Simple, delicious and perfect for a summer night, this southwest style main dish salad is sure to be a hit.
It’s so hot!
Main dish salads are my favorite during the summer months in hot Arizona. Eating hot foods when your body is already a 100 million degrees is not very appetizing!
This salad is simple and easy and uses ingredients I usually keep on hand. I have been making it for over twelve years and it remains a favorite! Black beans and corn from the pantry, veggies from the fridge and bacon from the freezer – Voila!
Endless Options
Use turkey bacon or your favorite nitrite free, sugar free bacon or I often make this salad meatless by cutting out the bacon completely and increasing the beans or adding some quinoa to it.
I love it with the veggies listed but, it is a flexible recipe and you can use whatever veggies you have that need to be used up.
A Little Goodness on the Side
We love to eat this with a little melon on the side – cantaloupe, honeydew or watermelon.
Melons are great to add to meals in the summer because they contain beneficial electrolytes that will naturally keep you hydrated. Plus, they are delicious!
If we eat this salad in the winter months, I slice up oranges to go with it.
Southwest Salad
5-6 cups lettuce, chopped – any lettuce works here – romaine, red leaf, or even chopped spring mix
1 – 14 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup corn (if it is canned corn, drain it – if it is frozen corn, defrost it)
2 tomatoes, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
2 avocados, diced
4 slices of bacon, cooked and diced (see notes)(optional)
1 recipe of this Chipotle Lime Dressing
Directions
Start with a large bowl. Place all the ingredients in the bowl and drizzle on the desired amount of dressing. Toss until everything is coated. Serve immediately. Yum!
Tweak It Notes
- MEATLESS – I often skip the bacon and double the beans or you can add quinoa as well.
- BACON – Super flexible – I have used turkey bacon, pork bacon, sugar free, nitrite free bacon, or even bacon bits or vegan bacon bits.
- VEGGIES – If you have other veggies you need to use up in your fridge toss them in. I have added cucumbers, carrots, cilantro and radishes in the past.