Southwestern Salad with an Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing

by Pam on February 2, 2014

I wanted to make a nice Southwestern flavored salad with an avocado dressing. I found a recipe online for the dressing at Sumptuous Spoonfuls that looked wonderful. I adapted the recipe to suit my family and it turned out terrific. I liked the combination of ingredients on the salad and the dressing was a big hit! We all LOVED it and even enjoyed dipping the Buttermilk Southwestern Grilled Chicken^[1] in it. This chicken also paired nicely with the Mexican Rice^[2].

Combine the minced garlic, lime juice, cilantro, avocado, sugar, cumin, sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, cayenne pepper, to taste, olive oil, Greek yogurt, and milk together in a bowl. Mix it well using an immersion blender; set aside for at least 15 minutes for the flavors to mingle.

Combine the romaine lettuce, bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions, diced avocado, pinto beans, tortilla strips, and cotija cheese together in a serving bowl. Drizzle with the avocado dressing, to taste then toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately. Enjoy.

Print^[3]

Save^[4]

Southwestern Salad with an Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing

Yield: 4

Total Time: 15 min.

Ingredients:

Salad Dressing:

1 clove garlic, minced
Juice from 1 lime
1/4 cup of fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 of a ripe avocado
1/2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp cumin
Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Dash of cayenne pepper, to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
2 tbsp lowfat milk

Salad:

Romaine lettuce
3 tbsp yellow bell pepper, diced
Grape tomatoes, halved
Green onions, diced
1/2 avocado diced
1/4 cup pinto beans, drained & rinsed
Crispy tortilla strips
Cotija cheese, crumbled

Directions:

Combine the minced garlic, lime juice, cilantro, avocado, sugar, cumin, sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste, cayenne pepper, to taste, olive oil, Greek yogurt, and milk together in a bowl. Mix it well using an immersion blender; set aside for at least 15 minutes for the flavors to mingle.

Combine the romaine lettuce, bell pepper, tomatoes, green onions, diced avocado, pinto beans, tortilla strips, and cotija cheese together in a serving bowl. Drizzle with the avocado dressing, to taste then toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately. Enjoy.

Adapted recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net
Original recipe by Sumptuous Spoonfuls

References

1. ^{^} Buttermilk Southwestern Grilled Chicken (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)
2. ^{^} Mexican Rice (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)
3. ^{^} Print Recipe (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)
4. ^{^} Save to ZipList Recipe Box (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)