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This delicious Willamette Valley Salad, named after the area where I live, is full of all of the delicious flavors of the region and dressed with a mustard vinaigrette.
I am lucky enough to live in the Willamette Valley. The Willamette Valley stretches from Portland in the North to Eugene in the South. The fertile valley is also the home to Oregon’s state nut. The hazelnut. Today’s salad gets its name, Willamette Valley Salad , because of those delicious hazelnuts. The hazelnut is the star of this salad so don’t leave it out!
I love hazelnuts and if you haven’t tried them I highly recommend them. Of course, you could substitute another nut in this salad. But then it wouldn’t be Willamette Valley Salad. In addition to hazelnuts the salad contains avocados and blue cheese.
I found hazelnuts in the bulk section of my local Winco grocery store. I like them toasted in the salad so I popped them into my oven for about 5-10 minutes until they turned golden brown.
The dressing for the salad is nice and light and is sugar free! Just a combo of red wine vinegar, olive oil, dijon mustard and salt and pepper.
Totally love this salad. I used romaine lettuce but it would be great with spinach too. I love the fresh taste of it and the different textures in the salad.
Check out more of my delicious salad recipes:
Pomegranates Seeds and Hazelnuts.
Willamette Valley Salad
Ingredients
- 2 heads of romaine lettuce turn into pieces
- 2 avocados peeled and sliced
- 1/3 lb. blue cheese
- 1 C hazelnuts toasted and chopped
Dressing
- 1/3 C red wine vinegar
- 2/3 C olive oil
- 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine dressing ingredients together.
- Put greens in a bowl.
- Toss lightly with dressing.
- Add avocados, blue cheese and hazelnuts on top
Toasting Hazelnuts
- To toast the nuts put them in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
- Heat oven to 350 and toast for 5-10 minutes
- Shake pan occasionally.
- Allow to cool and chop.
Nutrition Facts:
Sarah says
I live in the Willamette Valley too (Eugene). This salad is gorgeous!
Deb Champagne says
Glad I found this recipe, and you. I live in Portland, and living in the Willamette Valley is an awesome place to be, without a doubt.
Mindy says
Oooh, I worked at a restaurant years ago in NE Portland that had a salad like this and it was deeeelicious!
Leigh Anne says
It is a yummy one isn’t it Mindy!
Tatyana says
Made it with feta cheese (I don’t like blue cheese) and grilled shrimp. Yum, yum, yum! Thank you!
teresa says
Oh my…looks divine. Pinning for future use.
Happy Day