Simple Mexican Side Salad
One of the things I like to do after I dine a restaurant is see if I can recreate what I ate. And then tweak it to taste exactly how I want it, aka make it better. This easy and healthy salad was inspired by a similar salad I ate at a restaurant but has more veggies for added texture and the dressing has amazing flavor. The Mexican salad dressing is an easy blender dressing that comes together in one minute flat and it’s packed with flavor from avocado, cilantro, Greek yogurt, lime juice, green onions, garlic, and a pinch of cayenne. It’s thick, creamy, and reminds me of this Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing but with avocado. I topped the salad with cheese and baked tortilla strips. The slight saltiness of the cheese and the crunch of the tortilla strips takes the salad from good to great. Why bother with croutons when you can have tortilla strips?
Mexican Side Salad Ingredients
For the side salad itself, you’ll need:
Corn tortillasOlive oilSaltIceberg lettuceCornRed bell peppersCanned black beansRed onionGrated queso fresco (or a Mexican cheese blend)
And to make the dressing for the Mexican salad, you’ll need:
Avocado Fresh cilantroGreek yogurtLime juiceGreen onionGarlicSalt, pepper, and optional cayenne pepperGranulated sugar
How to Make a Mexican Side Salad
This Mexican wedge salad is very simple to prepare, and the dressing can be made in advance if desired. Here’s a look at how the salad is made:
Can This Recipe Be Made in Advance?
The dressing can be made in advance, but the salad itself cannot. You will have extra dressing which will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 1 week. Extra tortilla strips will keep airtight at room temp for up to 5 days.
Tips for Making This Mexican Green Salad
The salad is naturally vegetarian (vegan if you use vegan cheese or omit it) and gluten-free. You don’t have to use iceberg lettuce if you don’t care to make this as a wedge salad. You can just as easily make the Mexican side salad using spinach, Romaine, or another leafy green. If the dressing is too thick, add a tablespoon of water at a time to the blender to loosen it up.
What to Serve with a Mexican Side Salad
This green salad is an easy side dish to pair with your favorite Tex-Mex or Mexican entrees! Try the salad with:
Taco Spaghetti Chicken Salsa Verde EnchiladasGrilled Cilantro Lime ChickenLoaded Vegetarian BurritosChicken Enchilada Zucchini BoatsSheet Pan Chicken FajitasLoaded Ground Beef Nachos
More Mexican Salad Ideas:
Loaded Chicken Taco Salad with Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing – Fast, easy, fresh and healthy! All your favorite taco flavors in one big kickin’ salad that everyone will love! Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Avocado, Black Bean and Corn Salad with Lime-Cumin Vinaigrette – Everything tastes better with avocado! Easy, healthy and tons of flavor! Mexican Bean Salad — Such a fast and easy recipe to make! Plus, it’s loaded with flavor and textures galore. Two kinds of beans, juicy corn and tomatoes, crisp peppers, and green onions are tossed in a lime-chili-cumin vinaigrette that’s perfectly light!! Creamy Corn and Zucchini Salad — A healthy EASY salad that’s ready in 15 minutes and so flavorful!! Corn, zucchini, cilantro, queso fresco and more are tossed in a DELISH creamy lime sauce!! Layered Taco Salad — A classic taco salad that everyone LOVES, it’s EASY, and it’s ready in 20 minutes!! There’s ground beef, refried beans, red peppers, tortilla chips, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes!! Taco Pasta Salad — EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and loaded with great Mexican-inspired ingredients including corn, black beans, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado, and more!! Perfect for picnics, parties, and potlucks!!
