Cranberry Dressing with Avocados

I have yet to meet someone who dislikes avocados. I am always in the mood for an avocado, but if I'm looking for a way to eat it without grain (avocado+toast+lemon=the best), I love it as a little dressing holder to mix in with greens. You guys are going to love it with this cranberry dressing. Dried cranberries, like the ones in this recipe are a good source of fiber and it only takes a quarter cup of these little nuggets to equal a half cup of fruit. I guess that makes eating dried fruit efficient? Maybe the best part is that cranberries are actually a smart way to blunt a blood sugar spike. New research (Inhibition of a-amylase and glucoamylase by tannins extracted from cocoa, pomegranates, cranberries and grapes. J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Jan 5)  shows specific tannins in cranberries called proanthocyanidins may be pretty darn effective. But even if you really don't give a darn about the study, this salad is delicious either way.

Avocado Cranberry Salad 

Makes 4: note 1/2 avocado is more than a typical serving! Make sure you watch your fat intake the rest of the day.

Dressing Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp. cranberry juice (or use water if you don't have juice)
• 2 Tbsp. dried cranberries
• 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar or rice vinegar
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 6 Tbsp. canola oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste 

Salad Ingredients

• 2 whole avocados
• 2 T red onion
• lemon thyme

Directions

Dressing

Place cranberry juice and dried cranberries in a small pot and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Stir in vinegar and Dijon mustard. Gradually whisk in canola oil so the mixture becomes a dressing. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Salad 

Slice the avocados in half and remove the pit. Fill with onions and dressing. Sprinkle with lemon thyme. 

/// Dressing recipe courtesy of the Cranberry Marketing Committee/// Disclosure: the Cranberry Institute sent me samples of cranberry products but I was not compensated to alter or post about this recipe. I did it because cranberries kick butt.