This upscaled caesar salad is loaded to capacity with plenty of greens, fresh avocado, croutons, and an amazingly-creamy lighter buttermilk dressing! Healthy lunch is served.
Hi guys. It’s me back again with yet even MORE proof that I’m turning into a spinach salad enthusiast. Roasted beets paved the way and spinach caesar salad is confirming it.
Gosh, doesn’t everyone just love salad season? Pretty greens and veggies are making me positively giddy right now. And I really mean it. Salad season is seriously neck-and-neck with cookie season in my weird equally-obsessed-with-sweets-and-greens mind.
And obviously my only goals right now are to get everyone back on the January salad bandwagon with me.
Excuse me while I fall back into my current salad coma. ??
So on that same note, I must ask: Would to guys judge me too harshly if I were to tell you that I have one page in my ginormous recipe inspiration notebook solely dedicated to salads I want to make and eat this month? And guys, that list is freaking LONG! Like, I don’t think there’s enough lettuce in the U.S. to even make that much salad.
But heck, let’s give it our best go. 😉
I’ve been rapidly working my way through all the bullet-marked salads on said Salad List and it came as no surprise that this spinach caesar salad magically ended up at the top of the list.
No prejudice at all towards all the other salads, buuuuuut…avocados. Croutons. (homemade ones win!) Parmesan cheese. homemade buttermilk dressing. All the greeeeeeeens.
All the yes. All the salad faceplants.
My mother walked through the kitchen as I was assembling several individual plates of this salad and she said something to the effect of “those look too pretty to eat.”
Me: “You totally should anyway, Mom, trust me.”
This one is totally the perfect lunch salad to take along to work with you, OR if you’re being awesome and sticking to those New Years resolutions it totally serves the cause as a killer entree salad for the dinner hour. Throw in some cooked chicken or turkey if you want to up the amount of protein.
Also…extra Parm cheese and extra dressing is a must. You know, while we’re being so obedient and loyal to January and eating our weight in salads. ???
And now…about that faceplant…↑
Avocado Spinach Caesar Salad with Light Buttermilk Dressing
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Ingredients
- 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
- 2 medium ripe avocados pitted and diced
- 1 large tomato halved and thinly sliced
- 1 cup salad croutons or homemade
- 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- BUTTERMILK DRESSING:
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss romaine lettuce, spinach, avocado, tomato, croutons, Parmesan, and almonds until combined. Store salad in refrigerator until ready to use
- In a small bowl, whisk all dressing ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- When ready to serve, toss salad and serve with buttermilk dressing. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More salads for all your January healthy goals!
Maple-Roasted Beet and Carrot Spinach Salad
Ranch Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I could eat salad just about all day, every day! And when it involves spinach leaves and avocado, sign me up! This salad looks perfect, Sarah! I love your homemade dressing, too. Wishing I had this for lunch today!
Sarah says
Thanks Gayle! Salad for DAYS, right?? 😀
Mel @ The Refreshanista says
Oh my gosh YUM! I love avocados, especially in salad. And that buttermilk dressing looks super delicious!
Sarah says
Thanks so much Mel! 🙂
Annie says
What an amazing salad!! This looks like it should be my lunch!
Sarah says
It should totally be your lunch, girl! 😀
annie says
This salad looks perfect. And I love salad season (that’s every season!). I love the bright pbotos, and I agree with your mom — this dish is gorgeous!
Sarah says
Aw thank you Annie! Doesn’t salad season rock?? 😀
Madeline says
What a colorful and healthy salad! Much needed in my diet after all of the holiday eating. : D
Sarah says
Perfect detox salad right? Thanks Madeline! 🙂
Kelly says
Haha your mom is so cute! This salad IS gorgeous though! I totally support your long list of salads you want to make. I have one every day for lunch and wish I had this one today!
Sarah says
Thanks Kelly! There’s no such thing as too many salads, right?
Ashley@CookNourishBliss says
Yum yum yum! I love a good salad and with the avocado, tomatoes and croutons? Yes please! And that dressing sounds just wonderful! Yay salad season!
Sarah says
Salad season is the best, right? 😀 Thanks Ashley!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
This is one gorgeous salad Sarah! I only wish I could be as good at January as you! Lol. I made like 16 dozen cookies last week…. :S Send help! And lettuce. Lol
Sarah says
Haha! Hey, a salad and cookie combo totally works for me! 🙂
marcie says
Now this is a hearty, satisfying salad, and that dressing looks so good I could drink it! I love when healthy looks so delicious!
Sarah says
Aw thanks girl! Pretty salads just taste better. 😀
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
As an official crazy salad lady, I approve of this salad 😉 This looks so good, and that buttermilk dressing looks so creamy and perfect!!
Sarah says
I’m totally there with you on being a crazy salad lady! 😀
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
Oooh this looks so good! The creamy dressing sounds amazing. And you can’t go wrong with avocado in your salad!!
Sarah says
Thanks Jess! Avocado in salads just automatically makes ’em better right??