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.
nissanvietnam
When bread is salad… ooohhh what a wonderful day it is. I’m so so smitten by this salad.
Sarah
Wow, this looks so delicious! Never heard of the crusty bread served in salad thing, but I’m sure it’s tasty as well. Gotta try this out! Thanks for great post! I had featured u in the post of Top 7 Unusual Recipes with Bread on AllFreshRecipes, expect ur MORE recipes!
OrGreenic
This recipe looks so refreshing. I love anything with avocado and the capers in the dressing is a wonderful idea. I cant wait to try this recipe, great post.
Carrie
Scrumptious! This salad was light and refreshing. I am so glad I found your blog, there are a ton of recipes I can’t wait to make.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Katie
Just ate this. Absolutely fabulous. I could eat this every night. Butter croutons have to be my new favorite thing!
Jennie
I have been dreaming of this salad since you first posted it…this morning I saw some smoked salmon at the Farmer’s Market-and decided that today was the day! I also added some bacon (and fried the bread in the grease!) Awesome Saturday lunch! (and it might be dinner too!)
Molly O'Loughlin
Joy, this looks delicious, healthy and the 1st sentence just makes us smile.
michelle
I made this tonight and it’s so good! I used Honey Wine Vinegar and added extra for a bit of sweetness. Loved it! The kids had extra croutons on top of their homemade tomato-basil soup.
Courtney @ Bake. Eat. Repeat.
I doubt I’d be hungry by the time I finished nibbling on those croutons! Butterific!
P.S. I’ve totally hopped on the savory waffle bandwagon. Had a cheese waffle with chorizo and egg last week. In-credible! Thanks for the great idea!
erin @ yummy supper
Joy, thank you so much for that nice shout-out.
And your salad looks delish – avocado and smoked salmon have to be two of my favorite things.
-Erin
Heidi - Apples Under My Bed
Incredible. True beauty. I’m absolutely making this for a week night dinner next week, thank you. Ooooh I can picture the delicious crunch of the bread now…
Heidi xo
Julie
I never pick the right grocery line…
SS {Curries and Cakes}
This looks so beautiful and bright! In the gloominess of Philadelphia and Finals..this is what I really need. Even if I have to eat with my eyes and not my mouth.
chefroommate
Pan frying bread in butter. You are THE genius. Way to make a salad, boss lady. Thanks!
anna
i love the things you do with avocado.
LePetitBohemian
This recipe looks so healthy. I love the idea of incorporating the capers to the dressing. I wonder if the dressing would taste just as great with white balsamic vinegar instead of champagne vinegar or the white wine? What do you think?
Stoich91
Hold the ponies, woman. I just drooled a little on my keyboard, I think. That is the best-looking salad I have seen in a long time! ;D Haha
Alicia @ Treble Tart
I have seriously been craving avocado lately, I can hardly stand it. This looks like the perfect way to quench my cravings! You rock, Joy!
Lucia
Creamy avocado, tasty salmon and crispy croutons: this salad is divine, it brights my day.
amber
MMM- the perfect springtime salad! Love your blog- you’re on my list of regular reads on mine! Thanks!
Jésabelle B.
Made this salad yesterday, making it again today, and probably tomorrow… mmmm….!!!
From Cupcakes, With Love
i agree with the comment above…seriously feed me this salad every day!!
From Cupcakes, With Love x
Villy @ For the love of Feeding
Feed me this salad. Every day. Please do.
Jeanette @ Mary's Pastry Lab
the best salad in the world… avocado + smoked salmon r u kidding me?
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
Delicious looking!! Like everything else you make :)
Robin
Well you have just written the recipe for my go to comfort food salad. Love the combination of the creamy avocado with the smoky salmon and the bite of the dressing. BUT- capers! Of course! That is one of those moments when I think, why haven’t I thought of that? You’ve just elevated my salad to new heights. Thank you!
Ellen
A salad based on the crouton? Yes! Just…yes.
