Little gems with avocado and green goddess dressing
This sounds like a pleasant side salad, but it is much more than that. Green goddess dressing is an overlooked hero – it is bright, savoury, and adds a creaminess that dresses Little Gem leaves perfectly. The crunch from the pumpkin seeds really brings this dish together.
Salads can be the most layered and flavourful of dishes. I start with a strong base – crunchy vegetables or leaves – then add a soft element, such as mozzarella or boiled egg. Next, I add fresh herbs for a bright bite and, lastly, the perfect dressing, which marries acid with fat. I always finish with flaked sea salt and a grind of black pepper. These recipes are good enough to be their own meal. Use them as a guide and change or add anything as your heart desires. With five good dressings in your back pocket, there is very little you cannot achieve in the kitchen.
What you'll need
Yield
Serves 6
Ingredients
For the dressing
For the salad
Step 1
Place all the green goddess dressing ingredients in a food processor with black pepper and sea salt, and blend until it is lovely and smooth. It should have a thick and creamy texture, but still be loose enough to dress the salad well.
Step 2
In a shallow bowl, combine the lettuce, avocado, shallot and chives. Pour over the dressing and toss until all the leaves are coated. Garnish with the pumpkin seeds, a drizzle of olive oil and a few leaves of each herb. Season to taste.
