Even if you’re not a big sports buff, I’m sure you’ve heard by now that there’s a big sports ball game coming up this weekend.
I don’t really follow sports ball, but talk of “the big game” is utterly unavoidable on the tv and in public conversations and small talk with customers at work. From what I’ve gathered, the Denver Cows are playing the Southern State Snow Leopards. Or something like that. I wasn’t really listening.
I generally tune out when I hear any sports talk, especially this time of year. The only thing that ever catches my attention during sports ball season is the TV segments about game day food and recipes. Chips and dips and wings and all things deep fried and heart clogging and delicious. Pizzas and snackadiums and coolers full of beer. Oh yeah, and we can’t forget the guacamole.
The other day someone on TV mentioned that over the past few years avocado consumption on game day has shot straight through the roof. This year they’re estimating that 53.5 million pounds of avocados will be purchased and pummeled into guacamole, and that the total amount of guacamole eaten that day would fill the stadium to almost 12 feet deep.
Now that’s what I call a snackadium!
Even though I won’t actually be participating in any game day festivities, hearing about a 12 foot deep stadium full of guacamole definitely got my mouth watering and my wheels spinning.
Instead of just making a killer batch of guacamole though, I wanted to find a way to turn it into a filling healthy meal rather than a bowl of dip to serve with chips.
It didn’t take me long to decide I’d be making a big beautiful dinner salad, but I really wasn’t sure what to call it. The most obvious name was, well, “guacamole salad”, but I was afraid that that name would conjure images of a scoop of guacamole plopped into the center of a bed of greens.
I considered calling it a deconstructed guacamole salad since it has all the traditional guacamole ingredients separated and recombined in a different way, but I was afraid that you’d see the word “deconstructed” in the title and roll your eyes so hard they’d get stuck, and then you wouldn’t be able to read all about this delicious salad.
So, guacamole salad it was.
Trust your gut. (Your gut wants guacamole.)
If you’re not fond of arugula, this salad can basically be made with any greens you want. I like the pepperiness of arugula and think it pairs really well with everything else in this salad, but spinach or mixed greens or some nice crunchy romaine would work really well too. It’s totally up to you!
You could also leave out the grilled chicken if you want to keep things meat-free. I’d suggest that maybe you could add a full can of black beans (instead of the half can listed below) for extra protein, or maybe throw in some grilled mushrooms or zucchini for a meaty bite? You could even swap out the chicken for some thinly sliced steak or grilled shrimp if you’re into that kind of thing. Why not? Infinite possibilities. Whatever you like y’all!
This salad is simple, easy, filling, and perfectly delicious. Bursting with creamy buttery avocado and packed with all the fixins that go in to a traditional guacamole. Sweet cherry tomatoes, biting red onion, fresh green cilantro, even a handful of tortilla chips for crunch! It all comes together with a bright and citrusy jalapeño lime dressing that could not be easier to make, especially if you have an immersion blender.
All the flavor of the game day grub, without the food coma!
Guacamole Salad with Jalapeño Lime Dressing
zest and juice (about 1/4 cup) of 2 limes
1 jalapeno, seeded and roughly chopped
1 clove of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon honey
1/3 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Salad:
3 to 4 generous cups arugula
2 ripe avocados, cut into large chunks
1 cup halved grape tomatoes, about 1/2 a pint
1/2 a small red onion, finely chopped
1/2 to 1 cup torn cilantro leaves, stems removed
1/2 to 1 cup tortilla chips, crunched up (but not crushed to dust)
1/2 a can of black beans, drained and rinsed
2 chicken breasts, grilled and thinly sliced (optional)
Make the dressing:
Combine all dressing ingredients in a small measuring cup or wide mouth mason jar and puree with an immersion blender until creamy and smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender you can use a regular blender or food processor. Alternately you could just chop the jalapeño and garlic super finely by hand and shake to combine. Set aside.
Can be made ahead and refrigerated until ready to use.
Assemble the salad:
Layer all remaining ingredients in a large serving or salad bowl. Once ready to toss, pour dressing over the top and toss toss toss to distribute all ingredients and evenly coat with dressing. Serve immediately.
If you want to assemble the salad ahead be sure to wait until the last minute to cut open the avocados or to add the tortilla chips or dressing.
