Description
Santa Fe Salad is a fresh and flavorful Southwest-inspired recipe loaded with crisp lettuce, black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes, cheese, and a creamy zesty dressing. This colorful salad is perfect for quick lunches, summer dinners, meal prep, BBQs, and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 1/2 cups corn kernels
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup tortilla strips
For the Southwest Dressing
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Optional Additions
- Grilled chicken
- Seasoned shrimp
- Jalapeño slices
- Pico de gallo
- Extra lime wedges
Instructions
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic, salt, and pepper until creamy.
- Prepare the salad ingredients: Wash and chop lettuce, dice vegetables, and prepare beans, corn, avocado, and cheese.
- Combine the salad: Add lettuce, black beans, corn, tomatoes, bell pepper, avocado, onion, cilantro, and cheese to a large bowl.
- Add the dressing: Drizzle the Southwest dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
- Finish and serve: Top with tortilla strips and extra cilantro. Serve immediately with lime wedges.
- Make it a meal: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or extra beans for a more filling protein-packed salad.
- Store leftovers: Keep dressing separate if storing to maintain the salad’s freshness and crunch.
Notes
For the best texture, add avocado and tortilla strips right before serving. The dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator. This salad is great for meal prep when ingredients are stored separately.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Santa Fe salad, southwest salad recipe, black bean salad, avocado salad, Mexican salad, healthy lunch salad, summer salad recipe