It’s a beautiful day when I start preparing a salad by taking out a crusty baguette and butter.
It’s a beautiful day when sunlight shines through my beer.
It’s a lovely day when I can successfully keep my giant kitten away from my smoked Alaskan salmon.
Also… it’s totally a wonderful day when I can find something simple and inspiring on the internet. It’s a magical day when I see a person in the car next to me totally rocking out to Kelly Clarkson. It’s a dang good day when I choose the fastest line at the grocery.
I find that beauty is simple, even if I’m not looking for it.
Beautiful crusty bread is a highlight in this salad.
As if this bread weren’t delicious enough we’re going to warm it and pan fry it in butter. Of course then… we’ll sprinkle it with sea salt.
If it is your instinct to stop there… I totally understand.
Vinaigrette is one of the easiest and most satisfying things to make.
This vinaigrette features Dijon mustard and salty capers.
Look at that beautifully creamy vinaigrette! Can you even believe how pretty that is!?
And YES! We’re totally adding avocado too.
This salad is the marriage of 100% amazing ingredients. Good lettuce, ripe avocado, dressing that you’re so proud you made yourself, and warm crunchy salty bread. There’s smoked salmon too. Beautiful wild caught salmon from Alaska.
With such lovely ingredients… there’s really no way that this can go wrong for you. It’s beauty, indeed.
When bread is salad… ooohhh what a wonderful day it is.
I’m so so smitten by this salad.
Actually… I’m really into all sorts of salads.
Here’s a few for you to mull over.
I love you…. and I do totally still love cookies… you know this to be true.
Spinach Feta and Blood Orange Salad
Roasted Tomato and Caramelized Onion Salad
Buttered Crouton Salad with avocado and smoked salmon
serves 2
For the Dressing:
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon white wine or champagne viniagrette
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon capers, coarsely chopped
salt and pepper to taste
For the Salad:
1 small baguette sliced into about 12 thick slices, then sliced in half into half moon shapes
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons olive oil
Salad greens, enough for 2 generous servings
1/2 ripe Haas avocado, sliced
enough smoked salmon for 2 generous servings, in bite size pieces
coarse sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper
To make the dressing, combine mustard, vinegar, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Whisk with a fork to combine. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking constantly. The slow drizzle and whisking will emulsify the dressing. Add the capers. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
To make the Salad, heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 teaspoon oil in a medium sautee pan over medium heat. Once butter is melted, add half of the bread pieces to the pan. Cook until toasted, then flip and cook until toasted. Remove from the pan, add the remaining butter and olive oil, and cook the remaining bread pieces.
On a serving plate, arrange salad greens. Carefully drizzle as much dressing as you’s like onto the greens. Toss to coat. Top greens with sliced avocado, and smoked salmon pieces. Top with warm bread pieces. Sprinkle the salad with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
Adrianna from A Cozy Kitchen
Oh I love that you linked to Erin’s breakfast salad. I’ve been a fan of hers for such a long time. She makes beautiful food. Salads hardly ever excite me but the buttered croutons and smoked salmon? YES!
Laura @ She Eats Well
The comment above took the words out of my mouth (I mean fingers…?). “Buttered croutons.” Nuff said. These days, I put avocado on top of everything…it’s the perfect ingredient, garnish, you name it!
Sara
I can’t wait to make this for my husband this weekend. He will once again be so happy that he has me as his wife. :) Thanks for the great recipe!
Hannah at FleurDeLicious
Ummm…any salad recipe that begins with the words “buttered croutons” is a win. Actually, any recipe, ever.
This sounds like an incredibly satisfying meal. Simple beauty is in this post!
Margherita
Avocado and salmon…one of the best combination ever!!!
Jules
Yes, please, and thank you
kate
I love this dressing recipe! Exactly what I feel like I am always looking for.
Margarita
So simple, yet so good. Sometimes this is all we need in life… to appreciate the simplicity in food and what delight it brings. “It’s a beautiful day when sunlight shines on my beer.”
Adrienne @ How to Ice a Cake
I was sincerely hoping for Jules Stevens to photo bomb one of your pictures. I’m kind of in love with him :D I’ve started making my own dressings lately too and it is sooo nice! They aren’t salt explosions and you make so many variations
jill
first of all, i love your blog and the way you write and connect with your readers. i have been reading for a couple of years at least now and you always make me smile :) you write like you are in a thought flow or how you might speak and i do too!! i love it :) a huge congrats on your cookbook!!! so awesome for you! i know you prob get this all of the time but…where is that bowl from??? i’ve seen you also have a matching plate to it and i am in looove!!!
thanks, jill
Shauna
Any salad that features more buttered bread than salad is allllll right by me.
Glorious!!
Julie
Bread and avocado salad? I’m in.
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Dijon mustard, avocado, a tasty vinaigrette, the salmon, buttery homemade croutons, this is a perfect little meal. I loooove making salad dressings that start out with dijon. Yum!
Sophie
This salad looks simply divine! I totally need to go and buy some avocados and smoked salmon RIGHT NOW. I cannot wait to try this out!!
Louisa @ The Heart Beats Faster
I was sold on the warm crusty salted bread alone! The next sunny day we have in Scotland, I’m making this and having it with a nice cold beer. I hope it’s sunny tomorrow…