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Photograph of Strawberry and Avocado Salad with Burrata, Salted Caramel Pecan Nuts and a Balsamic Dressing with Honey and Poppy Seeds

Strawberry and Avocado Salad with Burrata, Salted Caramel Pecans and a Balsamic Dressing with Honey and Poppyseeds.

Here at Daffodil Kitchen we are continuing to celebrate strawberry season with this incredible Strawberry and Avocado Salad with Burrata, Salted Caramel Pecan Nuts and a Balsamic Dressing with Honey and Poppy Seeds. If you love sweet and savoury salads with lashings of flavour and contrasting textures, you will adore this combination.

Serves 4 - 6

Course barbecue, buffet, light lunch, Lunch, picnic, Side Dish
Keyword Avocado, balsamic dressing, salted caramel pecan nuts, strawberries
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Author Susan

Ingredients

Balsamic Dressing with Honey and Poppy Seeds -

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 2 teaspoons runny honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove of garlic, peeled and crushed
  • ⅛ teaspoon fine salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Salted Caramel Pecan Nuts -

  • 65g pecans nuts
  • 10g unsalted butter
  • 25g caster or granulated sugar
  • pinch - small ⅛ teaspoon fine salt, or to taste

For the rest of the salad -

  • 30g red onion, peeled and finely sliced
  • 300g fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 100g cucumber, halved and sliced
  • 75g pea shoots or spinach leaves
  • 1 large avocado, peeled, stone removed and cubed
  • 10g fresh basil leaves, shredded
  • 250g - 285g/ 1 x ball of burrata

Instructions

  1. Collect together your equipment (see Recipe Notes below) and ingredients.

  2. Make the dressing - peel and crush the garlic and place in a jam jar with the remaining ingredients.

  3. Screw on the lid tightly and shake thoroughly

  4. Caramelise the pecan nuts - melt the butter in a frying pan over a moderate heat and add the sugar and salt.

  5. Mix well and add the pecan nuts.

  6. Cook, stirring, over a moderate heat until the sugar and salt have melted into the butter. As soon as this happens, continue to cook for a further 2 minutes, stirring continuously, and then immediately pour onto a parchment lined baking tray. Spread the pecans out over the paper.

  7. Set aside to cool.

  8. Now make this fabulous salad - peel and thinly slice the red onion. Put in a bowl and cover with fresh, cold water. Set aside for 10 - 30 minutes. (I do this before I make the dressing and caramelise the pecan nuts)

  9. When you are ready to bring the salad together, drain the water from the onion and dry it on kitchen paper.

  10. Chop the cucumber and add to a mixing bowl with the green leaves and onion. Add 2 - 3 tablespoons dressing. Thoroughly toss so everything is coated in a layer of dressing.

  11. Transfer half this mix to your serving dish.

  12. Cut the burrata in half. Break up one half and dot over the salad. Prepare the strawberries and avocado and scatter half of these over the salad as well.

  13. Break up the pecan nuts and scatter half over the salad with half the shredded basil leaves. Drizzle over a little dressing.

  14. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. You can either break up, or leave the remaining half of the burrata in one piece. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

Equipment:

  • kitchen scales and measuring spoons
  • chopping board and knife
  • jam jar and lid
  • garlic crusher
  • small frying pan
  • baking tray lined with baking parchment
  • mixing bowl
  • serving bowl