Chilly Breeze Keto Side (Printable)
Crisp cucumber and creamy avocado with a zingy lemon-herb dressing for a refreshing side.
# List of ingredients:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 large English cucumber, diced
02 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
03 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
→ Dressing
06 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
08 - 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
09 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
# Steps:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, mix diced cucumber, avocado, red onion, mint, and parsley.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss gently to combine, taking care to keep avocado pieces intact.
04 - Transfer salad to a serving dish and evenly sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds.
05 - Serve immediately to preserve freshness and texture.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It takes less than ten minutes from start to finish, which means you can pull it together while your main dish rests.
- The combination of creamy avocado and crisp cucumber feels indulgent without weighing you down at all.
- The lemon and mint wake up your palate in a way that makes everything else on the plate taste better.
02 -
- If you let this sit too long, the avocado will start to brown and the cucumber will release water, so timing really matters here.
- I learned the hard way that skipping the lemon zest makes the dressing taste one-dimensional, it's worth the extra thirty seconds to zest that lemon.
03 -
- Toast the pumpkin seeds yourself in a dry skillet for a minute or two, it makes them taste fresher and more aromatic than the pre-toasted kind.
- If your avocado is a little underripe, let it sit at room temperature for a day rather than trying to force it, the texture will be so much better.