With its creamy texture and zesty dressing, this Avocado Salad Recipe is the ideal side dish that complements almost every meal. Whether you’re hosting brunch, lunch, or dinner, it’s a refreshing choice that’s sure to be a hit. Whip it up in just 15 minutes!
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Why you’ll love making Avocado Salad
- Firstly, the primary ingredient is the ripe avocado, a nutritious and delicious superfood. Paired with juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and a hint of red onion, this salad embodies freshness in every bite with these amazing fresh ingredients.
- Tired of recipes that have a long list of steps? This easy avocado salad requires minimal effort. All you need is to chop, toss gently in a large salad bowl, and season. It’s a breeze!
- This refreshing salad is on the table in just 15 minutes or less. It’s perfect to whip up in a hurry!
- We love recipes that kind of just go with everything, and avocado salad is definitely that! Yes, it’s great as a side dish, but it can also be used as a chunky guacamole-like dip or smashed onto toast!
Ingredients you’ll need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to make Avocado Salad with step-by-step instructions
A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.
For the Salad Dressing
Begin by adding fresh cilantro, fresh garlic, fresh lime juice, honey, kosher salt, and ground coriander to a food processor or jug.
Slowly add the extra virgin olive oil while blitzing or whisking until smooth and fully combined.
Tip: Using an immersion blender in a jar is perfect for this! If you don’t use all of the avocado salad dressing, seal the lid and pop it in the fridge for later!
For the Salad
Now to assemble the salad! Add diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and sliced cucumber to a large bowl, add the salad dressing, and gently toss to coat evenly.
Season with salt and pepper to taste, serve immediately, and enjoy!
Recipe notes and expert tips
- Avocado: Choosing the right avocados is so important! Opt for ripe avocados that are slightly soft to the touch but not overly mushy. They should be easy to peel and dice, offering that creamy texture avocado lovers crave. See below for more tips on choosing the best avocados!
- Alternatives to lime juice: While we love lime juice for the lime dressing, you can easily substitute lemon juice to make a lemon dressing with a different but equally delightful tanginess. Other ideas include apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or red wine vinegar. Experiment and find your favorite!
- Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes tend to be our go-to for this tomato cucumber avocado salad; however, Roma tomatoes or grape tomatoes can be a flavorful alternative. Tip: Remove the seeds to avoid a watery salad.
- Garlic: Either whole garlic or minced garlic from a jar works well for this recipe as long as it’s fresh. Remember, a little goes a long way with garlic, so if you’re not a fan of its powerful flavor, feel free to reduce the amount.
- Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is primarily what we choose for salad dressings as it’s so good for you, and we always have it on hand. Light olive oil is another great choice, or even avocado oil, for an even richer, creamy avocado flavor.
- Other additions: If you like a kick of heat, a dash of red pepper flakes will add a subtle hint of spice to your avocado salad, and sliced green onion will also add a sharp note. Want some extra crunch? Toss in a handful of toasted almonds or walnuts, or add diced red bell pepper, yellow pepper, or green bell peppers for a sweet crunch. If you’re a fan of feta cheese, with its crumbly texture and salty taste, it can be an amazing addition. Add crumbled feta over your delicious salad and experience a flavor explosion with each bite.
Tips for choosing a ripe avocado
It’s no secret that the star of our avocado salad is, well, avocado! But how can you ensure you’re choosing the ripest and most flavorful ones for your dish?
The Gentle Press Test
Gently press the avocado without applying too much pressure. If it gives a little, it’s ripe. If it feels too soft, it might be overripe, and if it’s hard, it needs more time.
Check Under the Stem
Peel back the small stem or cap at the top. If it comes off easily and you see green underneath, it’s ripe. If it’s brown, it might be overripe.
Color Cues
Ripe avocados typically have a darker color, but remember that color can vary by variety. It’s best to combine the color test with the gentle press test for accuracy.
Trust Your Nose
A ripe avocado will have a slightly sweet aroma. If it smells sour or too strong, it’s likely overripe.
How to store leftover Avocado Salad
To retain the freshness of your tomato cucumber avocado salad, store leftovers in an airtight container and be sure to eat them within 2-3 days. This will help prevent exposure to air which can cause the avocados to brown faster.
