Ingredients:

• 2-3 cups of fresh hulled and halved strawberries
• 1 large avocado, cut into chunks or slices
• 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh mint
• 1/2 a lime

Balsamic Glaze

• 1 cup balsamic vinegar

Instructions:

Make your glaze. Simply bring the vinegar to a low boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn. Simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the vinegar has reduced by 2/3. You will end up with about 1/3 cup of glaze. Let it cool and then keep refrigerated. It will thicken as it cools.

Assemble half the strawberries and avocado on one small plate and half on another. Sprinkle with finely chopped fresh mint and squeeze lime juice over the fruit, then drizzle with a desired amount of glaze.

Strawberries and avocados aren’t the best combination… said no one ever! I am seriously in love with the strawberry/avocado dynamic duo lately. It is ridiculously yummy! You have the sweet, juicy, bright flavor from the berries and rich, creamy, buttery texture from the avocado. This salad will take your ‘buds to the next level with a hint of mint and sour lime, and mouth watering tangy-sweet balsamic glaze.

This little fruit salad only takes a few minutes to put together and is perfect for deck/patio/poolside noshing. It would make a tasty little side to a variety of summer main meals, like spicy black bean burgers on the grill, barbecued veggie kabobs and rice, fajitas, wraps… you name it. You could even start with a layer of organic spinach and make this a bona-fide salad salad, or get real crazy and add not only greens but also some marinated and baked tofu or tempeh for a healthy summer meal.

Talk about beauty food, this sexy little dish is brimming with the vitamins and nutrients you need for soft, clear, gorgeous glowing summer skin and thick healthy hair.

• Strawberries – Ranked #3 out of all foods for highest antioxidant content, when taking into account normal amounts consumed. One cup has 113% of your daily value of vitamin C. Strawberries provide 28% of your DV for manganese, a mineral that is very important for healthy skin and protection against oxidative and UV damage. Strawberries are also an excellent anti-inflammatory food, rich in phytonutrients that not only keep our skin glowing and youthful, but also keep our bodies disease-free.
• Avocados – Though high in fat, avocados can reduce your risk of heart disease when eaten on a regular basis. This is due to the fact that most of the fat in avocados is monounsaturated fat (the “good” fat). Monounsaturated fat is important for keeping our skin properly hydrated and smooth. Avocados also provide phytosterols, a unique type of fat that has anti-inflammatory benefits. Avocados are also rich in pantothenic acid, vitamin k, copper, folate, vitamin B6, vitamin E, potassium, and even vitamin C. All of these are excellent beauty vitamins and minerals for supporting healthy skin and especially for growing thick, lustrous, shiny hair.

Can we just talk about that balsamic glaze for a minute. Oh. My. Glaze. This stuff is just too good. This was actually my first try at making a balsamic reduction, and let me tell you (and this is coming from someone who often burns things) this couldn’t have been easier to make. It has such a tangy, sweet, make-you-salivate flavor that could really become an obsession. After I devoured this salad, I was literally scrambling around my kitchen looking for the next victim to douse in thick viscous wonder-glaze.

That’s right, I’m looking at you, lone organic tomato.

Yummmmm.

Why has it taken me so long to cook down a cup of balsamic vinegar? I urge you to give it a spin if you have not previously partaken in this deliciousness. You’re going to feel legitimately fancy-pants.

Then start lining up foods to drizzle, dunk, dredge, and utterly drench in this tangy dark nectar-of-the-gods. Starting with this beauty-filled strawberry and avocado mint fruit salad, of course.

Tell me, tell me! Have you made balsamic glaze/reduction before?