California Backyard Salad. Tastes Like Home.

I grew up in California with a fig tree, plum tree, apple tree, cherry tree, olive tree and apricot tree in my backyard. Nothing tasted better than the fruit off those trees. Picked by hand. I’d eye a tiny green plum and watch it for weeks and weeks until it was ripe black purple. Juicy and plump. Our special plum tree was a goldmine of plums. My favorite kind of gold: fruit. Although I’m an NYC-er these days, I still miss my fruit-filled backyard and those tall swanky trees that I loved so much. My favorite spot to sit and think: a perfect little perch in my fig tree out back.

To bring me back to those innocent childhood days in the sun, I crafted my California Backyard Salad with Zesty Fig Dressing. California flavors galore: sunflower seeds, almonds, avocado, figs, plums and lemon. Dive into sunshine and get a taste of my childhood…

California in a bowl:
Avocados galore:

Sunny sunflowers seeds and almonds:
Zesty Fig Dressing:
California Backyard Salad
serves 2

6 cups baby lettuce blend
1 ripe purple plum
1 ripe avocado
2 tbsp almonds
3 Tbsp sunflower seeds
optional “cali” add-in’s: artichoke hearts, diced tomato, sliced apples, walnuts.

Zesty Fig Dressing

1 part maple or agave syrup
1 part lemon juice and a few thin slices
1 part apple cider vinegar
1 part whole grain mustard
2 parts EVOO
black pepper
6 figs, sliced

Directions:

1. Whisk dressing together.

2. Place salad greens in serving bowls. Drizzle with a bit of dressing – be sure to get those figs to fall into your salad. (You can also toss greens with dressing separately.)

Dressing:
3. Prep veg/fruit: slice plum, dice avocado.

4. Sprinkle sunflower seeds and almonds over greens.

5. Add avocado cubes and plum slices.

6. Drizzle with more dressing.

serve!