I Tried Cameron Diaz’s Summer Crunch Salad and It’s My New Go-To Lunch

I’m born and raised in California, which I know comes with a bevy of preconceptions. I do wear sunglasses regularly and often complain about traffic. I rattle off terms like “PCH” and “the 405” and punctuate my stories with “like,” “totally,” and “dude.” But the part of my life that I feel is quintessentially Californian, especially when I’m outside its borders, is food. 

I once stopped at a gas station outside Kansas City to pick up a bottle of Champagne and coconut water, and when the attendant saw my license plate he scoffed and said, “Figures.” When I made plans to cook dinner for friends hosting me in Boston, I asked where I could find fresh asparagus and was met with, “It’s fall — you can only get it frozen!” I’ve long taken advantage of blueberries in January and tomatoes in October, or bursting lemon trees in February and bright apples in March. I have no idea when any of these ingredients are supposedly “in season.” 

So it probably comes as no surprise that I am the target demographic for a big salad.

Cameron Diaz, another born-and-raised Californian, partnered with goop — yep, California! — to unveil Cameron’s “Summer Crunch Salad” in partnership with her organic wine company, Avaline. I don’t know who would say no to receiving wine and salad at their door from Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow, so I said yes. Here’s what happened next. 

My salad was delivered in a very aesthetically pleasing paper bag, because of course it was, and I asked myself, “Was I born to eat this salad?” as I pulled out two containers each holding a salad and a brownie. (The wine was delivered in a separate box a couple of days before.) Visible avocado was still impressively green despite its journey to my door, and after I tossed everything together, the salad appeared as if it had just left a chef’s hands. It was beautiful. 

I poured a very modest glass of sauvignon blanc — hey now, this was all happening at 11 a.m. — and took my glass and bowl out to my patio. I figured that Cameron and Gwyneth would want it that way. 

I eat salad a few times a week. I like when they’re layered in a way that makes them crunchy yet smooth, and filling but light. The goal is to feel satisfied but not over-encumbered, either because there’s still an afternoon’s worth of work to do or a main course a few hours away. This salad nails that balance. Romaine and gem lettuce blend with snow peas and carrots, with half-moons of cucumbers and slices of mango tossed in. I cut up the avocado wedges to match the smaller size of the other vegetables, and then drizzled over a dressing made with sesame oil, ginger, Dijon mustard, and garlic. 

The best part: The dressing had a dash of hot sauce, which popped next to the fresh herbs, cashews, and puffed rice. Squeezing the included fresh lime over it all made everything taste that much better. When I took a sip of wine to wash it down, it was one more splash of complementing brightness that made the meal feel like a treat. “Well, hey now, Cameron,” I thought. “This is really good.”

My favorite detail has to be the mint leaves, which are distinguishable in every bite. Mint has a way of making a salad feel like a quick vacation. In the 20 minutes it took me to clear the bowl and sip the last of my wine, I felt thoroughly gooped. Maybe the California I subscribe to doesn’t always look like the one that appears on that specific lifestyle site, but this is a lunch I can definitely get behind.

For those also in the Los Angeles area, it’s possible to get this salad using the goop kitchen app, and then letting Doordash, Caviar, or Postmates handle the rest. But you don’t have to be in California to enjoy it; the recipe is on goop. My advice? Make it for lunch this week. 

Order: Cameron Diaz’s Summer Crunch Salad, starting at $13.95 at goop Kitchen