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Nothing all that different about this salad … until we start talking about the blueberries! They go brilliantly with the crispy smoked bacon and avocado. And that blueberry dressing … wow!
Mr. Scrummy and I sometimes have a bit of a dilemma. He loves to stay in and potter around, do things on his computer, watch movies and relax, but I love to go out. For me, having to stay in all day is like torture. Even on a rainy day I want to get out, if only for just a short while.
But this past Saturday, we didn’t have this problem. It was one of those perfect summer days, neither too hot nor too cold, and the only thing we both wanted to do was find a nice traditional English country pub with a garden for a lazy lunch. So off we went, and we couldn’t have asked for a more pleasant afternoon (apart from the runny hay fever-y nose I ended up with!).
Now, a couple of days later, and we’re having a ‘heatwave’. British style, which means a few days of heat, more than likely followed by a tremendous thunderstorm and then a return to chilly temperatures (Aren’t I the cynic!).
So, in celebration of our first spell of proper hot weather (finally I can get out the summer gear!) I decided to make a tasty salad. Nothing too unusual on the face of it … just some nice green leaves tossed with crispy bacon, avocado aaand … here’s the twist … blueberries!! Maybe it sounds a bit strange to you to add the blueberries, but hear me out. Bacon is pork and pork often gets paired with fruit, and blueberries are fruit … so why not?
The pièce de résistance of this salad though is definitely the blueberry dressing! I don’t know how you feel about drizzling something purple all over your food, but I promise you it tastes really really good! All it is is olive oil, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, a little squirt of honey and blueberries, and as you can see it ends up looking like purple mayonnaise!
We made a simple dinner of this with some toasted Italian bread drizzled with olive oil and salt (mmm … try that, it’s gooood and goes with so many things!) I sprinkled a little feta cheese over a bit of it just to see if it worked or not, but I decided that it didn’t. The bacon, blueberries and fruity, mustard-y dressing are flavourful enough without needing to add another thing.
So the verdict? This one’s a keeper and I hope you give it a try. Enjoy!
Blueberry, bacon & avocado salad (with a blueberry dressing)
Ingredients
For the salad
- 4 rashers smoked bacon
- 1.75 ounces salad leaves of your choice I used a mixture of rocket, baby spinach & red chard
- 1/2 a large avocado sliced into chunks
- 2.5 ounces blueberries
For the dressing
- 1 ounce blueberries
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon teaspoon clear honey
To serve
- toasted bread drizzled with olive oil & salt optional
Instructions
- Heat a frying pan over a high heat and cook the bacon for a couple of minutes or so on each side until golden and a bit crispy. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Scatter the salad leaves over a large plate or platter, then sprinkle over the avocado and blueberries. Tear the bacon over the salad, too.
- To make the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a food processor (hand-held works well) and whizz until smooth.
- Serve the salad with the dressing drizzled over and the toasted bread (if using).
Notes
Nutrition
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Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
How divine does this salad sound! And even as we’re in the midst of Winter I can look at this salad and say that I dearly would love it even though it is cold 😀
Helen says
I feel very honoured that you would make my salad even when it’s cold!! 🙂
Debra @ Worth Cooking says
This looks delicious. My son is obsessed with blueberries and whenever we have them want to add them to anything we make. He usually braver in the savory blueberry dishes then I am!
Helen says
Thank you, Debra! I must admit this was one of the first times I’d added blueberries to a savoury dish I think, but it won’t be the last. This was really delicious and I hope you make it for your son some time!
Joanne says
Oh my gosh, the.boy and I have exactly the same disagreement that you guys do!! I always want to go out and he would be happy to just stay in all weekend long. Crazy. So glad you guys got a beautiful day out before the heat wave. Love this salad for an easy refreshing summer meal.
Helen says
Ha! Glad it’s not just me! I suppose as food bloggers we should want to stay in all the time and … cook! But … well, sometimes is OK but mostly I want to be OUT, especially in the summer! 🙂
Kristen @ The Endless Meal says
This looks like the perfect summer salad …. especially the blueberry dressing. Yum!
Helen says
Thank you, Kristen! It’s the blueberry dressing that clinches it for me!
A Spoonful of Spain says
This looks like just the thing for a heat wave! Fresh, tasty and colourful!
Helen says
Hello! Thanks so much for passing by! And glad you like the salad 🙂
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
I rarely have a going out/going in dilemma with my boyfriend. It seems like we are always too busy to go out 🙁
This salad sounds amazing! I am loving this flavor combo!
Helen says
Hello, Cathleen! Oh no! You have to change that, girl!
Really happy you like the salad!
Bam's Kitchen says
Brilliant salad combo, Helen. I really love that whole salty and delicately sweet combo of fruit with greens and of course the bacon. I love your food composition and your plates just perfectly beautiful. Pinned!
Helen says
Hello, Bam! Thank you so much for all the lovely compliments … and of course for the pin – really appreciated!
Marissa @ OMG FOOD says
Gorgeous looking salad!
Helen says
Thank you, Marissa!
Thao @ In Good Flavor says
This salad is so pretty and the blueberry dressing sound delicious! I would be perfectly content with this salad and Italian bread for supper too!
Helen says
Hello Thao! Thank you so much – this does indeed make a great summer dinner. Just add a bit of fresh bread and you’re good to go!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Your English heat wave sounds pretty much exactly the same as our Canadian heat waves 😉 I’ll take whatever heat I can get, ha! I love love love this salad, Helen, especially that dressing, it all looks to die for!
Helen says
Yes, me too I’ll take what I can get! Unfortunately now the heat has left us again … come back, come back!
Anyway, thanks for the compliments on the salad! 🙂
Zainab says
This is really the perfect ht summer night dinner!! It’s funny how you guys go through cycles of heat and chills while we are just HOT.
Helen says
Oooh, you’re making me jealous, Zainab!! I want the ‘just hot’! 🙂
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
What a gorgeous salad, Helen! I love the blueberry and bacon combination! And anything with avocados is a winner in my book. Love this!
Helen says
Thank you so much, Gayle! I love avocados too and take any excuse to add it to my meals! 🙂