Hey guys! How’s your week going?
We slipped away for an extended weekend to my favorite place, Orcas Island. My Ma came with us. It was her first time to go.
We watched stars, visited a farm and farm-to-table restaurant, put puzzles together, watched fawns bounce through the forest, talked, laughed and listened to birds. I realized it had been far too long since I lazed a few hours away in a hammock under fir trees with my man and a good book.
It was a perfect, serene and restful weekend.
We also visited Brown Bear Bakery. You know I had to stop in for some research and development. Funny thing, I chose three pastries; apple turnover, kouign-amann, and almond-berry coffee cake. No, they weren’t all for me. I did share… just a little.
But, I came home with all of the above plus a giant dark chocolate snack cupcake. Talk about a nice surprise.
It was my most favorite of all.
My reason for this salad. One needs balance, ya know?
I’m bidding farewell to Summer with this nourishing, veggie packed Zucchini Corn Tomato Salad with Avocado Lime Dressing and Roasted Smokey Pepitas.
Be sure to make an extra batch of pepitas for snackin. Trust me on this.
It’s a delicious time of year, with such a wide variety of vegetables available including iconic Fall squash and apples! But I saved this last Summer recipe just shy of its end.
Embracing and celebrating all that Summer is.
What are you up to this last weekend of Summer?
Zucchini Corn Tomato Salad with Avocado Lime Dressing
Ingredients
For the Roasted Pepitas:
- 1/4 C Pepitas 36g
- 1 tsp Coconut Oil melted, unrefined cold pressed
- 1/4 tsp Smoky Chipotle ground
- 1/8 tsp Sea Salt
For the Dressing:
- 1/2 Avocado flesh scooped out
- 1/2 Tbs Pickled Jalapeño chopped
- 1/2 Tbs Green Onion chopped
- 1 Small Fist Full of Cilantro
- 1/2 Tbs Fresh Lime Juice
- 1 Clove Small of Garlic sliced thin
- Pinch of Sea Salt
- 1/8 C Water 30g
For the Salad:
- 1, 13 oz Zucchini spiralized on the wide blade or sliced thin with a veggie peeler, 368g
- 2 C Sweet Corn fresh or frozen, 242g
- 1 C Cherry Tomatoes quartered, 186g
- 1/3 C Purple Onion sliced thin and cut into small pieces, 60g
- leaves Garnish with a few stems of chopped cilantro
Instructions
For the Pepitas:
- Preheat oven to 350F (177C). Toss pepitas with oil, then sprinkle with ground chipotle and salt. Toss well. Roast for 8-9 minutes stirring 1/2 way through roast time.
- Set aside to cool.
For the Dressing:
- In the bowl of a food processor, add the avocado, jalapeño, green onion, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, salt and water. Puree the ingredients until smooth, stopping a few times to scrape down the bowl and taste for seasoning adjustment.
For the Salad:
- Toss the zucchini, corn, tomatoes and onion together.
- Pour dressing over the salad* (see note) and toss.
- Sprinkle the roasted pepitas over the top and garnish with chopped cilantro leaves.
- Serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
This salad tastes best made and served on the same day. Zucchini and tomatoes release their water when salted so after it sets for a while, it begins to get a bit soggy. If making the salad a few hours before service, hold the pepitas and dressing just until ready to serve.
Thank you for reading! If you make this recipe, be sure to post it to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter notify me @vanillaandbean and tag #vanillaandbean! I’d love to see what you’ve made! Follow me on Pinterest, too, for even more deliciousness!
Wow, I am two for two on your vegan recipes. It is my new go to place to get inspired. I will try this recipe today. BTW, I love how you write up your recipes too… I love that you include approximate amounts of ingredients… rather than just saying 1 carrot diced, you’ll say 1/2 cup. I am rather particular when I first try a recipe. Thanks so much!
Hi Monique! Thank you for your note… I appreciate your feedback (I can be meticulous with ingredients.. I think it’s the baker + science in me :D ) I hope you enjoy this one too. That avocado dressing? I just slather it on everything.. it’s especially tasty on tacos!! Thank you again, Monique!
what can be used as a substitute for the Smikey Chipolti as I do not like the flavor of even a little bit.
Hi Sandie! You can either leave it out or use chili powder. I hope this helps!
Oh, Traci, what a gorgeous salad! Your photos are so crisp and fresh and beautiful. Well done, as always! XOXO
Thank you so much Nathalie! Colorful food makes such a good subject, right? :D
Stunning photographs! I have never visited Orcas Island, even though I have lived in Seattle for almost three years. It seems like I need to change that because it sounds like a magical place.
