“I love salads to be filled with lots of vegetables rather than lots of lettuce. I add Boston lettuce to this one for its buttery flavour and wonderful silkiness, but otherwise I stick to beautiful robust green vegetables. The peas and asparagus — bright green, warm, and sweet — will stand out, complemented by the avocado’s creaminess, the dill’s freshness, and the feta’s saltiness.” -Lynn Crawford

Serves 4

½ cup (125 mL) sugar snap peas

4 spears asparagus, trimmed and cut in 2-inch (5 cm) pieces

1 baby cucumber, sliced

1 small zucchini, cut in ribbons with a vegetable peeler

1 head Boston lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces

2 green onions, sliced

1 small avocado, peeled and cut in wedges

2 sprigs dill, coarsely chopped

2 oz (55 g) feta cheese, crumbled

½ cup (125 mL) Green Goddess Dressing

Salt and pepper

Half fill a medium saucepan with cold salted water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

Add snap peas and boil for 1 minute. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking process and set color. Boil asparagus for 1 minute, then transfer to ice water. When cooled, drain peas and asparagus on paper towels.

In a large bowl, gently toss together peas, asparagus, cucumber, zucchini, lettuce, green onions, avocado, dill, and feta. Add dressing and toss until salad is well coated. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Green Goddess Dressing with Shallot & Herbs

Makes 1 1/2 cups (375 mL)

1 ripe avocado, peeled

1 shallot, chopped

1 clove garlic, peeled

1 cup (250 mL) mayonnaise

½ cup (125 mL) sour cream

½ cup (125 mL) loosely packed flat-leaf parsley leaves

2 tbsp (30 mL) chopped chives

2 tbsp (30 mL) lemon juice

Salt and pepper

Place avocado, shallot, garlic, mayonnaise, sour cream, parsley, chives, and lemon juice in a blender and process until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer dressing to a container, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.