Hearts of Palm Salad with Avocado and Oranges

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

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