By Kathleen Little

This is the time of the year when the summer doldrums start to give way to the impending responsibilities of the fall. As our schedules begin to fill back up, but the heat persists, the last thing we want to do on a weeknight is heat up the house with an hour of cooking. The answer to this is an easy, healthy, and "no cook" recipe that can be produced in less than 10 minutes with easy to grab ingredients. 

Ingredients:

2 - Ripe avocados halved and scored for easy mashing

3 - Roma tomatoes cut into a medium dice

1 - English cucumber peeled and cut into a medium dice

1 - 5 ounce container of Fresh Spring Mix greens rinsed and dried

1 - can of garbanzo beans drained

½ cup of roasted red pepper strips

2 - hard-boiled eggs diced

1 - small can of sliced black olives drained

⅓ cup of pistachio kernels shelled

1 - tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

1 - tablespoon of Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions: 

1. In an extra large serving bowl, mash the avocados and olive oil together with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
2. To this mixture add tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted red peppers, hard-boiled eggs, black olives, and Italian herb seasoning. Stir with a spoon allowing the liquids from each ingredient to mix. This should produce a chunky dressing mix. 
3. Next, toss the garbanzo into the mix, allowing the beans to become coated with the contents of the bowl. 
4. Add spring mix greens to the bowl a handful at a time and toss with tongs until everything is well distributed. 
5. Finally, sprinkle the top of the salad with pistachio kernels for a satisfying umami crunch, and serve. 

This recipe begs for you to use your imagination and put your personal touch on it. I challenge you to make this salad your own with a few variations. 

Proteins - Though this recipe stands on its own without meats, adding rotisserie chicken or deli turkey is a quick and delicious way to make it more filling. 

Dairy - Adding a little feta or parmesan complements this recipe perfectly. Also, if you'd like a creamier avocado mash, try incorporating a few tablespoons of plain Greek yogurt for a low calorie but savory experience. 

Go Vegan! - By removing the eggs from the salad and committing to use properly sourced ingredients, you will be eating a 100% vegan meal. Even if this isn't your lifestyle, eating vegan from time to time has many health benefits. You can also save this recipe for an appropriate potluck. 

Go Veggies! - Add some more veggies to the mix! Onions, mushrooms, sprouts, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower are great additions that help with variety and appeal as well. 

Remix! - Change the flavor profile of this dish entirely for a brand new meal. Roast your garbanzos in curry powder to give it Indian panache. In lieu of chickpeas and Roma tomatoes, use drained black beans and Rotel for a Tex-Mex feel. Skip the beans and add chicken, bacon, and cheddar for pure Americana. The possibilities are endless!