Who doesn’t love a flavorful salad? Eating salad is an excellent way to incorporate fresh produce and healthy fats into your daily routine. This blood orange, avocado, and goat cheese salad is a perfect example of a simple, yet satisfying meal that can be enjoyed any time of day! This salad recipe is packed with nutrient-dense ingredients such as mixed greens, blood orange, avocado, pecans, and goat cheese. The dressing is made with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, which adds flavor and healthy fats to the dish.

Blood Orange, Avocado and Goat Cheese Salad

Servings: 2 servings

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Ingredients:

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• 4 cups mixed greens (such as arugula, spinach, and baby kale)
• 1 medium blood orange, peeled and sliced into rounds
• 1 medium avocado, peeled and sliced
• 1/4 cup toasted pecans
• 2 tbsp crumbled goat cheese. (Fun fact: Goat cheese is higher in health-promoting omega-3s and conjugated linoleic acid than cow’s milk, goat’s milk contains less lactose and more prebiotics, which benefit your microbiome.)
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Your favorite pre-prepared protein (choose a high quality protein like grass fed beef, organic poultry, wild caught low-mercury fish, pasture raised/organic eggs, or organic tempeh)

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Instructions:

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1. Start by washing and drying your mixed greens, and then place them in a large salad bowl.
2. Peel the blood orange and slice it into rounds. Set aside.
3. Peel and slice the avocado, and set aside.
4. Toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, stirring occasionally, about 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
5. Add the blood orange slices, avocado slices, and toasted pecans to the salad bowl.
6. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
7. Drizzle the dressing over the salad, and toss everything together until the greens are evenly coated.
8. Add your protein.
9. Crumble the goat cheese over the top of the salad, and give it one last gentle toss.
10. Serve immediately and enjoy your fresh and delicious salad!

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Whether you're looking for a quick and easy lunch or a light dinner, this salad is sure to satisfy your taste buds and provide your body with an array of brain-boosting, heart-supportive and metabolism-promoting nutrients!