Salad with ham and strawberries

Ingredients

• 400 gwhite beans
• 2avocados
• 1onion
• 500 mlstrawberries
• 150 gApetina® 20% white cheese
• 1 litremixed green salad leaves
• 15 mlolive oil
• 15 mlbalsamic vinegar
• 8 slicessmoked or air-dried ham
• to tastesalt
• to tasteblack pepper
• to tastebread, to serve

Instructions

1. 1

   Mix the dressing

   Whisk the olive oil and balsamic vinegar together, then season to taste with salt and pepper.

2. 2

   Drain the beans

   Rinse the beans and leave them to drain.

3. 3

   Prepare the avocado

   Halve and stone the avocados. Use a teaspoon to scoop the flesh out in pieces, then thinly slice the onion.

4. 4

   Cut the fruit

   Halve the strawberries and cut the cheese into pieces.

5. 5

   Arrange the leaves

   Spread the salad leaves over a serving platter.

6. 6

   Toss the salad

   Combine the beans, avocado, onion, strawberries and cheese with the dressing.

7. 7

   Finish and serve

   Spoon the mixture over the salad leaves and top with the ham. Serve with bread.

What is this ham and strawberry salad?

This is a composed salad that pairs savoury ham and salty white cheese with sweet strawberries, creamy avocado and mild white beans. The recipe does not specify a regional origin; its combination of seasonal fruit, greens and cheese makes it a natural fit for a summer meal.

The beans and avocado make it more filling than a simple leafy salad, while the balsamic dressing brings the sweet and savoury ingredients together.

Nutrition and macros by portion

The nutrition label shows one serving as written: 631 calories, 38g protein, 54g carbs, 28g fat.

The white beans and bread contribute much of the carbohydrate, while the avocado, olive oil and cheese provide much of the fat. Beans, ham and cheese contribute protein. For a balanced plate, serve a portion with plenty of salad leaves and adjust the amount of bread to suit your meal.

Choosing the ingredients

Beans: Use cooked white beans, rinsed and well drained, so they are ready to toss into the salad without watering down the dressing.

Strawberries: Choose ripe berries that still hold their shape when halved. Their sweetness contrasts with the salty cheese and ham.

Cheese and ham: The recipe calls for Apetina 20% white cheese and either smoked or air-dried ham. Both add savoury flavour, so taste the dressing before adding much salt.

Make a balanced dressing

Oil and vinegar: Whisk the olive oil and balsamic vinegar together until combined, then season with salt and pepper. The dressing is deliberately simple so it does not overwhelm the fresh ingredients.

Seasoning: The cheese and ham are already savoury, so start lightly with salt and adjust only after tasting.

Prepare the avocado and onion

Avocado: Halve and stone the fruit, then scoop the flesh out with a teaspoon as instructed. Keeping it in pieces gives the salad a soft, creamy texture.

Onion: Slice it thinly so its sharper flavour is spread evenly through each portion rather than dominating a bite.

Keep the salad fresh

Drain well: Let the rinsed beans drain thoroughly before mixing; excess water can dilute the dressing and collect at the bottom of the platter.

Gentle mixing: Toss the dressing with the beans, avocado, onion, strawberries and cheese, then arrange this mixture over the leaves. Fold carefully to avoid crushing the fruit and avocado.

Serving and timing

Prepare the dressing and cut the ingredients shortly before serving so the avocado stays fresh and the strawberries keep their shape. The stated total time is 20 minutes.

Scatter the ham over the assembled salad and serve with bread, as suggested in the method. The platter works well as a shared lunch or a light dinner.

Recipe notes & tips

• Drain the rinsed beans well before adding them to the dressing.
• Taste the dressing before seasoning, as the ham and cheese add savouriness.
• Slice the onion thinly for a more even flavour throughout the salad.
• Cut the strawberries in half shortly before serving to help them keep their shape.
• Mix the salad ingredients gently so the avocado and berries stay in pieces.
• Add the ham on top just before serving for a neat finish.

Variations

• Use fresh herbs: Scatter chopped basil or mint over the finished salad for a fragrant note.
• Change the beans: Use another cooked, mild-flavoured bean if white beans are unavailable.
• Swap the cheese: Use another crumbly white cheese in place of the specified Apetina.
• Choose the ham: Use smoked ham for a deeper savoury note or air-dried ham for a more delicate finish.
• Add crunch: Serve with toasted bread alongside the salad.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Wet beans: Excess water thins the dressing; leave the rinsed beans to drain thoroughly.
• Over-seasoning: Ham and cheese are savoury; add salt gradually and taste first.
• Rough mixing: The avocado and strawberries can break up; fold the dressed ingredients together gently.
• Thick onion slices: They can overpower the other flavours; slice the onion thinly.
• Dressing too early: The leaves may soften as they sit; assemble shortly before serving.

How to store

Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and eat within 1 day; the avocado and dressed leaves are best when freshly assembled. Keep bread separate, and note that the salad is not ideal for reheating.

Frequently asked questions