Fresh, easy, and satisfying, this avocado romaine salad combines crisp romaine, buttery avocado, and crunchy toasted walnuts with a zesty Dijon vinaigrette.

Avocado Romaine Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette 🥗
Crisp romaine lettuce, creamy avocado, and crunchy toasted walnuts come together in this romaine lettuce and avocado salad, a fresh, flavorful, and satisfying salad that’s perfect any time of day. Tossed in a bright Dijon mustard vinaigrette, this romaine and avocado salad is healthy, versatile, and perfect as a quick lunch salad, a light dinner side, or a make-ahead dish for meal prep.
The buttery texture of avocado pairs perfectly with the nutty crunch of walnuts, while the crisp romaine provides a refreshing bite in every forkful. This easy recipe is ready in just minutes, making it a go-to recipe for busy weeknights or lunches alike. With simple, wholesome ingredients and minimal prep, it’s easy to customize (add cherry tomatoes, beans, or a sprinkle of cheese) yet delicious on its own.
Why You’ll Love This Romaine Lettuce and Avocado Salad ❤️
- Fresh & crisp: The romaine lettuce stays crunchy and vibrant, providing a refreshing base for every bite.
- Creamy avocado: Ripe avocado adds buttery richness that pairs perfectly with the greens.
- Nutty crunch: Toasted walnuts bring texture and flavor.
- Quick & easy: Ready in under 15 minutes with minimal prep, making it a perfect weeknight salad.
- Versatile & customizable: Enjoy it as a side, a light lunch, or a make-ahead salad. Add tomatoes, grains, or protein to make it a hearty meal.

Ingredients for Romaine and Avocado Salad 🥑
For the Dressing:
- White wine or champagne vinegar – adds bright acidity to balance the richness of avocado.
- Fresh shallots, finely minced – for subtle oniony flavor and depth.
- Dijon mustard – helps emulsify the dressing and adds tang.
- Extra virgin olive oil – smooth, fruity base for the vinaigrette.
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – season to taste.
For the Salad:
- Romaine hearts, torn into bite-size pieces – choose firm, crisp hearts for maximum crunch.
- Fresh chives, finely chopped – adds a bright, oniony note without overpowering.
- Avocados, thinly sliced – slightly soft but not mushy for creamy texture.
- Walnuts, lightly toasted and coarsely chopped – bring crunch, nuttiness, and healthy fats.
Optional add-ins: cherry tomatoes, grains, or protein of choice.
How to Make Romaine Lettuce and Avocado Salad
- Whisk the dressing: In a large bowl, combine vinegar, shallots, and Dijon mustard. Gradually whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Prep the salad: Tear romaine hearts into bite-sized pieces and add to bowl. Gently fold in the chopped chives and sliced avocado.
- Toss: Toss gently to coat all ingredients.
- Finish: Top with toasted walnuts and serve immediately.
Variations on This Romaine and Avocado Salad
- Add cherry tomatoes for extra color and acidity.
- Add protein like chickpeas, or grains to make it a meal.
- Swap walnuts for almonds.

How to Serve Romaine Lettuce and Avocado Salad
- As a side salad for dinner.
- Alongside sandwiches or wraps for lunch.
- With your favorite protein added to make it a main meal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romaine Lettuce and Avocado Salad
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes — prep the walnuts and dressing ahead; add avocado last.
Can I use other lettuces?
Yes — butter lettuce or green leaf works, but romaine gives the best crunch.
Is this salad vegan?
Yes — naturally vegan and gluten-free.
Can I customize it?
Absolutely! Cherry tomatoes, grains, or protein turn it into a meal.
Wrap Up
With every bite of this romaine lettuce and avocado salad, you get the perfect balance of textures and flavors: crisp romaine, creamy avocado, and crunchy toasted walnuts coated in a bright Dijon mustard vinaigrette. Quick and easy to make, this romaine and avocado salad is healthy, satisfying, and versatile; enjoy as a light lunch, weeknight side, or make-ahead salad. Keep it classic, add cherry tomatoes or toss in grains or protein to make it a complete meal. Whichever way you serve it, this avocado romaine salad is sure to become a go-to recipe in your kitchen.
More Easy Salads
Avocado and Romaine Salad with Walnuts
Fresh, crisp romaine lettuce and avocado salad with chives, walnuts, and Dijon vinaigrette. Quick, healthy, and full of flavor!
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons/30ml white wine or champagne vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon shallots, finely minced
- 2 teaspoons/10ml Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup/ 60ml extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
- 2 romaine hearts (1 pound), torn into bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
- 2 avocados, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup/ 28g walnuts, lightly toasted and coarsely chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk the vinegar with the shallots and mustard.
- Gradually whisk in the olive oil until incorporated and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add the romaine, chives and sliced avocados, toss well.
- Top with toasted walnuts and serve.
Notes
Dietary Info:
Gluten Free, Grain Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Paleo
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 153Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 81mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 7gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.





Barbara says
Sylvie, your avocados are lovely. What a brilliant photo. (I pin so many of your photos onto my food styling board.)
I love a simple salad like this. Elegant.
Vishakha Bharadwaj says
Hi Sylvie, That shot of the avocados (2nd one) is gorgeous! I love how neatly and perfectly it's cut and your photo does full justice to these green beauties. The 3rd and 4th shot are also super!!
Alana says
This is totally my kind of salad, I love it! And strangely enough my favourite outdoor meal would be something like this; I love fresh salads on warm days! Love, love your photography too.
thelittleloaf says
There's nothing more delicious than an incredibly ripe avocado. Those photos are making my mouth water!
Lisa H says
Simple yet elegant salad...
Your photos are beautiful, Sylvie 🙂
Tickled Red says
LOL...I have salads on the brain right now {wink} Sylvie this is a gorgeous salad, simple straight forward flavors, perfect! Cold grain salads mixed with veggies are a summer stable for us.
chinmayie @ love food eat says
Love how you make salad looks so sexy! I can almost never get my hands on such fresh lettuce. It's so beautiful...
Eha says
My favourite ingredients and a very interesting vinaigrette - actually in Oz winter is the avocado season and romaine easily available - so why wait for summer? Am having at least one salad daily, freezing weather outside or not 🙂 !
Reem | Simply Reem says
Clean and absolutely Gorgeous!!
Kitchen Belleicious says
yep- for sure I could eat this salad everyday of my life!