Dressing & Dips

Mixed Greens + Blueberries + Avocado + Pine Nut Salad with Rosemary Balsamic Dressing

Blueberry & Mixed Greens with Rosemary Balsamic

OH it’s Blueberry season!  I love this time of year for making gorgeous seasonal salads to serve with grilled fish or meat.  

Local Organic Blueberries

Fresh organic local blueberries are only here for a smidge of time so I had to get right on it and find some great ways to enjoy them.  I made this salad the other night to bring to a dinner party and it was a hit.  Not in small part due to the rosemary balsamic dressing which I got from our generous recipe sharing Bellingham Community Food Coop.  

Rosemary Balsamic Dressing

I adapted it a tad adding a bit of local honey, (fabulous sister in law is a beekeeper!) and a little less salt, to give it a summery feel. But without the honey it is quite savory and perfect for winter salads or even as a marinade for chicken or steak.  Also, you can change this salad combo up easily with different nuts and fruit, with whatever is in season. 

This salad is a new keeper for sure. So here you go:

Mixed Green & Blueberry Salad:

1/4 cup pines nuts toasted
1/2 cup fresh organic blueberries
1/2 avocado cubed
1/4 cup red onion thinly sliced
4-6 cups mixed greens (butter lettuce is fab)
1/4 cup shaved or thinly sliced fennel (optional)

Rosemary Balsamic Dressing

 

1 1/4 cups grape seed oil
2/3 cup balsamic vinegar
3 1/4 tablespoons filtered water
3/4 tablespoon peeled smashed minced garlic
3 1/4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 1/4 tablespoons dried basil
3/4 tablespoon dried oregano
1/2 tablespoon sea salt
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
1-2 tablespoons wild honey (to taste)

Blend water and rosemary in a blender until rosemary is in tiny flakes. Add remaining ingredients to an immersion blender until completely blended emulsified. Chill.
*Adapted from the Bellingham Food Coop

For the salad:

Combine everything and toss with the dressing. May need to add a little water to the dressing to thin a tad. Fabulous!

Mixed Greens + Blueberry Summer Salad
Author: Lisa Spencer
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup pines nuts toasted
  • 1/2 cup fresh organic blueberries
  • 1/2 avocado cubed
  • 1/4 cup red onion thinly sliced
  • 4-6 cups mixed greens (butter lettuce is fab)
  • 1/4 cup shaved or thinly sliced fennel (optional)
Instructions
  1. Combine everything and toss with the dressing. May need to add a little water to the dressing to thin a tad. Fabulous!
Rosemary Balsamic Dressing
Author: Lisa Spencer
Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cups grape seed oil
  • 2/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 3 1/4 tablespoons filtered water
  • 3/4 tablespoon peeled smashed minced garlic
  • 3 1/4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 1/4 tablespoons dried basil
  • 3/4 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 tablespoon sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1-2 tablespoons wild honey (to taste)
Instructions
  1. Blend water and rosemary in a blender until rosemary is in tiny flakes. Add remaining ingredients to an immersion blender until completely blended emulsified. Chill.
  2. *Adapted from the Bellingham Food Coop

 

8 Comments
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  1. It looks amazing Lisa!! Blueberries are my favorite super food, I try to add them too as much meals as I can! I have been using your recipes for a while now and my body & tastebuds are thanking you! Keep up the good work! 😉

    1. @Laura, YES, I didn’t even mention what a superfood blueberries are! Thanks for mentioning that. I’m so glad you have been having fun with recipes I’ve been posting. Thanks for letting me know and thanks for being here!

  2. I love, love salads! You can do so much with them! But, I’ve never had blueberries or strawberries in salads (unless it’s a fruit salad). I’ve had oranges, and they weren’t TOO bad….but berries? Ummm, just sounds a little…..iffy too me. This salad sounds good, and the dressing is one I’ll definitely make, but blueberries? We’ll see.:)

  3. You’re making me want to go to the store right now! I don’t think that there is anything like a summer salad on a hot day. You don’t have to heat up the kitchen and the crunch of a salad is just wonderful! I think I’m going to have to make this with a little bit of chicken and some slivered almonds. Yummy!

    1. @Loraine, GO TO THE STORE RIGHT NOW! 😉
      Great idea about the chicken and slivered almonds…I better GO TO THE STORE RIGHT NOW, too 😉
      Thanks for stopping by.

  4. Without the avocado this sounds absolutely fabulous! I think I might throw in some chicken with it as well. And maybe some slivered almonds. Or maybe I’ll just take a nap 😉