Spring arrived March 20 on the secular calendar but on the Hebrew calendar it arrived two days earlier with the start of Nissan. Nothing reminds me more of spring than this creamy green sauce, which resembles the colour of fresh grass, a symbolic moment of renewal. The recipe can be used as a dip, a sauce, or as the base for a salad dressing.
The first weeks of Nissan are traditionally spent preparing for Passover, which began the evening of April 1. Spring Green Garlic and Avocado Sauce is a perfect seasonal lift to a holiday menu, or for any occasion.
Spring Green Garlic and Avocado Sauce
Makes about 1 1/2 cups sauce
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus as needed
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus as needed
2–4 tablespoons peeled garlic cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus as needed
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus as needed
3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons chopped mint
3 tablespoons chopped basil
1/4 cup chopped green onion (use white and green parts)
1 cup very ripe avocado, mashed
Directions
- Place oil, juice, garlic (use 2 tablespoons for a garlic bite, 4 tablespoons for a wallop), salt, pepper, parsley, mint, basil, and onion into a blender.
- Process on high until smooth, stopping and scraping down sides as needed.
- Add avocado in batches and blend until smooth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning by adding oil, juice, salt or pepper as needed.
Serve as a dip with artichokes or crudites, as a sauce over cooked fish, chicken, vegetables, rice or grains, or use in the salad dressing recipe below. Can be made a day ahead. (Flavours will intensify.) Refrigerate in an airtight container. Stir and taste again, adjust seasonings before using.
Spring Green Garlic and Avocado Salad Dressing
Makes about 2 1/4 cups
Ingredients
Spring Green Garlic and Avocado Sauce (see recipe)
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus as needed
1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon lemon juice, plus as needed
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus as needed
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus as needed
1/2 teaspoon sugar, plus as needed (optional)
Directions
- Mix sauce, olive oil, and lemon juice together in a jar or bowl. Taste.
- Add sugar and additional oil, juice, salt and pepper as needed.
Can be made a day in advance. (Flavours will intensify.) Refrigerate in an airtight container. Stir and taste again, adjusting seasonings before using.
Spring arrived March 20 on the secular calendar but on the Hebrew calendar it arrived two days earlier with the start of Nissan. Nothing reminds me more of spring than this creamy green sauce, which resembles the colour of fresh grass, a symbolic moment of renewal. The recipe can be used as a dip, a sauce, or as the base for a salad dressing.
The first weeks of Nissan are traditionally spent preparing for Passover, which began the evening of April 1. Spring Green Garlic and Avocado Sauce is a perfect seasonal lift to a holiday menu, or for any occasion.
Spring Green Garlic and Avocado Sauce
Makes about 1 1/2 cups sauce
Ingredients
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus as needed
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, plus as needed
2–4 tablespoons peeled garlic cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus as needed
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus as needed
3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
3 tablespoons chopped mint
3 tablespoons chopped basil
1/4 cup chopped green onion (use white and green parts)
1 cup very ripe avocado, mashed
Directions
- Place oil, juice, garlic (use 2 tablespoons for a garlic bite, 4 tablespoons for a wallop), salt, pepper, parsley, mint, basil, and onion into a blender.
- Process on high until smooth, stopping and scraping down sides as needed.
- Add avocado in batches and blend until smooth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning by adding oil, juice, salt or pepper as needed.
Serve as a dip with artichokes or crudites, as a sauce over cooked fish, chicken, vegetables, rice or grains, or use in the salad dressing recipe below. Can be made a day ahead. (Flavours will intensify.) Refrigerate in an airtight container. Stir and taste again, adjust seasonings before using.
Spring Green Garlic and Avocado Salad Dressing
Makes about 2 1/4 cups
Ingredients
Spring Green Garlic and Avocado Sauce (see recipe)
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus as needed
1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon lemon juice, plus as needed
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus as needed
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus as needed
1/2 teaspoon sugar, plus as needed (optional)
Directions
- Mix sauce, olive oil, and lemon juice together in a jar or bowl. Taste.
- Add sugar and additional oil, juice, salt and pepper as needed.
Can be made a day in advance. (Flavours will intensify.) Refrigerate in an airtight container. Stir and taste again, adjusting seasonings before using.