Avocado & Tomato Salad

A friend of mine was over for dinner a while back…
 
When we met again, he first asked me, “ how did you make that avocado salad?” … these are food friendships!  I had to think a second, much of my cooking recipes and ideas are done on the spot. I have one or two ingredients in mind, one often involves garlic ;) and with a vegetable or a fruit, I devise a dish.
 
But not this one. This is a recipe that dates back almost 60 years. We lived in Africa when I was a boy and one of the great things about Africa is the taste and size of vegetables. Avocados were always big and plentiful as were tomatoes. I remember my mother making this very simple salad – avocado cubed, ripe tomato and a little French vinaigrette.
 
For 2 – a little salad for that tête à tête …
 
INGREDIENTS 

• 1 large ripe avocado - Cubed
• 2 ripe tomatoes or a handle of cherry tomatoes - cubed

Note: the tomatoes are best if the skins are soft otherwise they are too hard for the soft avocado

​METHOD

• ½ a clove of garlic – minced
• A little olive oil
• A drizzle of apple cider vinegar ( a squeeze of lemon would do nicely as well)
• A pinch of sea salt
• A few basil leaves

 
INSTRUCTIONS

1. First mix the chopped tomato with minced garlic, this will reduce the strength of the garlic
2. Then add the avocado and the basil leaves.
3. Drizzle a little olive oil, a tbsp or two, the same amount of cider vinegar and a pinch of salt.
4. Mix it all together et voila!

 
A very simple salad, easy to make and always good! Perfect for that hot summer evening meal.
 
Bon appétit !
 
Jacques
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