Brooklyn Homemaker 
The Game will be on TV at our home (BORING) I’ll be whipping up some good appetizers and food. Frankly, I do not know who is even playing and could careless. My role is chief cook and bottle washer! I love this cohesive salad you’ve put together here Tux, lovely job! Root-Root-Root for whatever team??? Best to Russell and the girls. Cheryl
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! I remember trying to feign interest in the game when I was a kid, but my heart was definitely over at the snack table. Have fun cooking and washing up! ;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol Thanks Tux-thankfully I have dual dishwashers! I’ll be cooking and baking plenty though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This looks like an amazing fresh alternative to my usual uses for guacamole. unfortunately the game will be in the middle of the night over here and not quite sure i am a big enough fan to stay up and watch but can get in the spirit and make this instead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not a big fan of the game anyway, so I’d definitely enjoy this salad more than the game anyway! Hahaha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
i’m loving this salad. i have some BIG guacamole fans in this house and this sounds like the perfect dinner, game or no game. i’m with you, the game is incidental, it’s all about the food!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! If you have guacamole lovers in the house, you definitely have to try this!
LikeLike
Like it or not, I married a HUGE fan from Wisconsin (where they actually wear cheese – or rather giant hats resembling cheese on their heads). We will be watching the big game, and I was looking for something different to serve with my Stadium Taco Dip (yeah, I build a stadium out of taco dip). This is perfect – thanks!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My heart goes out to you! Hopefully you enjoy the game at least a little bit!
Lucky for me, Russell has just as little interest in the big game as I do. He does however like to tune it to try to watch the halftime show. A taco stadium sounds like a whole lot of fun! I might have to try it myself, but I’d eat it while watching reruns of Law and Order SVU instead of sports!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Law & Order SVU – love that! I do enjoy the commercials during the big game – I don’t understand the point of sprots. I might settle in for the last quarter – which is all that counts, right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
This salad looks wonderful – I am more than happy to contribute to the avocado consumption stats, game day weekend or any day! Also, I laughed out loud at the “Denver Cows” vs. “Southern State Snow Leopards.” I’m definitely in the same boat: couldn’t really care less about the football, but bring on the snacks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I’m so glad someone appreciated my corny jokes- no one else even mentioned it hahahaha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This salad looks gorgeous and sounds absolutely phenomenal, Tux! The food is definitely the most (if not only) interesting aspect of any football game for me too (even this year where I hear my home team is in the game :)).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! As a kid I always tried to pretend I cared about the game (for my dad’s sake) but I usually ended up loitering around the snack table the whole night anyway. These days, it’s all snacks and no games for me! Hahaha!
LikeLike
This is right up my alley…cannot get enough avocados…love this recipe as it gives me an new way to eat them! Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can definitely never have too many ways to eat avocados! Glad I could help! hahaha
LikeLike
mmmmm this looks amazing (never thought I’d say that about a salad lol). I love making dressing from scratch – it makes me feel so Martha! I’m so proud of you that you seem to be keeping with your health promises from last year; making a salad when you could’ve made nachos (which is totally what I would have done). Nice work!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! Thank you thank you! I’ve actually been really naughty since a few weeks before Thanksgiving (you know, recipe testing) but lately I’ve been determined to get back on track. I lost a little bit of weight and while that wasn’t really my goal, I’ll be damned if I let myself gain it back!
I promise this salad is just as delicious as it looks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Guacamole salad sounds totally bomb! I’m totally with you — I zone out whenever anyone talks about sports. My boyfriend is into Aussie football, and I just go unintentionally deaf whenever he tries to explain it to me, haha! Love the sound of that jalapeno lime dressing, too.
LikeLike
Thank you so much! Luckily my husband cares about sports just as much as I do so we get to watch Law and Order re-runs instead!
LikeLike
Oh my goodness I am just drooling! LOOVVVEEE guac..LOVVVEEE salad…great idea to combine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
;) thank you!
LikeLike
Next month is a mile-stone Birthday for Hubby. We’re doing a whole Mexican/Yucatan thing – and that’s when I stumbled on your recipe in my collection. This is going to be the perfect salad to serve along side my Mango and Jicama Salad. Can’t wait!
(https://rosemarieskitchen.org/2014/09/04/mango-and-jicama-salad/)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! And yum!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person