Southwestern Salad with Avocado Lime Dressing

Bursting with vibrant colors and bold Southwestern flavors, this Southwestern Salad with Avocado Lime Dressing is a nutrient-packed, crowd-pleasing dish that’s perfect for any occasion. A bounty of fresh romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, black beans, and crisp red bell pepper come together with tangy red onion and fragrant cilantro for a beautiful and flavorsome base. Topped with creamy avocado slices, optional crumbles of feta cheese, and crunchy tortilla strips, this salad is as satisfying as it is wholesome. The star of the dish is the creamy avocado lime dressing, made with ripe avocado, fresh lime juice, olive oil, garlic, and a hint of cumin, creating the perfect zesty complement. Ready in just 20 minutes and packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats, this deliciously fresh salad is ideal for lunch, dinner, or as a standout side dish at gatherings.

Nutriscore Rating: 80/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 6 cups Romaine lettuce
• 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 cup Black beans
• 1 cup Corn (fresh, canned, or thawed frozen)
• 1 medium Red bell pepper
• 1 whole Sliced avocado
• 0.25 cup Red onion
• 0.25 cup Cilantro (chopped)
• 0.5 cup Feta cheese (optional)
• 0.5 cup Tortilla strips (optional)
• 1 whole Avocado (for dressing)
• 3 tablespoons Lime juice (freshly squeezed)
• 3 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 clove Garlic
• 1 teaspoon Honey
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Wash and dry the romaine lettuce, then chop it into bite-sized pieces and place it in a large salad bowl.

Step 2

Halve the cherry tomatoes and add them to the bowl.

Step 3

Rinse the black beans under running water, drain them well, and add to the bowl.

Step 4

Dice the red bell pepper and red onion, then add them to the salad bowl along with the corn.

Step 5

Slice the avocado into thin wedges and set them aside for garnish later.

Step 6

Chop the cilantro finely and add it to the salad bowl.

Step 7

If using, crumble feta cheese and sprinkle it on top of the salad along with tortilla strips for crunch.

Step 8

To prepare the avocado lime dressing, scoop out the flesh of one ripe avocado into a blender or food processor.

Step 9

Add the lime juice, olive oil, garlic clove, honey, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper to the blender.

Step 10

Blend the dressing ingredients together until smooth. If the consistency is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of water and blend again until it reaches your desired texture.

Step 11

Drizzle the avocado lime dressing over the salad just before serving and toss gently to combine.

Step 12

Garnish the salad with the sliced avocado wedges and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1616.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1975.7

Total Fat 130.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 32.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.2g
Cholesterol 106.8mg	0%
Sodium 3469.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 174.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 48.3g	0%
Total Sugars 37.6g
Protein 53.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 969.4mg	0%
Iron 13.7mg	0%
Potassium 3671.9mg	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: 56.3%

Protein: 10.3%

Carbs: 33.4%