Thank you Nicole! Oh, it’s time to go to Orcas… I wouldn’t go during Summer, however. Spring and Fall are wonderful times to go… it’s a bit quieter! :D
Hmm, now I know what I would try first if I broke down and bought that KitchenAid spiralizer. Yes, I’m still obsessing about that after the Sur La Table trip. I enjoyed meeting you at IFBC, and wow, what a beautiful blog you have. I can only aspire to that kind of photography and the recipes look fabulous. Pepitas plus smoked paprika, and that’s only the garnish to all the rest of this, case in point.
Hehe, no doubt that was a nice machine! So nice meeting you too, Mary and thank you so much for stopping by and your kind comments! :D
Hooray for salad! You’re right. It is a balancing act. It can’t be cupcakes and cookies and savory breads all of the time (although I wish it could!).
No doubt, one can wish, right? Too bad all that stuff isn’t like over the top healthy (like drinking a green smoothie), and they’re negative calories! Gah!! :D
My weekend flew by so quickly, I don’t even really remember what I did! However, I did find a decent farmers market in Sacramento!! I was super excited by the number of vendors there who sell asian vegetables! You’ll probably hear my waxing poetic about them on my blog soo (hah!). This is such a beautiful salad, Traci, and what a great summer send off. That avocado dressing looks lovely!
I know!! Head spinning! Where does the time goooooo!? So happy to hear you found a FM in Sacramento – what a relief! That’s like the #1 thing I would start looking for! I can’t wait to hear your new found adventures in your new home, Lisa! :D
Traci, I absolutely loved that salad! I made it last Sunday like I wrote on Instagram and my mom and I loved it! My dad tried it too and loved it just as much – he didn’t even put meat in it, which he normally does with all our dishes, so you should take this as a real compliment haha.
Lots of love from your admiring German family.
Lynn | Heavenlynn Healthy
This makes me so happy to hear, Lynn! And I’m thrilled your dad wen’t meatless for this! A big step, I’m sure! Hooray YOU!! :D
So true about balance, my friend! This salad seems like the perfect countering point to all those delicious sweets. I discovered earlier this year how delicious an avocado dressing can be. Just a quick spin in the food processor gives you the most wonderfully creamy consistency! I love the look of those paprika pepitas, too. Paprika is one of my favorite spices lately, and I bet it pairs so well with the other flavors in this dish. Healthy, refreshing, spicy…I love it all!
And your weekend away sounds so lovely. It’s so important to take a step back from technology once in a while, don’t you think?
No doubt. Balance. And stepping away from technology… Easier said than done, for me! No doubt Avo is just an incredible fat. Isn’t it fun discovering things like this? I just want to sprinkle paprika on everything.. and the pepitas give a nice texture to the salad! Thank you, Julia!
This is the prettiest salad. A perfect end of summer salad.
Thank you so much Barbara! :D
Wow! What a wonderful farewell you’ve created here, Traci! You always make the most gorgeous salads, and your photography always has me dreaming and admiring to one day be as good of a photographer as you are. Your weekend getaway sounds absolutely perfect and I would have killed to be your sidekick on that bakery research and development project! ;) I am loving all the beautiful and fresh veggies here, as well as the pepitas! And don’t get me started on that dressing….I could just drink that out of the jar by itself! :D
Thank you, Beeta! Awh.. you are a fabulous photographer, Beeta! I’m always drooling over your creations. The bakery research… I could have used your help! I couldn’t quite make out all the ingredients in that chocolate cupcake. It was super rich! The dressing? I think Kelly is right… it would make a good bath! hehe!
Traci this is such a lovely and fresh salad – one I feel that I could enjoy over and over again. Not only does it look absolutely amazing, the ingredients are some of my favorites. Your idea for the pepitas is excellent – smoked paprika is such an awesome spice. And I can only imagine how delicious that salad dressing is – I am a sucker for both dressings and sauces and I am going to have to try this! Beautiful blog Traci! I’ve been following for a few moments and love your take and philosophy on food. Happy weekend! ♥
Thank you for stopping by and your kind comments Danielle! Oh yes, the pepitas are delicious for a bit of crunch in there. I seem to be putting smoked paprika on everything lately! ha! And the dressing, makes a fabulous dip too! :D
What a beauty! (love the highlight on the tomato in that first image – caught my eye right away) – so many fresh and lively ingredients in your summer swan song :) the pepitas are a perfect topper but it’s that dressing… oh my, I want to bathe in it – heeheeh! (bet you it would be good for our skin too!) So delish and colourful. I hope you have some left to enjoy this weekend Traci :)
Thank you, Kelly. I love a bit of crunch in salads too! The dressing, yes, one could bathe in it.. good for facials too, I presume! hehe. :D
Traci! This salad sounds so good. I love how you paired simple summer vegetables with an easy-to-put-together Mexican style dressing. And I love that you include your hands in your photos. It feels so real and personal.. No?
