Young Lettuces With Herbed Avocado

A fresh and elegant salad featuring tender lettuce leaves tossed with a bright lemon vinaigrette, served over creamy herbed avocado puree and garnished with pistachios and edible flowers.

6 servings
45 min

Ingredients

  • 1 small shallot
  • 1 tablespoon Champagne vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 to taste Kosher salt
  • 2 large avocados
  • ½ whole preserved lemon
  • ¾ cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup mixed herbs
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons agave syrup
  • 1 to taste Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 heads baby lettuces
  • 2 cups spicy greens
  • 1 cup tender herbs
  • ½ cup edible flowers
  • ½ cup unsalted pistachios
  • ½ cup roasted pistachios

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Combine shallot, vinegar, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Season with salt and let sit 20 minutes to lightly pickle.

    20 min

  2. 2.

    Using a spoon, scoop avocado flesh into a food processor; discard skins. Puree until smooth. Add preserved lemon, yogurt, oil, and shallot along with pickling liquid; season with salt and pulse to combine.

    5 min

  3. 3.

    Transfer avocado mixture to a medium bowl and stir in herbs. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and/or more lemon juice, if needed.

    5 min

  4. 4.

    Herbed avocado can be made 1 day ahead. Cover, pressing plastic wrap directly onto surface, and chill.

  5. 5.

    Whisk lemon juice and agave in a medium bowl; season with salt. Whisk in grapeseed oil, then olive oil. Taste vinaigrette and adjust seasoning with more salt if needed.

    5 min

  6. 6.

    Vinaigrette can be made 5 days ahead. Cover and chill.

  7. 7.

    Toss lettuces, spicy greens, herbs, and edible flowers in a large bowl to combine. Drizzle about half of lemon vinaigrette over and toss to coat. Season salad with salt.

    5 min

  8. 8.

    Spoon 2 dollops of herbed avocado onto each plate and loosely mound salad over top. Scatter pistachios over and around salad and drizzle with remaining lemon vinaigrette.

    5 min