Southwest Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing

Bright, bold, and irresistibly fresh, this Southwest Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing is a vibrant medley of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. Loaded with crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy avocado, sweet corn kernels, and protein-packed black beans, it’s a hearty yet healthy choice for lunch or dinner. Crunchy tortilla strips and shredded cheddar cheese add indulgent layers of texture, while a zesty homemade cilantro ranch dressing infused with lime, garlic, and a hint of cumin ties everything together beautifully. Perfectly customizable with fresh jalapeño for a spicy kick, this easy-to-make salad comes together in under 20 minutes, making it an ideal option for busy weeknights or gatherings. Serve it as a standalone meal or pair it with grilled chicken or steak for a Southwest-inspired feast!

Nutriscore Rating: 75/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 head Romaine lettuce
• 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup (drained and rinsed) Black beans
• 1 cup Corn kernels
• 1 large (diced) Avocado
• 0.5 cup (thinly sliced) Red onion
• 0.75 cup Shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup Tortilla strips
• 0.5 cup Fresh cilantro
• 0.5 cup Mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons Milk
• 1 tablespoon Fresh lime juice
• 0.5 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Onion powder
• 0.5 teaspoon Cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
• 0.5 small (chopped) Fresh jalapeño (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Rinse and chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place in a large salad bowl.

Step 2

Halve the cherry tomatoes and add them to the bowl.

Step 3

Drain and rinse the black beans, and add to the salad mixture.

Step 4

Add the corn kernels (canned, frozen and thawed, or fresh) to the bowl.

Step 5

Peel and dice the avocado, and arrange it on top of the salad.

Step 6

Add thinly sliced red onion to the mixture.

Step 7

Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese and tortilla strips over the top of the salad.

Step 8

To make the cilantro ranch dressing, combine the fresh cilantro, mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, milk, lime juice, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, black pepper, and jalapeño (if using) in a blender or food processor.

Step 9

Blend the dressing until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 10

Drizzle the cilantro ranch dressing over the salad, or serve it on the side for individual portions.

Step 11

Toss the salad just before serving to evenly coat the ingredients with the dressing.

Step 12

Serve immediately and enjoy your Southwest Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1901.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2374.2

Total Fat 163.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 33.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.2g
Cholesterol 215.1mg	0%
Sodium 3081.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 182.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 41.6g	0%
Total Sugars 32.3g
Protein 65.4g	0%

Vitamin D 13.0IU	0%
Calcium 1173.8mg	0%
Iron 12.7mg	0%
Potassium 3617.7mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.8%

Protein: 10.6%

Carbs: 29.6%