Santa Fe salad is a vibrant and flavorful salad that is perfect for a summer day! It is a Tex-Mex inspired salad that is packed with fresh ingredients, like lettuce, tomatoes, black beans, corn, and avocado. The salad is also topped with a creamy and flavorful Santa Fe dressing that is creamy and fresh. This quick and easy salad is great as a light meal, appetizer, or side dish!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This Santa Fe salad is quick and easy.
- It features fresh and flavorful veggies.
- Great as a weeknight dinner, side dish, or appetizer.
- It tastes like Chili’s southwest salad, but this version is healthy.
- Pair with some chicken or beef for a hearty and satisfying meal.
- It is packed with fresh ingredients that are in season.
- The Santa Fe dressing is creamy and flavorful. It perfectly complements the other ingredients in the salad.
- Santa Fe salad is easy to make and can be customized to your liking.
- It is a great salad to serve for a potluck or picnic.
- This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and can be easily made vegan.
- Check out this Mexican Street Corn Salad or this Broccoli Cauliflower Salad for another refreshing summer dish!
What is Santa Fe Salad?
Santa Fe salad is a Tex-Mex inspired salad that is typically made with lettuce, tomatoes, black beans, corn, avocado, and a Santa Fe dressing. The salad can also be topped with grilled chicken or shrimp, or it can be served as a vegetarian salad.
The Santa Fe dressing is what gives this salad its unique flavor. This dressing is made with lime juice, fresh cilantro, and honey. The lime juice adds tartness, the cilantro adds freshness, and the honey adds sweetness. The dressing perfectly complements the other ingredients in the salad, and it helps to bring all of the flavors together.
Ingredients & Substitutes
These are the ingredients and substitutions for Santa Fe salad. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
Use fresh mixed greens.
Cherry tomatoes add color, freshness, and flavor.
Corn kernels also add color and freshness. Feel free to use fresh or canned corn.
Drain and rinse the black beans.
Dice the avocado into small cubes. Use ripe avocado.
Thinly slice the red onions.
Fresh cilantro adds flavor to the salad and the dressing.
Lime juice is the base of the lime cilantro dressing. Use fresh lime juice if possible.
Use extra virgin olive oil.
Honey or agave syrup add the sweetness.
Garlic adds a garlicky flavor to the dressing. Use a fresh garlic clove if possible. Otherwise, use garlic powder.
Add in sea salt and black pepper to taste.
Taste & Texture
Santa Fe salad is a flavorful and refreshing salad. The lettuce provides a crisp base, the tomatoes add sweetness and acidity. The black beans and corn add heartiness.
In addition, the avocado adds creaminess. The Santa Fe dressing adds a sweet and tangy flavor.
The salad is a great combination of flavors and textures!
How to Make
Step 1
First, in a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, tomatoes, corn, black beans, avocado, red onion, and cilantro.
Step 2
In a separate bowl, make the lime cilantro dressing. Whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, honey, garlic, cilantro, salt, and pepper.
Step 3
Pour the dressing over the salad. Toss gently to coat all of the ingredients evenly.
Step 4
Lastly, serve!
Expert Tips for Success
Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your salad.
Avoid using frozen veggies.
If you want to add protein to your salad, grilled chicken or shrimp would be a great option.
If you are serving this salad as a vegetarian dish, you can add a hard-boiled egg or some quinoa for extra protein. For vegan, omit the egg and add more beans or chickpeas.
This salad is best served immediately after it is made. However, you can also store it in the refrigerator for up to a day.
Flavor Variations & Add-Ins
Santa Fe salad is a versatile salad that can be customized to your liking. Here are a few ideas for flavor variations and add-ins:
- Add grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein.
- Add quinoa for extra fiber and protein.
- Top with a hard-boiled egg for extra protein.
- Top with some diced jalapenos for extra heat.
- Use different types of lettuce, such as romaine, spinach, or kale.
- Use different types of beans, such as pinto beans, kidney beans, or black-eyed peas.
How to Serve & Store
Santa Fe salad is best served immediately after it is made.
Great with grilled chicken, steak, seafood, and more.
However, you can also store it in the refrigerator for up 24 hours ahead of time. If you are storing the salad, make sure to keep the dressing separate. You can add the dressing just before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Santa Fe salad is made with fresh vegetables and mixed greens. The veggies include black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, and red onion.
The lime cilantro dressing is made of lime juice, honey, olive oil, garlic, and cilantro.
Sure! To make this ahead of time, store the salad and dressing separately. Then, dress the salad just before serving.
Yes! Add grilled shrimp, steak tips, or grilled chicken to this salad.
Lime cilantro dressing goes well with this southwest salad.
To char the corn, add it to a dry hot cast iron skillet. Cook for a few minutes, until charred.
You May Also Enjoy
If you enjoyed this homemade Santa Fe salad recipe, please leave a rating and comment! For more inspiration, check out my Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. For 5 free weekly meal plans and more free resources, sign up to receive my free newsletter! Check out these Salad Recipes for more healthy ideas.
Santa Fe Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or canned)
- 1 cup black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 avocado (diced)
- ½ cup red onion (thinly sliced)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
Lime Cilantro Dressing
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp honey (or agave syrup)
- 1 garlic clove (minced)
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- First, in a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, tomatoes, corn, black beans, avocado, red onion, and cilantro.
- In a separate bowl, make the lime cilantro dressing. Whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, honey, garlic, cilantro, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the salad. Toss gently to coat all of the ingredients evenly.
- Finally, serve!
Notes
- Use fresh ingredients whenever possible.
- Feel free to customize this salad to your liking.
- Add some meat on top for added protein. We love this with shrimp or grilled chicken!
- If making ahead of time, store the salad and dressing separately.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Enjoy this healthy Santa Fe salad recipe!
