Mexican Chopped Salad (Printable version)

Fresh vegetables, beans, and zesty lime-cilantro dressing come together in this vibrant chopped salad.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
03 - 1 cup English cucumber, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1/2 cup fresh corn kernels
07 - 1 avocado, diced

→ Beans

08 - 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained

→ Cheese & Garnish

09 - 1/3 cup cotija or feta cheese, crumbled
10 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Dressing

11 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
13 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup
15 - 1 clove garlic, minced
16 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
17 - 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
18 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine the chopped romaine lettuce, quartered cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, fresh corn kernels, and diced black beans in a large salad bowl.
02 - Whisk together the olive oil, fresh lime juice, red wine vinegar, honey or agave syrup, minced garlic, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl or jar until well emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle with crumbled cotija or feta cheese and chopped fresh cilantro. Serve immediately while vegetables are crisp.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything gets chopped into bite sized pieces so you get all the flavors in every single forkful
  • The lime cilantro dressing wakes up even the most tired weeknight dinner routine
  • You can make it ahead and the flavors actually get better as they hang out together
02 -
  • The avocado will brown if dressed too far in advance so add it last or toss it in a little lime juice first
  • Let the dressing sit for at least 10 minutes so the garlic and cumin can really bloom
  • Wait until just before serving to toss everything together or you will end up with a soggy bottom
03 -
  • A potato masher pressed into the salad bowl bruises the romaine just enough to help the dressing cling better
  • Let the dressed salad sit for 5 minutes before serving so the flavors really marry together

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