To keep the salad extra fresh, try this plastic wrap trick. Place a layer of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the salad before sealing the container.
This further reduces the salad’s exposure to air and can help keep your avocados looking and tasting fresh. This is a great trick for avocados in general, as they tend to turn brown quickly when they are peeled.
Drizzling a little fresh lime or lemon juice over the top of the avocado salad can also keep the avocados fresher for longer.
What to serve with Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad
This is a great recipe to serve as a side salad with all of your favorite Mexican dishes! It pairs perfectly in or beside our Vegetarian Burritos, Chipotle Burrito Bowls, and really elevates our Birria Tacos on Taco Tuesday!
We enjoy avocado salad with Air Fryer Tortilla Chips for an easy starter or snack. It’s the perfect chip vessel for this perfect salad.
If you’re a fan of avocado toast, this makes an amazing upgraded version. Spread or smash the avocado tomato salad on a toasted slice of bread with some crumbled feta, fresh herbs, salt and ground black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil for a tasty treat! Check out our Air Fryer Toast Recipe – it’s so easy!
More easy salad recipes for you to try
- Tomato Cucumber Salad with Onion
- Waldorf Salad
- Caprese Salad
- Grilled Halloumi and Beet Salad
- Pizza Salad
The BEST Avocado Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cilantro Lime Dressing
- 2 cups Fresh cilantro if not using a processor finely chopped
- 1 clove Garlic if not using a processor minced
- ¼ cup Lime juice fresh
- 2 tsps Honey or maple syrup
- ½ tsp Sea salt
- ¼ tsp Ground coriander
- ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil
For the Salad
- 2 Avocados Ripe but firm, diced into ¾ chunks
- 16 oz Tomatoes Cherry, grape, or Roma
- ½ Red onion cut into quarters in ¼ inch thick slices
- 1 English cucumber cut into quarters in ¼ inch thick slices
Instructions
For the Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Add cilantro, garlic, lime juice, honey, sea salt, and ground coriander, to a food processor or jug slowly add the olive oil while blitzing or whisking, until smooth and fully combined.2 cups Fresh cilantro, 1 clove Garlic, ¼ cup Lime juice, 2 tsps Honey or maple syrup, ½ tsp Sea salt, ¼ tsp Ground coriander, ½ cup Extra virgin olive oil
For the Salad
- Add avocado, tomatoes, red onion, and cucumber to a large bowl, add the dressing, and toss to coat evenly. Serve and enjoy.2 Avocados, 16 oz Tomatoes, ½ Red onion, 1 English cucumber
Notes
- Avocado: Choosing the right avocados is so important! Opt for ripe avocados that are slightly soft to the touch but not overly mushy. They should be easy to peel and dice, offering that creamy texture avocado lovers crave. See the full post for more tips on choosing the best avocados!
- Alternatives to lime juice: While we love lime juice for the lime dressing, you can easily substitute lemon juice to make a lemon dressing with a different but equally delightful tanginess. Other ideas include apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or red wine vinegar. Experiment and find your favorite!
- Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes tend to be our go-to for this tomato cucumber avocado salad, however, Roma tomatoes or grape tomatoes can be a flavorful alternative. Tip: Remove the seeds to avoid a watery salad.
- Garlic: Either whole garlic or minced garlic from a jar works well for this recipe, as long as it’s fresh. Remember, a little goes a long way with garlic so if you’re not a fan of its powerful flavor feel free to reduce the amount.
- Oil: Extra virgin olive oil is primarily what we choose for salad dressings as it’s so good for you and we always have it on hand. Light olive oil is another great choice, or even avocado oil for an even richer, creamy avocado flavor.
- Other additions: If you like a kick of heat, a dash of red pepper flakes will add a subtle hint of spice to your avocado salad, and sliced green onion will also add a sharp note. Want some extra crunch? Toss in a handful of toasted almonds or walnuts or add diced red bell pepper, yellow pepper, or green bell peppers for a sweet crunch. If you’re a fan of feta cheese, with its crumbly texture and salty taste, it can be an amazing addition. Add crumbled feta over your delicious salad and experience a flavor explosion with each bite.
- Storage instructions: Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. See the full post for more tips and tricks on keeping avocado salad fresher for longer!
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
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