A very simple and healthy Panamanian salad recipe with avocado and tomatoes. A quick 10-minute salad sprinkled with a simple dressing of lime juice and olive oil.
Enjoy this simple Panamanian salad with ripe tomatoes, creamy avocado, and crunchy onions. Tossed in a deliciously refreshing lime dressing, this Panamanian is a delight that can be enjoyed on its own or as a side dish.
Make more recipes with avocado, for instance, Mexican Deviled Eggs with Avocado, Tomato Avocado Mozzarella Salad, or Spicy Avocado Spread. But it would have been pretty annoying if I had more immediate plans with the avocado.
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How to choose a ripe avocado?
- Take a look. Avocados come in different colors, from bright green to brown, depending on the sort, so choosing by color is not always a good idea. Mostly you should choose an avocado with smooth skin, free from blemishes or indentations.
- Feel it. For me, this is the main criterion. I take the avocado in my hand and feel it gently without pressing it too much. A ripe avocado should feel soft but not too soft or mushy. By avocados that have already turned bad, I noticed that the skin becomes rather leathery and doesn't touch the flesh of the avocado anymore. Keep away from those avocados; you can be sure that they are bad in this case.
- Check the stems. If you touch it and the stem comes off immediately, chances are that the avocado is overripe, so leave it. Have a look at the area underneath the stem; if it's green, the avocado is good. If it's brown, the avocado is probably bad.
- Looking at the stem is the best test you can do with avocados that you have at home. If you bought unripe avocados and are waiting for them to get ripe, check the stem daily.
- I try not to get it off the avocado until I am pretty sure that the avocado is good to eat.
- But I try to move it gently with my finger every day. When I notice that it's about to give, then I know that the avocado is good.
How to ripen avocados at home?
- On the counter: Most of the time, I place them on the counter and let them be, checking every day as indicated above. The ripening will take at least 3 days, in my experience, but it greatly depends on the state the avocado was in when you bought it.
- Paper bag: However, if you want to accelerate the process a little bit, place the avocados in a brown paper bag together with an apple or a kiwi. The apples and kiwis contain a hormone that accelerates the ripening process.
- Once the avocado is ripe, you can place it in the fridge. This will help it keep healthy for 2 more days. Here you can find more detailed information on how to ripen avocados at home.
What to serve with avocado and tomato salad?
You can have this avocado and tomato salad as a very light and healthy lunch or dinner on its own with just a little bread on the side.
The salad also makes a wonderful side dish; we had it with skillet chicken breast, Sweet Chili Dip and Potato Wedges. You can also have it with fish or with some eggs (poached or fried) on top.
More delicious salads
Recipe
Panamanian Salad with Tomato and Avocado
Ingredients
- 1 avocado
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 1 medium red onion
- 1 lime
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- chopped parsley or coriander
Instructions
- Prepare avocado: Halve the avocado, remove the pit, and peel the avocado. Cut into slices. Place the slices into a bowl and gently toss them with the juice of half the lime.
- Slice the tomatoes and cut the red onion into thin slices as well.
- Arrange the salad on two plates. First, the tomato slices, followed by the onion rings, and then the avocado slices.
- Drizzle the salad with olive oil and more lime juice to taste, and add some salt and freshly ground black pepper. Sprinkle the salad with chopped parsley or coriander.
Sissi says
So simple but obviously so good if made with good ripe tomatoes! I eat many avocados and usually buy only one ripe and the rest unripe, so that I can eat them gradually.
Anca says
Looks delicious. I keep my avocados that are not ready to eat in the same basket with the bananas. It will be ready to eat faster.
mjskitchen says
A gorgeous salad and perfect for homegrown tomatoes.
Marvellina|What To Cook Today says
Love how simple this recipe is but I know it tastes good! Love the flavors from red onions and cilantro add to this salad