Mexican Side Salad with Creamy Avocado-Cilantro Dressing

A Mexican twist on the classic wedge salad with black beans, peppers, corn, crunchy tortilla strips, and more!! Easy, healthy, and the dressing is so flavorful!!

📝 Ingredients

• 8 small (4-inch corn tortillas, cut into 1/4-inch wide strips)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
• 1 head iceberg lettuce (cored and quartered into wedges)
• 1/2 cup corn (I used frozen)
• 1/2 cup red bell peppers (diced small)
• 1/2 cup cooked black beans
• 1/2 cup red onion (finely minced)
• 1 cup grated queso fresco (a shredded Mexican cheese blend may be substituted)
• 1 medium ripe Hass avocado (peeled and pitted)
• 1 1/2 to 2 cups cilantro leaves from about 1 medium bunch cilantro (stems discarded, loosely packed in measuring cup)
• 6 ounces Greek yogurt (I used 0% fat; sour cream may be substituted)
• 3 to 4 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 green onion (trimmed and sliced into about 6 segments)
• 1 to 2 cloves garlic (peeled)
• 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
• pinch cayenne pepper (optional and to taste)
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon granulated sugar (optional and to taste)
• 1 to 2 tablespoons water (optional and as necessary for consistency)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Make the tortilla strips: Preheat oven to 375F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or foil to save cleanup time, loosely scatter the tortilla strips, evenly drizzle with olive oil, evenly sprinkle with kosher salt, toss with hands to coat evenly, and bake for about 15 to 18 minutes, or until crisp and lightly golden brown; set aside. While strips bake, assemble the salad.
2. 2Make the salad: Place each wedge of lettuce on a separate plate and evenly sprinkle each wedge with corn, red peppers, black beans, and red onion; set aside.
3. 3Make the dressing: To the canister of a blender, add the avocado, cilantro, Greek yogurt, lime juice, green onions, garlic, salt, pepper, optional cayenne pepper, sugar, and blend on high speed until smooth and well combined. If necessary for consistency, add the water. Taste dressing to check for seasoning balance and make any necessary adjustments, i.e. more salt, pepper, sugar, lime juice, etc.
4. 4Drizzle desired amount of dressing over each salad, evenly sprinkle with cheese, tortilla strips, and serve immediately.