Southwestern Salad with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette- a delicious salad full of avocado, bell peppers, corn, and black beans tossed with a spicy, citrusy dressing.
How To Serve Southwestern Salad
Serve this salad as a healthy, light side for tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and burritos. To make this salad a main dish, add grilled chicken, steak, salmon, or shrimp.
Homemade Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette
This homemade dressing is so healthy and tasty. A jalapeno and garlic add a little bite. The lime juice provides some acidity and the honey adds a little sweetness. Maple syrup or agave can be used instead of honey.
The dressing will keep in the refrigerator for about a week and it is easy to make a double batch. It’s also great drizzled over grilled chicken or shrimp.
Equipment Needed
- Blender or Food Processor– you need to blend the jalapeno, garlic, and cilantro so the flavors are easily distributed throughout the dressing and it has a smooth texture.
Add More Flavors
Roasted sweet potatoes are a great addition to this salad as are crunchy tortilla strips.
If you want to add a little cheese flavor, try some crumbled cotija cheese. Feta cheese can be substituted.
To make this salad a main dish, add grilled chicken, salmon, or shrimp.
More Awesome Salad Recipes
- Chopped Cobb Salad– full of chicken, bacon, avocado, hard-boiled egg, and blue cheese crumbles, all tossed in an easy vinaigrette.
- Pickled Beet Salad with Walnuts and Feta– If you love pickled beets like I do, this salad is sure to be a favorite.
- Bacon and Ranch Cauliflower Salad– crunchy salad is loaded with cheddar cheese, crispy bacon and a creamy Parmesan Ranch dressing.
- Seven Layer Salad– a classic potluck favorite.
- Blue Cheese Chopped Salad with Blue Cheese and Candied Pecans– with a creamy blue cheese balsamic vinaigrette.
- Southern Cornbread Salad– feeds a crowd!
- Layered Taco Salad
Southwestern Salad with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Vinaigrette
- 1 medium jalapeno,, seeded and diced
- 1 garlic clove,, minced
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro,, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Salad
- 1 head romaine lettuce,, washed, dried and chopped
- 1 orange or red bell pepper,, cut into thin strips
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes,, halved
- 1/2 red onion,, cut into thin slices
- 1 ripe avocado,, sliced
- 1/2 cup canned black beans,, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup corn kernels
Instructions
- Place jalapeno, garlic, lime juice, honey, cilantro and salt in a blender. Blend until jalapeno and cilantro are finely chopped.
- Gradually add oil to blender and blend until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl.
- Toss with vinaigrette and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This salad dressing is amazing and absolutely delicious! Take my word for it be sure to double the recipe you will be glad you did!