Another summer day, another cooked fruit salad! This is very similar to that roasted peach and sausage salad I made a couple of weeks ago. When I saw it featured as one of Food52’s genius recipes, I knew I had to make it. It really is genius to put avocado! 
This was Shabbat dinner along with tacos and rice and beans. It was an interesting Friday night meal; interesting but delicious! This salad was the biggest hit.
I especially had to make it because I’ve been interested in eating more watercress after Jessica told me about how healthy it was when she made BLTs and that watercress pesto. But it wasn’t that easy finding watercress. Two supermarkets had signage for it, but it was nowhere to be found. I ended up buying some watercress in soil at A Matter of Health, and then managed to kill it very quickly!
Cuban Avocado, Watercress, and Pineapple Salad from food52
Ingredients:
- 2 bunches watercress
- One pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into four 1-inch thick slices
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar or fresh lime juice
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Haas avocados
- 1 small red onion (5 ounces), thinly slivered lengthwise
Directions:
- Prepare the watercress: Place the watercress in a colander and rinse under cold water to remove and grit or sand. Discard any yellowing leaves and remove the tough stems; for this salad, you want only the leaves and tender stems. Pat dry with paper towels and refrigerate while you prepare the rest of the salad.
- Broil the pineapple: Heat the broiler. Place the pineapple slices on a baking pan and sprinkle sugar evenly on top of them. Broil about 4 inches from the heat source, turning once, for 5 to 10 minutes on each side, until golden brown. (You can line your pan with aluminum foil for easier cleanup, but not parchment — it may catch fire.) Let cool, then cut into 1-inch cubes. Set aside.
- Prepare the dressing: Place the garlic, olive oil, vinegar or lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Taste for seasoning. Set aside.
- Peel the avocado: Cut the avocado(s) lengthwise in half around the pit and remove the pit. Place the avocado halves cut side down on the work surface and slice lengthwise into 1-inch-wide wedges. Peel each segment by hand or with a paring knife, and cut into 1-inch cubes.
- Assemble the salad: Place the watercress in a medium bowl and toss with half the dressing. Arrange on a large platter. Add the pineapple and avocado to the same bowl and toss with the rest of the dressing. Mound the pineapple and avocado over the bed of watercress. Garnish with slivers of red onion and serve immediately.
- Add the pineapple and avocado to the same bowl and toss with the rest of the dressing. Mound the pineapple and avocado over the bed of watercress. Garnish with the slivers of red onion and serve immediately.
