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Southwest Salad with Grilled Corn - Southwest salad: prepare this vibrant, healthy, and flavorful dish in under 30 minutes. Perfect for a satisfying lunch or di

Southwest Salad with Grilled Corn

Southwest salad: prepare this vibrant, healthy, and flavorful dish in under 30 minutes. Perfect for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ear corn on the cob (shucked)
  • 4 cups chopped green leaf lettuce
  • 1 cup shredded cabbage mix (from a bag or shredded by hand)
  • 1 red bell pepper (diced)
  • 1 tomato (diced or 1/2 cup salsa)
  • 1 avocado (diced)
  • 2 batches air fryer tortilla strips (or a couple big handfuls of tortilla chips, crushed in hands)
  • 1 batch creamy cashew dressing

Method
 

  1. Preheat an outdoor grill to 500 degrees F. Place the shucked corn directly onto the grill above the flame and cover the lid.
  2. Grill the corn for about 15 minutes, turning every few minutes until it has dark grill marks and nice color on all sides.
  3. Remove the corn from the grill and let it cool. While cooling, chop the green leaf lettuce, shredded cabbage mix, diced red bell pepper, diced tomato, and diced avocado.
  4. Once cool enough to handle, cut the kernels from the cob into a large salad bowl. Add the chopped vegetables to the bowl.
  5. Add the tortilla strips and creamy cashew salad dressing to the bowl. Toss gently to combine all ingredients.
  6. Alternatively, serve the salad into individual bowls, topping each with tortilla strips and allowing guests to add their preferred amount of creamy cashew salad dressing.

Notes

- For the most authentic flavor, don't skip grilling the corn; the char adds a depth that's hard to replicate.
- If you don't have an outdoor grill, you can achieve similar results using a cast-iron skillet on high heat or a broiler.
- To make this southwest salad ahead, keep the dressing, tortilla strips, and avocado separate until just before serving to maintain crispness and prevent browning.
- Store leftover salad without dressing for up to 2 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat corn kernels gently if desired, or serve chilled.
Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.