Prickly Pear and Avocado Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-12 · Updated 2026-04-12

A vibrant, refreshing salad featuring the sweet-tart notes of prickly pear fruit, creamy avocado, and a bright lime dressing that highlights desert-inspired flavors. This southwestern-inspired salads (vegetarian) ready in about 20 minutes pairs prickly pear fruit, medium avocado, cherry tomatoes into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup prickly pear fruit
• 1 medium avocado
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro
• 3 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp honey
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin

Instructions

1. Step 1: Peel and seed 1 cup prickly pear fruit, then dice into 1/2-inch pieces. Halve 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes and thinly slice 1/4 cup red onion.
2. Step 2: Whisk 3 tbsp lime juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp honey, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp ground cumin in a small bowl until emulsified.
3. Step 3: In a large bowl, combine diced prickly pear, 1 diced avocado, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and 2 tbsp chopped cilantro. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and toss gently until evenly coated, then serve immediately.