two sides. Drizzle each salad with about 1-1/2
teaspoons olive oil and 1 teaspoon pesto. Season again with salt and pepper to
taste and give each salad a coarse grating of cheese. Scatter the pine nuts on
top, if using, and serve immediately.
These directions are for a plated
salad. These same ingredients can be used to make a layered salad in a bowl. Cut
the avocados and tomatoes into large, equal-size pieces and layer in a bowl with
the onion ring seasoning, and drizzle with olive oil and pesto as you layer.
Salad Recipes |
