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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 lived in the Willamette Valley for years. The fertile valley is 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!
In addition to hazelnuts the salad contains avocados and blue cheese. The dressing for the salad is nice and light and is sugar free. Â Just a combo of red wine vinegar, olive oil, dijon mustard and salt and pepper.
Ingredients Needed
- Romaine Lettuce
- AvocadosÂ
- Blue Cheese
- Hazelnuts
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Olive Oil
- Dijon Mustard
- Salt and Pepper
How To Make Willamette Valley Salad
- Combine red wine vinegar, oil, dijon mustard, salt and pepper in a jar with lid.
- Shake to combine.
- Add greens in a bowl.
- Toss lightly with dressing
- Add avocados, blue cheese and hazelnuts on top
- Place hazelnuts in a single layer on a cookie sheet.
- Toast nuts at 350 degrees F for 5-10 minutes, shaking pan occasionally.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool.
- Chop cooled hazelnuts.
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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