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hearts-of-palm-salad-with-vegan-avocado-dressing-in-blue-bowl

Hearts of Palm Salad with Vegan Avocado Dressing (Ensalada de Palmitos)

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 15 reviews
  • Author: Juyali (ju-ja-lee)
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Mix time:: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 Servings 1x
  • Category: Salads
  • Method: Mixing
  • Cuisine: Venezuelan

Description

This refreshing, light, and simple Hearts of Palm Salad Recipe is packed with crisp hearts of palm, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and arugula, all dressed in a Creamy Vegan Avocado Dressing as smooth as a velveteen cushion, covering every bite with flavor.

With a few easy steps, you will transform ordinary pantry staples into an extraordinary salad!

To prepare this salad, you'll need the following equipment:

  • Mini food processor (or a small blender) for a smooth dressing.
  • Cutting board
  • Knife
  • Large mixing bowl (for mixing all ingredients).

Ingredients

Units Scale

Salad Dressing Ingredients:
I love homemade salad dressings, especially when they use staple ingredients like these.
(See the "Notes" section for ingredient substitution ideas)

  • 1/4 cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 tablespoons of Fresh Lime Juice
  • 1 tablespoon of Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1/2 Ripe Avocado
  • 2 teaspoons of Fresh Garlic, crushed
  • 1/4 cup of Fresh Cilantro Leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon of Kosher Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon of Black Pepper

Additional Salad Ingredients:

  • 1 16 ounce can of Hearts of Palm (drained and sliced)
  • 1 cup of Cherry Tomatoes, halved
  • 3 cups of Arugula
  • 1/2 cup of Red Onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 Ripe Avocado, cut into small cubes

Instructions

TIP!  Before you start the dressing -  Soaking the onions in water helps reduce some of the spicy taste of raw onions. Thinly slice the onions and let them soak in water while you prepare the salad dressing. You can add one tablespoon of white vinegar to help with this process. After a few minutes, drain and set aside.

Prepare the Salad Dressing:

  1. Add half of the Avocado, lime juice, olive oil, vinegar, crushed garlic, cilantro leaves, salt, and black pepper to a food processor or blender.
  2. Pulse the ingredients until the dressing is smooth and creamy.  If the sauce is too thick, add a little water to thin it out.

Assemble de Salad:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the sliced hearts of palm, the remaining half of the Avocado (cut into small cubes), cherry tomatoes, arugula (or your choice of leafy greens), and the red onions.
  2. Drizzle the creamy dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat the ingredients evenly. Serve immediately and enjoy!  Buen Provecho!

Notes

Ingredients substitution ideas:

  1.    Avocado or any neutral oil can be substituted for Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
  2.    Fresh Lemon Juice can be substituted for Fresh Lime Juice.
  3.    Apple Cider or White Wine Vinegar are suitable substitutes.  Balsamic Vinegar is not typical in this Venezuelan salad, but if that's all you have, try it! And leave me a comment!
  4.    While fresh garlic is best, in a pinch, you may substitute with one teaspoon of Garlic Powder.
  5.    Fresh Cilantro is a key flavor in the dressing, and I do not recommend a substitution.

- Where Can I Buy Hearts of Palm? Hearts of palm can be found canned or jarred in the canned vegetable aisle of the grocery store.
- Can You Eat Hearts of Palm Raw? Yes, hearts of palm can be eaten raw from the jar.
- Is Heart of Palm Keto-Friendly? Yes, hearts of palm can be part of a keto-friendly diet due to their low carbohydrate content.
- Is Heart of Palm Vegan? Yes, hearts of palm are vegan, as they are a plant-based product derived from the inner core of palm trees.

Recipe variations:

  1.    Toss in sliced Crunchy Cucumbers or Red Bell Pepper for a refreshing crunch and sweetness.
  2.    Swap out the arugula for romaine lettuce or any other leafy greens you choose.
  3.    Swap out the red onions - While red or white onions are more traditional in this salad, use green onions if that is what you love or have.
  4.    Add Artichoke Hearts - Enhance the salad with marinated hearts for extra flavor and texture.

Pair this fantastic salad with my Carne Asada with Guasacaca Sauce because they go together like the perfect marriage. And why not finish with my Passion Fruit Flan or this Coconut Flan?

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 bowl
  • Calories: 272
  • Sugar: 2.5 g
  • Sodium: 650.6 mg
  • Fat: 23.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 15.3 g
  • Fiber: 7.8 g
  • Protein: 5.1 g