Smoked Salmon Pesto Salad

PESTO AND SMOKED SALMON SALAD

serves 4

Prep time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

Simple basic pesto:
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
2 cloves garlic, peeled
3 Tbsp. pine nuts
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 lemon, juiced
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Smoked salmon salad:
8 cups mixed baby greens
1 cucumber, halved and sliced
1 avocado, sliced
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in extra virgin olive oil)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
2 (8 ounce) pieces smoked salmon, broken into chunks

DIRECTIONS:

1. Make the pesto: combine fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts lemon juice, and Parmesan in a food processor and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Process until combined. With the motor running, slowly add extra virgin olive oil until pesto is emulsified. Pour into a bowl and set aside.

2. Prepare the salad: to a large salad bowl add mixed baby greens, cucumber, avocado, pumpkin seeds, and pieces of smoked salmon. Toss with 1/4 cup pesto, adding more if salad seems to dry. Serve immediately!

3. Leftover pesto will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.