Caribbean-inspired salad with cabbage, orange, avocado and coconut

Tropical flavours shine in this dish!

In the Caribbean, many farmers now grow delicious, drought-resistant cabbage that appears on tables far more often than delicate lettuce. I created this salad to bring together some of my favourite tropical flavours, including curry, oranges, avocados and coconut. It gets an enthusiastic response every time I serve it, thanks to its cheerful good looks and bright taste.

Ingredients

For vinaigrette

• 3 tablespoons (45 mL) fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) fresh orange juice
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon (15 mL) Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) salt
• 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 mL) freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) olive oil
• 2 teaspoons (10 mL) maple syrup (or to taste)

For salad

• 1/2 cup (125 mL) unsweetened shredded coconut
• 3 navel oranges
• 6 cups (1.4 L) thinly sliced Napa or Savoy cabbage
• 4 cups (1 L) baby spinach leaves
• 1 red bell pepper, in thin strips
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 2 medium-ripe avocados

Method

• Make the vinaigrette by whisking together lime and orange juices, vinegar, mustard, curry powder, salt, and pepper, then add oil in a stream, whisking until thickened and emulsified.
• Add maple syrup to taste and set aside until ready to assemble salad.
• Carefully toast coconut in a frying pan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until it is light brown and fragrant. Remove coconut from pan immediately so it will stop browning and set aside.
• With a sharp knife, remove peel and white pith from oranges. Cut into quarters and cut the sections crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• Put cabbage, spinach, cabbage, red pepper and carrots in a large bowl and toss with about 1/3 cup of the vinaigrette.
• Halve, pit, and peel avocados, then cut diagonally into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Add to the salad and toss very gently.
• You can plate individual salads and top each with the toasted coconut, or pass the salad, coconut and extra dressing separately at the table.

Serves 8 – 10.