Southwest Salad with Chipotle Ranch Recipe
This vibrant Southwest Salad with Chipotle Ranch combines fresh vegetables, black beans, and a creamy, smoky chipotle ranch dressing for a flavorful and satisfying meal. Perfect for a quick lunch or a light dinner, this salad is loaded with textures and bold Southwestern flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Southwestern
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 15 oz black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 10 oz cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ½ red onion (thinly sliced)
- 2 ears of corn (kernels cut from the cob)
- 3 hearts of romaine (sliced)
- 1 bell pepper (chopped into large chunks)
- Avocado slices (to taste)
- Tortilla strips (to taste)
Chipotle Ranch Dressing
- 8 oz sour cream
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Chop up the romaine lettuce and place it into a large mixing bowl to form the salad’s foundation.
- Add fresh vegetables: Chop the corn kernels off the cob, thinly slice the red onion, halve the cherry tomatoes, and chop the bell pepper into large chunks. Add all these vibrant vegetables to the bowl with the romaine lettuce.
- Add black beans: Drain and rinse the black beans thoroughly, then add them to the salad bowl to pack in protein and fiber.
- Make the chipotle ranch dressing: Combine the sour cream, mayonnaise, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, dried dill, salt, and lime juice together in a blender or food processor. Blend until the dressing is smooth and creamy.
- Dress the salad: Pour the chipotle ranch dressing over the salad to your desired taste and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Serve and garnish: Plate the salad and top with crunchy tortilla strips and fresh avocado slices or any other preferred toppings for added texture and flavor.
Notes
- You can adjust the spice level of the dressing by adding more or fewer chipotle peppers.
- For a vegan version, substitute sour cream and mayonnaise with plant-based alternatives.
- Try adding grilled chicken or tofu for extra protein if desired.
- Use fresh lime juice for the best flavor in the dressing.
- Tortilla strips can be homemade by frying cut tortillas or store-bought for convenience.