Strawberry Salad with Cinnamon Vinaigrette Recipe

By JoyT

"This is my favorite salad…hands down!" says Nancy Tafoya of Fort Collins, Colorado. "I've taken it to fancy dinner parties as well as camping trips, and everyone always lines up for seconds. The unique vinaigrette has a little kick to it that people truly enjoy."

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup raspberry vinegar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons sugar or honey
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 6 cups torn romaine
• 2 cups fresh strawberries, quartered
• 1 medium ripe California Avocado, peeled and sliced
• 1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Preparation

Step 1

In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the first seven ingredients; shake well until sugar is dissolved. In a large salad bowl, combine the romaine, strawberries, avocado, oranges, onion and pecans. Drizzle with vinaigrette; toss gently. Serve immediately. Yield: 12 servings.

Nutritional Facts 2/3 cup equals 153 calories, 12 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 104 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 2 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 fat, 1/2 starch, 1/2 fruit.