This Southwest BBQ Summer Salad is the kind of salad that everyone loves, even people who are not usually into salads! It is loaded with beans and fresh summer produce, with a sweet, smoky and tangy flavor which makes it hearty and refreshing at the same time. It is also fully vegetarian and full of plant-based protein and fiber, and trust me it doesn't need any kind of meat to be good.
Read the full blog post below for detailed notes, tips, tricks, photos and videos.
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WHAT IS A SOUTHWEST SALAD?
A Southwest salad is a Tex-Mex inspired salad popular in Southwestern US. It is vibrant and flavorful, and typically combines a base of crisp lettuce, such as romaine or mixed greens, with an assortment of colorful ingredients inspired by Southwestern cuisine. While there are many variations, it often features fresh ingredients like black beans, corn tomatoes, avocado, and different types of protein. It is garnished with shredded cheese, crispy tortilla strips, and a zesty dressing, such as ranch or a tangy lime vinaigrette.
WHAT MAKES THIS SOUTHWEST BBQ SUMMER SALAD SO GREAT
Now let's talk about why I absolutely love this specific salad!
- It has a stunning combination of flavors that come together to hit all your taste buds. Freshness from lettuce and cucumbers, tanginess from cherry tomatoes, sweetness from sweet corn, bitterness from onion, savory heartiness from black beans and toasted corn, and creaminess from avocados. All of that, combined with the sweet, smoky and tangy BBQ dressing, tastes absolutely phenomenal
- It has a lovely balance of textures. A good salad needs texture! We want crisp, crunchy, creamy, soft, and juicy in every bite, and this salad delivers on all those fronts
- It is loaded with plant-based protein and fiber. Instead of chicken, this recipe uses toasted chickpeas, which, along with the black beans, add lots of protein and fiber to this salad. That means it is filling, nutritious and healthy!
- It is really easy to eat. Okay, this may not sound like a big deal, but I think it totally is! I hate it when a salad has huge chunks of greens or veggies, and your only options are to either stuff your mouth uncomfortably or meticulously cut ingredients for every bite. This salad is not that. The ingredients are all cut into small chunks, so you're able to get a bit of everything in every bite very easily, which makes for a great eating experience
- It is versatile! You can make easy swaps to customize this salad to your liking. For example, add crumbled feta cheese to garnish, or swap out the chipotle ranch dressing for an Italian or Southwest dressing, or use different kinds of greens and beans
BEST DRESSING FOR THIS SOUTHWEST SALAD
The dressing I use for this recipe is a combination of Stubb's Sticky Sweet BBQ sauce and a Chipotle Ranch Dressing. The combination is sweet, smoky, spicy and tangy, which I love.
However, you can swap out the Chipotle Ranch Dressing for another dressing of your liking. Italian, Southwest or Thousand Island dressings all work well in this salad as they have a good combination of tangy and sweet. You can also make your own dressing if you prefer!
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Here is a quick video tutorial for this recipe:
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="0fF9KiBf" upload-date="2024-07-23T02:41:51.000Z" name="Southwest BBQ Summer Salad" description="How to make the perfect southwest salad" player-type="default" override-embed="default"]
PROCESS WITH PHOTOS
This salad is incredibly easy to make! Here's how:
- Wash & chop all the produce.
- Toss the chickpeas in the seasonings and oil, and toast on the stove for 8-10 minutes until fragrant
- Add all the ingredients to a bowl, except the tortilla chips. Drizzle over the dressings, salt, pepper and dill
- Toss together, taste and adjust as needed. Garnish with tortilla chips and serve!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This salad can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, but the lettuce does become softer and the vegetables release water, so it is not as good as it is fresh. If you want to prep it in advance, I recommend chopping and prepping all ingredients except the avocado, lettuce and tortilla chips. Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days, then toss with the lettuce, avocado, dressings and chips whenever you are ready to serve.
Although I don't believe this salad needs animal protein, you are definitely welcome to add it in any form you enjoy!
Yes, feel free to use any dressing you like. I recommend one with a balance of sweet, tangy and smoky / spicy flavors for the best results, and I suggest you still add the BBQ sauce for best results.
RELATED RECIPES
Looking for a summery dessert to eat after this salad? Check out these delicious and easy recipes:
SOUTHWEST BBQ SUMMER SALAD RECIPE
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 8 servings
Description
A delicious salad loaded with beans and fresh summer produce, with a sweet, smoky and tangy flavor which makes it hearty and refreshing at the same time
Ingredients
Toasted chickpeas:
- 1 15 oz can chickpeas
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 2 tsp olive oil
Salad
- ½ to 1 head romaine lettuce, depending on your preference for greens
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 4 mini cucumbers
- ½ red onion
- 1 avocado
- 1 15 oz can black beans
- 1 15 oz can whole kernel sweet corn
- Toasted chickpeas from above
- ½ cup Stubb's Sticky Sweet BBQ Sauce
- ½ to ¾ cup chipotle ranch or southwest dressing
- 1 bunch fresh dill, finely chopped
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Tortilla chips to garnish
Instructions
- Wash and dry all the produce. Rinse and drain the chickpeas, black beans and corn
- Add the chickpeas to a pan along with the oil and all the seasonings. Toss and stir on medium low heat for ~8 minutes until the chickpeas are fragrant and slightly crunchy
- In the meanwhile, chop the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion and avocado into small bite sized chunks. Sprinkle salt over the onion, wait 5 minutes, then wash and rinse to help get rid of the bitter flavor
- Add all the chopped vegetables, black beans, corn and toasted chickpeas to a large salad bowl
- Add the BBQ sauce, chipotle ranch dressing, fresh chopped dill and salt & pepper. I recommend starting with a lower quantity of the BBQ sauce and dressing so you can taste and adjust to your preferences. Toss all the ingredients together and taste. Adjust as needed
- When the salad tastes to your preference, garnish with crushed tortilla chips, serve and enjoy!
Video tutorial:[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="0fF9KiBf" upload-date="2024-07-23T02:41:51.000Z" name="Southwest BBQ Summer Salad" description="How to make the perfect southwest salad" player-type="default" override-embed="default"]
Notes
- This salad gets watery if left in the fridge for more than a day; see the FAQ section in the blog post above for tips on how to prep ahead of time
- If you want, you can turn this salad into a delicious dip! Simply skip the lettuce and serve the remainder with tortilla chips
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Salads
- Cuisine: American
Anisa Patel says
Looks too tempting...!!! Your page is feast to the eyes...!!!
Zoha says
AWW thank you SOO much!
Ameena says
Simple and delicious. Just what you need for a good summer salad!
Zoha says
Thank you Ameena!
Sobia Yasir says
The best recipes ever, foolproof and unique in taste
Zoha says
Thanks so much!
Sidrah says
I tried this recipe and fell in love with it. I take it to my workplace daily as my lunch now. Thanks!
Zoha says
SO glad to hear that!
Zoha says
Aw what an honor!
Ayesha says
Delicious 💞 a small tip you can try , washing onions with salt makes them saggy try soaking them in ice water for few minutes, it will remove their smell and bitterness yet keeping them crisp , happy cooking 🌹