If you’re looking to add a burst of fresh flavor to your salad game, this Creamy Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing is a must-try. Tangy, zesty, and bursting with vibrant notes of lime and cilantro, it pairs perfectly with a Mexican Chopped Salad. It’s the kind of dressing that makes every bite feel like a fiesta. Get ready to elevate your salad experience with this easy-to-make, delicious dressing.
Steps
- Chop the romaine lettuce, cut the corn kernels off the cob, and dice the mini orange peppers, roma tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. Cube the avocados and drain and rinse the black beans.
- In a large bowl, mix together all the prepared salad ingredients, ensuring they are well combined for a uniform distribution.
- For the dressing, whisk together plain Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, milk, chopped cilantro, minced garlic, and spices (onion powder, cumin, cayenne, salt, and pepper) in a separate bowl. Add lime juice for flavor and adjust the consistency with additional milk or lime juice if needed.
- Arrange the salad on serving plates and garnish with tortilla strips if desired. Pour the cilantro lime ranch dressing over the salad just before serving to maintain freshness and texture.
Ingredients
- 1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 2 ears of corn, kernels cut from the cob
- 4 mini orange peppers (or 1 large), diced
- 4 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 cucumber, peeled and diced
- 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
- 2 ripe avocados, diced (slightly firm)
- 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
- Tortilla strips, optional
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Mayonnaise
- Milk
- Fresh cilantro
- Garlic
- Spices: onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper
- Lime juice
Nutritional Values
Calories 1926 | Calories from Fat 810 | Fat 90g | Saturated Fat 18g | Cholesterol 30mg | Sodium 1242mg | Potassium 7872mg | Carbohydrates 228g | Fiber 90g | Sugar 66g | Protein 60g | Vitamin A 75402IU | Vitamin C 762mg | Calcium 834mg | Iron 24mg
FAQ
- Can chicken be added to the Mexican Chopped Salad?
- Yes, grilled chicken cut into cubes can be included in this salad for added protein and flavor.
- Is the salad suitable for meal prepping?
- Definitely! For best results, store the salad ingredients, dressing, and tortilla strips in separate containers. This way, you can easily assemble the salad when you’re ready to eat.
- How should leftovers be stored?
- To maintain freshness, keep the salad, dressing, and tortilla strips in different containers in the refrigerator. Mixing them before storing may result in a soggy salad.
- Can I use other vegetables in the salad?
- Absolutely! Feel free to mix in your favorite vegetables. The dressing complements a variety of veggies, so you can substitute with alternatives like red peppers or grilled corn.
- What is essential for making a great chopped salad?
- Ensuring all ingredients are cut into bite-sized pieces is crucial. This makes the salad easy to eat and ensures the flavors are well-distributed.
Tips
- Dice all the salad ingredients into small, bite-sized pieces to ensure a well-mixed and easy-to-eat salad.
- If you’re preparing this salad for a gathering, chop the ingredients in advance and mix them just before serving to preserve freshness.
- Keep the dressing separate until you’re ready to serve to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
- Feel free to customize the salad by adding grilled chicken for extra protein or swapping in your favorite veggies to suit your taste preferences.
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl – Useful for tossing all the salad ingredients together.
- Whisk – Needed to combine the dressing ingredients.
- Salad Spinner – Handy for washing and drying lettuce if you don’t already have one.
- Citrus Juicer – To extract lime juice efficiently for the dressing.
- Mandoline Slicer – Helpful for quickly and uniformly slicing vegetables if desired.