Love!
Mexican flavors are my all time favorite! I like hands in food photos…. yours as well my dear! :D
Avocado lime dressing? LOVE. Bye bye, summer. We’ll miss you!
Thank you, Sarah! :D
What a delicious late summer treat! The dressing alone has me hungry! So glad you got some time in the outdoors. Does a body good. I’m feeling the need for something similar very soon. :) Have a great weekend, Traci!
No doubt, it’s good to get outdoors as much as possible. It’s my happy place and I need it more than I realize. Thank you, Tessa!
Of course I want to dive head first into that first picture…but I don’t want to make a mess! Your salads belong in the ‘Salad Hall of Fame’! Is there such a thing? If not, I’m going to create it just for you! Love the colors and the flavors…such a nice summer send off, my friend! Have a lovely weekend, Traci! xo
Hehe! Face Plant? You’re so sweet, and I appreciate your support! Thank you for placing me in the salad hall of fame… we eat a lot of them in the Summer when produce is just right for them. Now, since Fall is upon us, let the comfort food begin!
yummy recipe.. i usually like dried foods. :)thanks to know about your another recipe.. :) nice
What a fantastic mini-vacation, Traci!!! I would love to have that kind of vacation, with pastries, books and the love of my life :) Anyway, this salad screams summer-please-don’t-end. It’s so colourful and (I am sure) delicious. Though I will definitely miss summer, fall has its charm, and I can’t wait to see your fall recipes.
Meanwhile, sending XOXO
Thank you my dear! No doubt I am looking forward to Fall. It’s a beautiful and abundant time of year!
THAT DRESSING sounds incredible! I want to dip chicken in it!
It’s tasty as a dip too! :D Thank you Gigi!
That avo lime dressing sounds to die for and I love the look of this whole salad! Pinning :)
You’ll love it Medha! Make it and use it as a dressing or dip! :D
I swear you make the BEST salads! This one is obviously no exception! Love how it is jam packed with veggies! And that creamy avocado dressing? Yeahhh, I will be drizzling that on all the things possible! This is such a beautiful celebration and wrap up of summer… literally all the good things in a yummy bowl! Oh, I almost forgot those crunchy pepitas!! I LOVE those and YES to noshing on those little gems all day long! Pinned! Cheers, Traci! P.s. so glad you had a fabulous and restful mini vacay! Xo
Why thank you my dear! I love salads, especially this time of year. Oh yes, the dressing… it’s so good as a dip too for chips or veggies! And the pepitas are a must! They are fabulous… make an extra batch Cheyanne!! xx
I’m glad you had such a lovely weekend, Traci. It sounds like a wonderful, relaxing and recharging kind of break we all need. And this salad – I just love it. I could eat the whole bowl. Summer’s almost officially over but temperature wise it still feels like summer here. Looking forward to trying this!
Indeed… Recharging is so important and I’ve not done it enough in the past! Oh, yes, you are experiencing Summer still. Hang in there Geraldine! :D
Yumm!! Was looking for inspiration and found it here. Also I usually always substitute and tweak recipes but this one I followed to the letter except the Jalapeños. I am currently enjoying it for dinner!
Well done!
Hooray!! Thank you so much! This totally makes my day Alexandra! :D
You go on so many amazing weekend adventures! You’re making me crave some quiet time in the mountains. This salad is just gorgeous Traci!
Well… yes, and that is mainly because for the past three years we’ve been nursing pets and have not wanted to leave them. But now that we are without pets :( , it has freed us up to travel. And we are taking every opportunity to do it! Go to the mountains, Natalie!!
This salad looks perfect Traci! I was looking for a zucchini salad recipe! Love the dressing! Pinned!
Thank you so much Mira!
Absolutely gorgeous Traci! The colors, all the veggies, the dressing, the roasted pepitas! I couldn’t think of a fonder farewell to summer! Pinning!
Thank you my dear! Summer veggies are incredibly colorful and vibrant. I love their colors too! :D
Delicious and beautiful, as always!!
Thank you Deb! :D
Such a beauty Traci! ❤️
Thank you, Michelle!! :D