Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad with Mozzarella and Pesto
Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad with Fresh Mozzarella Cheese Balls and Basil Pesto – A vibrant, delicious and highly nutritious summer salad!
This refreshing salad is a heart-warming celebration of everyday vegetables. A pleasing combination consisting of halved red cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, cucumber and red onion, mixed with fresh Mozzarella cheese balls. The salad is covered with a simple yet flavorful dressing made of basil pesto and lime juice.
Revive your dinner table with fresh colorful vegetables coated with a rich herby pesto flavor and vibrant zesty lime juice. Serve chill or at room temperature, for a light summer lunch, a refreshing snack next to the swimming pool, or an inviting appetizer.
What makes this salad SUPER EASY?
Chop veggies, combine lime juice and basil pesto, pour the dressing over the veggies and mozzarella then mix well to combine. Only simple ingredients and few steps are required to make a quick, delicious and memorable salad.
What make this salad recipe so special?
The crispiness of the cucumber, the juicy cherry tomatoes and the creamy avocadoes offer a delightful contrast of color, flavor and texture.
What makes this salad healthy?
Similar to most salads, this one is low in calories and sodium, loaded with fiver and vitamins. It’s a great choice to lose or control weight, prevent cravings and boost your overall healh.
What ingredients do I need for this recipe?
For the salad:
½ pound red cherry tomatoes (halved)
2 whole avocados (diced)
1 whole cucumber (diced)
1/3 cup red onion (diced)
8 ounces small Mozzarella cheese balls
For the dressing:
1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice
¼ cup basil pesto
Salt and pepper to taste
How to make this vegetable salad with Mozzarella and Pesto:
Cut your red and yellow cherry tomatoes into halves, place in a large mixing bowl. Add in the diced avocadoes, sliced cucumber, diced red onion and the Mozzarella cheese balls (preferably fresh mozzarella)
In another small bowl, whisk together the basil pesto and lemon juice then add some salt and fresh ground pepper.
Pour the dressing over your veggies, then mix gently to combine.
Enjoy your fresh salad right away or cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours before serving.
Helpful Tips and Variations:
Can I use regular tomatoes? I prefer to use red or yellow cherry tomatoes for this salad; they usually taste sweet , but you can certainly use regular tomatoes, just make sure to choose ones that are juicy.
Can I add herbs to this salad? When is it not a good idea to add herbs to a recipe or dressing? Experiment with any herbs you prefer, consider adding some dill or cilantro or any other tender fresh herbs.
Can I include other ingredients? You can add some green peppers, spinach or arugula for a greener salad. You can also add some corn, chickpeas, some crushed nuts or even chopped mango for a tropical touch.
Can I add other components to the dressing? The dressing in this recipe is made to be simple, and practical; especially when one’s short of time, however, feel free to add more ingredients.
Can I store/ reuse leftovers? Store any salad leftovers you’ve got in airtight container for up to 1 day, even though the avocado may brown a bit and the veggies will turn a bit liquidy, but the taste is sure not to disappoint. Drizzle some lime or lemon juice on top to revive your dish after getting it out of the fridge.
How can I serve this vegetables salad with Mozzarella and Pesto?
This light and tasty salad makes up a great main dish as It is rich and filling, if you’re extra hungry, add in some chopped grilled chicken or slice a grilled chicken breast and lay it over the salad. You can also serve as an appetizer or side dish to any protein based dish.
You can lay your salad over a bed of long leaf lettuce, add in toppings according to your taste then serve at a summer picnic, a party or special gathering.
Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad with Mozzarella and Pesto
Ingredients
- For the salad
- ½ pound red cherry tomatoes halved
- 2 whole avocados diced
- 1 whole cucumber diced
- 1/3 cup red onion diced
- 8 ounces small Mozzarella cheese balls
- For the dressing
- 1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice
- ¼ cup basil pesto
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut your red and yellow cherry tomatoes into halves, place in a large mixing bowl. Add in the diced avocadoes, sliced cucumber, diced red onion and the Mozzarella cheese balls (preferably fresh mozzarella)
- In another small bowl, whisk together the basil pesto and lemon juice then add some salt and fresh ground pepper.
- Pour the dressing over your veggies, then mix gently to combine.
- Enjoy your fresh salad right away or cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours before serving.
