Hearts of palm salad with mandarin oranges and avocado is so simple to make. An added bonus is the fact that this is so good!
Hearts of palm always seem so exotic and so gourmet, though really they are just a swamp cabbage, but you don't have to tell!
After all, hearts of palm are really the heart of the palm tree. They are the inner core of various palm trees and are now cultivated so that the entire palm tree doesn't have to be destroyed for our enjoyment! And yes, some of us know them as swamp cabbages.
I'm not sure when I first ate them but I believe my mother used to extol the virtues of this gourmet ingredient. I'm sure they were probably diced up and sprinkled on top of a Bibb lettuce salad and drizzled with a bit of vinaigrette.
That is always a good way to go with hearts of palm. But this is better.
I don't know about you but I always seem to have one avocado laying around that needs a home. And I always keep a can of mandarin oranges in the pantry. When my kids were young they often ate them straight from the can.
Cute little orange slices help make kids eat their food-even if it is a salad. Plus they are pretty. And colorful.
And hearts of palm? Well, those are just a good pantry staple to have on hand. Let's face it. If company is coming, they help take a salad from ordinary to extraordinary.
If you haven't had hearts of palm, it is hard to describe how they taste. They are mild, and though they aren't crunchy, they do have a bite to them.
What do hearts of palm taste like?
They taste a teeny bit salty and lemony and are often used in place of artichoke hearts. Or vice versa.
They have a rich mouth feel and I could eat them straight out of the can or jar. With 4g of protein and fiber in each cup, this cute little swamp cabbage delivers bang for the buck!
So you want something to go with that Peruvian chicken? Or maybe something to impress Mom on Mother's Day?
This colorful salad is always a pleaser.
The fact that all you need is one can of hearts of palm and one of mandarin oranges makes this a pantry salad to me.
And I love pantry salads especially when I have an avocado needing to be used or when the lettuce is past its prime.
Don't have Mandarin oranges? Tomatoes work well, too.
And in that case, add a hard boiled egg and you have another great combo!
A Few More?
Green Salad with Mandarin Oranges and Celery
Mixed Greens with Pomegranates and Pistachios
Spinach Salad with Za'atar, Fried Bread and Dates
I'd love it if you Follow Me on Pinterest and Pin and Share!
Recipe
Hearts of Palm, Avocado and Orange Salad
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Total Time: 15 Minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Salads
- Cuisine: American
Description
This simple pantry salad is totally delicious and always wins fans!
Ingredients
Dressing:
1 T mayonnaise
1 T sour cream
6-8 drops Cholula hot sauce or your favorite
2 t fresh mint
1 T chopped cilantro
¼ t salt
3 grinds of fresh pepper
Salad:
1 c drained hearts of palm
1 can of mandarin oranges in light syrup, drained
1 avocado, peeled and cut in chunks or slices
1 T minced red onion
Instructions
Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, hot sauce, mint, cilantro, salt and pepper in a bowl. Whisk well.
Add in sliced hearts of palm, drained oranges, and avocado. Stir in red onion. Toss well.
Serve and enjoy something different!
Healthy World Cuisine says
What a delicious break from all the sweet treats. Hearts of palms are so delicious in a salad with great texture. Actually we are really craving something green and healthy and this will hit the spot. Happy Hanukkah and to a fabulous new year !
Abbe Odenwalder says
Trisha, you are so sweet!
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
Beautiful salad and I heart hearts of palm. Love love love those bowls.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks, Lea Ann. I love these bowls, too. And the hearts of palm tastes even better in them!
Sue/the view from great island says
This looks so sunny, beautiful, and healthy --- I love your dishes!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Thanks Sue. They are from Israel! Whenever I have the privilege of going, I buy more!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Happy Mother's Day Abbe! I would be thrilled if someone made this salad for me. You wrote a fantastic explanation of hearts of palm - I had forgotten and will put them back on my list of pantry ingredients. Love the little mandarin oranges too. Great salad, great idea and absolutely beautiful!
Bam's Kitchen says
I have not seen hearts of palm in ages. What a lovely little salad recipe. A little sweet too, I so love that.
Abbe Odenwalder says
It is right up your alley, Bam!
Biz says
I had to smile because my daughter LOVES mandarin oranges in the can and would eat it straight out of the can. At the tender age of 12 - the back of her bedroom door was her command central - things she needed to do for school, chores, etc. On a dry erase board was "things for my future apartment." Yes, she was planning on her move out by age 12! The first thing on the list? Canned mandarin oranges! The second? A tiny dog. When she moved out at 19, she sent me a text picture of her eating mandarin oranges out of the can, and the following week, she texted me a picture of her tiny Boston terrier - Rummy!
My husband loves hearts of palm, but I never think of it - looks delicious!
Abbe Odenwalder says
She fulfilled her dreams. Too funny, Biz! Make this for Tony!
kumars kitchen says
this salad looks gorgeous and with hear of palms....we get it all summer,freshly plucked from trees and sold in farmers market....this is what we will be making after our next trip to the fruit stall,thanks so much for sharing this lovely recipe...HAVE A WONDERFUL MOTHER'S DAY!!! 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
Lucky you and thank you!
Juliana says
Awesome salad Abbe...back in Brasil we used to eat lots and lots of heart of palms and could buy fresh ones...
Thanks for this salad recipe and it the first time I heard of the term swamp cabbages...thanks for the informative post.
Hope you are having a great week 😀
Abbe Odenwalder says
Yep. Swamp cabbages is what they called them in Florida!
Kitchen Riffs says
For some reason Janis Joplin is running through my head (Little Piece of My Heart). 😉 Terrific salad -- loads of flavor, and great color. And I love color. Well, not to mention flavor, too. Thanks for this.
Abbe Odenwalder says
Love that song! Yes, this salad has a lot going for it! Thanks, John!
Angie Schneider says
I have never had hearts of palm...the salad looks so beautiful and delicious with all the awesome ingredients. Excellent, Abbe.
Abbe Odenwalder says
If you ever find them, try them Angie. I bet you'd love them!
Holly @ abakershouse.com says
Happy Mother's Day to you, Abbe! This salad is so bright and fresh, it looks like it should be eaten at an island resort. Love it!
Abbe Odenwalder says
And I wish I was eating it at an island resort. LOL!
Karen Harris says
I agree, they do taste a bit like artichoke hearts. Kind of a cross between artichoke hearts and white asparagus maybe? No matter how you describe them, they are divine. I wish someone would make this salad for me, but I'm afraid we will be in the car all day on Sunday. Maybe I'll just make it for myself on Monday. Happy Mothers' Day Abbe!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Hope it was a good car ride! And that you had a good Mom's Day!
Anonymous says
Love hearts of palm...my kids ate those and mandarin oranges straight from the can! lol This looks yummy!!
Abbe Odenwalder says
Isn't that funny? Definitely, yummy!
Sharon D says
I love the name of this ingredient - it's heartwarming. What a great looking salad, Abbe! Happy Mother's Day in advance 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder says
I think you'd like the salad too, Sharon!