Southwest Vegetarian Salad

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This simple Southwestern Vegetarian Salad has a ton of flavor from beans and corn, but the spicy chipotle ranch really takes it up a notch.

Southwest Vegetarian Salad

My southwestern vegetarian salad is the perfect salad for lunches, side dishes, and potlucks. In fact, I took it to my Ladies Bible Study potluck today and it was a HUGE hit. It is so beautiful and colorful that people can’t stay away from it.

Easy School Lunch Idea

My daughter’s taste is becoming a little more grown-up, so I used this salad lunch box kit to create an easy Southwest Vegetarian Salad for her lunch.  It’s perfect for portioning meals and everything fits together. In her salad, I decided on romaine since it’s hearty and holds up pretty well without wilting. Then I added:

• Black beans
• Corn
• Grape tomato halves
• Shredded Mexican cheese blend
• Spicy Ranch Dressing. The dressing does have a little kick to it, so feel free to adjust it to your tastes.
• A few sprigs of cilantro

I really liked what I came up with and I think it would be perfect for adults to take, too. I like that the measurements are on the sides of the container, and it’s easy to portion food out. The LunchBlox Kits are 100% BPA free, and safe to use in the microwave, dishwasher, or freezer.

No boring lunches allowed! My kids soon boycott PB&Js and I want to pack a lunch that isn’t junk. This can prove more difficult with food sensitivities or allergies. I think part of sending your kids to school with a healthy lunch is making sure they eat it. I find if they have a little say in what you are packing, kids are more receptive.

Presentation makes a big difference, too. Let’s face it, would you rather eat out of brown sack or from cute and colorful food storage containers that are literally a snap to put together? Many children find Lunchables appealing because there is a DIY element to putting it together themselves, but they aren’t the healthiest choice. You can create a DIY lunch without spending a lot of time. All you need is a few minutes to prepare gourmet lunches for your kids or even yourself!

Southwestern Salad Options

I usually just make the salad as is, but sometimes it’s fun to kick it up by adding corn chips or crushed tortilla chips for some crunch. The chips could be something that is on the side and people can add them if they want. Of course, for the kids lunches, they always want the chips. 

My best friend is a vegetarian, so when we are attending the same event I try to make something that she can eat. However, I’m not vegetarian so when I make this at home for my family, I love to grill up a couple pieces of chicken with my Southwestern Chipotle Seasoning Spice blend. I slice or chop the chicken and add to the salad to make it more of a summertime main dish.

Check out how easy this Southwestern Vegetarian Salad is to put together:

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Southwest Vegetarian Salad

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

This simple Southwestern Vegetarian Salad has a ton of flavor from beans and corn, but the spicy chipotle ranch really takes it up a notch.

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Ingredients

• 2 heads romaine lettuce (washed, drained, and roughly chopped
• 1 can black beans, rinsed
• 1 can corn
• 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
• Spicy Chipotle Ranch Dressing
• A few sprigs of cilantro, opt

Instructions

1. Place chopped romaine in a large bowl. Add black beans, corn, tomatoes, and cheese.
2. Serve with spicy chipotle ranch dressing and sprigs of cilantro, if desired.

Notes

Options:

Add corn chips or crushed tortilla chips for some crunch.

Not a vegetarian? Grill up a couple pieces of chicken with Chipotle Seasoning blend. Slice or chop and add to the salad to make it more of a main dish.

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