Southwestern Chopped Salad with Cilantro Dressing
Vibrant, fresh, and bursting with bold flavors, this Southwestern Chopped Salad with Cilantro Dressing is the perfect fusion of zesty and hearty. Featuring crisp romaine lettuce, sweet corn, juicy cherry tomatoes, and protein-packed black beans, this colorful salad gets a delightful crunch from crushed tortilla chips and a creamy tang from shredded cheddar cheese. The star of the show is the homemade cilantro dressing, a tangy blend of fresh cilantro, lime juice, honey, and cumin, which ties everything together with its bright, herbaceous kick. Ready in just 20 minutes, this no-cook recipe is ideal for quick lunches, dinner sides, or a crowd-pleasing potluck dish. Whether you're craving a healthy meal packed with Southwestern flair or hosting a summer gathering, this salad is sure to impress!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 6 cups (chopped) Romaine lettuce
- 1 (diced) Red bell pepper
- 1 cup (halved) Cherry tomatoes
- 1 (diced) Cucumber
- 0.25 (finely diced) Red onion
- 1 cup (drained and rinsed) Canned black beans
- 1 cup (thawed if frozen) Fresh or frozen corn
- 0.5 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (crushed) Tortilla chips
- 1 cup (packed) Fresh cilantro
- 3 tablespoons Fresh lime juice
- 0.25 cup Olive oil
- 1 (minced) Garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground cumin
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
- 2 tablespoons (optional, for thinning the dressing) Water
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, add chopped romaine lettuce, diced red bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely diced red onion, black beans, and corn. Toss to combine the ingredients evenly.
Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese and crushed tortilla chips over the salad mixture.
To prepare the cilantro dressing, combine fresh cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, honey, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor.
Blend until smooth. If the dressing is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of water to thin it out to your desired consistency.
Drizzle the cilantro dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
Serve immediately as a light meal or as a side dish. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1613 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 94.0 g | 121% | |
| Saturated Fat | 23.6 g | 118% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 13.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 60 mg | 20% | |
| Sodium | 2523 mg | 110% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 162.8 g | 59% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 35.0 g | 125% | |
| Total Sugars | 46.1 g | ||
| Protein | 47.5 g | 95% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 747 mg | 57% | |
| Iron | 12.3 mg | 68% | |
| Potassium | 2961 mg | 63% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