Kelsey
That looks just amazing! Dinner tomorrow night fo sho!
Rachel
Man that looks good, that is what’s for dinner tonight for me.
Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com
Rocky Mountain Woman
It’s beauty indeed!
Sara
Reading your blog is like a breath of fresh air!
Julia {The Roasted Root}
Sounds like your day started well to me! I have to admit, my attention was drawn to your beer…”what kind of beer does Joy drink?” was an immediate question on my mind. Your salad looks lovely…huge hunks of avocado with flaky smoked salmon and big ol croutons…perfect if you ask me!
JenMarie
This salad has my name written all over it!
I especially love the avacado and salmon addition. Soo good!
Amy
Salmon + avocado + bread = perfect marriage. I love this idea (and the idea of making your own croutons!).
xoxo,
mon amy
VA DE PAN
Perfect meal for me!!!!I love avocado, smoked salmon….so yummy!!!thanks for sharing
Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray
Hahahah, that girl rocking out to Kelly Clarkson at the traffic light is totally me. Guilty. (If I lived in Cali.)
Annie
This looks amazing! Reminded me of your Spinach, Feta and Blood Orange salad, which I made at Easter. My family LOVED it, which made me happy!
JoJo
All I can say is I WANT! I love wild Alaskan salmon.
Nicole @ The Dirty Oven
Lovely! Yet again Joy. Love you too!
Natasha D.
I’m drooling just looking at this! It looks so delicious.
Marinda
Omg, I just found your blog and I am totally in love with it!!
First the peanut-butter banana bread (wich I am gonna make, just tried the combination of peanut butter and banana for the first time today and wow, so yumm) and now this wonderfull salad, can’t wait to try it! I have never eaten avacado but i’m sure it will be nice!
Can’t wait to read more recipes!
Lynne @ 365 Days of Baking
“I find that beauty is simple, even if I’m not looking for it.” LOVE that, because it is SO true.
As I was doing dishes yesterday, I looked up to see a lizard on our wall and was fortunate enough to take a picture of him for my post.
It is the little things and I also think it’s having that attitude of gratitude that makes us appreciate those things so much more.
It also must be the fact that I’m getting older, too.
Enjoy your day, Joy, and safe travels to London!!
Kimberly H
Want to see photos of the “Giant Kitten” hehehe!
amy h
this salad…this salad! i want it in my belly [rightnow] and it’s not even 9am yet! definitely going on my To Make To Eat list.
Carla
Just have to reiterate how much I love the way you write! Its no wonder you are now a published author. Very much looking forward to your next cookbook! Also – love the look of this salad! :)
Elizabeth
The avocado, smoked salmon, and buttered croutons look amazing together!
Le Citron
This looks amazing !
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Those croutons really do look like they make the salad, love this!
Sophie
I’m having such a smoked salmon kick at the moment. I normally put it with pasta salad, but bread and avocado sounds good right now.
Sara {Home is Where the Cookies Are}
Oh, yum! This DOES look perfect. There’s no way to say no to a salad who’s main ingredient is buttered croutons. Bread in salad certainly takes the “boring” out of it, doesn’t it??
Johanna
Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom Nom. Definitely the most delightful looking salad I’ve seen in a while!
thelittleloaf
I’m totally smitten by this salad too – I love the combination of creamy avocado and rich salmon, and the addition of crusty buttered bread and salty capers takes this straight to the top of the list!
Jessica Ann [peonyfish]
This looks amazing, I always feel like avocados and smoked salmon are best friends. There should be a children’s cartoon about them. Though I am judging from the sunlight and the beautifully ripened avocado that you are not making this in London.
Stephanie
Eeeek! Is this salmon from your Alaska care package!?! Cause that would be awesome!
joythebaker
IT IS!!! I love it! Thank you so much!
Jamie {green beans & grapefruit}
Yes. Yes. and YES. Hope London town is a blast!
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…