Perfect Summer Salad
I am not even going to pretend. I am overwhelmed! We are moving into our new house, well 2 rooms of our new house in only 11 days and I honestly don’t know how we are going to pull it off. Our garages (that we were going to move our stuff into) are filled with construction materials, windows, and the like. The room that will be our temporary bedroom still has gapping holes in the ceiling, no carpet on the cement floors and holes in the walls, everywhere. It is going to be an interesting week up there as I know the builder is trying his hardest to get something for us to live in.
I have decided to let go and treat this as an adventure. I will take care of the things I can and let go of the things I can’t. It is going to be crazy but fun. It’s all in your attitude, right?
Making meals has almost become a joke at my house. My poor sweetie is used to lovely dinners almost every day of the week. Now, after spending the entire day chasing after tiles, paint colors, doors, and pretty much everything else required in the design of this home, and trying to work on top of that, dinner time comes and I have nothing left. “What’s for dinner?” is usually met with a blank stare.
I know many of you are so busy raising kids, working your butts off at jobs and taking care of your families, friends, or just yourself. Our lives have gotten unbelievably busy. At the end of the day, it is great to have a quick salad that you can just throw together and put on the table without too much effort.
I love this summer salad. Corn, tomatoes, and avocados are all in season and tasting delicious. This salad is accented with black beans and a chipotle dressing, which are completely optional if you want to keep it raw or lower in fat. I am going to break up the recipe for you so that you can serve it any way you wish. And feel free to be creative with it and add your own touch!
Tip
You can stop half way through this recipe if you want a lower-fat, completely raw version. This is shown with the beans added but not the dressing.
Perfect Summer Dinner Salad
SERVES 4
Salad
- 2 cups corn, fresh off the cob
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 2 medium avocados, diced
- 1/2 red pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions
- 1 1/2 heads romaine lettuce, cut in half then sliced thinly
- juice from 2 limes
- 1/4 cup cilantro
You can stop here, add a little salt and pepper, toss and you will have a wonderful raw salad. Or, you can continue on and add:
- 2 cups cooked black beans
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup Chipotle Dressing (recipe follows)
- Toss all ingredients together.
Chipotle Dressing
- 1/2 cup cashews, soaked at least 6 hours
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 clove garlic
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Himalayan salt and pepper to taste
- Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth.
Amanda - Create N Plate wrote on July 17, 2014
This looks awesome!! Good luck with the move!
Carmen wrote on July 17, 2014
I think I am in love with your blog. All these recipes look AMAZING!
Thalia @ butter and brioche wrote on July 16, 2014
that is a killer chipotle dressing! i just made it.. and it is soo good. thanks for sharing an awesome recipe!
Nagareboshi wrote on July 16, 2014
That looks so delicious!!!
Becky wrote on July 15, 2014
This sounds so refreshing and delicious! I think the dressing could be great on a few other salads that I make too! Vicky, I believe she is refering to chipotle chili powder – found by the other spices. Please let me know if i’m wrong Susan. Thanks for the great recipe!
Blanka wrote on July 15, 2014
Oh yum! Super inspiring, can’t wait to try the dressing – thank you. And good luck!!
Jodi wrote on July 15, 2014
I know exactly the feeling you describe because that design/ construction project you have going is my daily life! It’s hectic, unpredictable, with constant fires to be put out to keep the job(s) going. Multiply that by several jobs at once and dinner time usually means the same blank stare. We just moved too and after eating way too many meals out that really just don’t cut it, I’m craving these make ahead salads to keep on hand. This one looks especially delicious! Thanks! And hang in there!!
Catherine Purple wrote on July 14, 2014
Thanks. I was scrambling for something for dinner tonight. This will be a crowd pleaser.
vicky wrote on July 14, 2014
What is CHIPOTLE ?
Thanks