Summertime is meant for salads and easy cooking. Who wants to be cooped up inside next to a hot oven when you can be outside enjoying the sunshine and pool?! One of my favorite salads comes from a restaurant back in my hometown called El Torito. They had great Mexican food and amazing pepita cilantro dressing that, had they put it in a glass, I probably would have drunk it. I have never found another dressing like El Torito’s, but this Avocado Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing comes pretty darn close.
The main character of this amazing avocado salad is the Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing. All you need is your food processor and a sturdy spatula. Blend the ingredients together until everything is smooth and creamy. It should only take about 5 minutes and the dressing stays good in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. It tastes great as a dip too. Get the 5 minute printable recipe here.
The avocado salad is simple to prepare. Just put the following ingredients in a large bowl, mix, and divide it into your desired portion sizes:
1 small head of Romaine lettuce
1 large diced tomato
2 ripe avocados cut in slivers
1 cucumber peeled and chopped
1 bunch cilantro minced with stems removed
1/4 cup toasted pepitas (similar to pumpkin seeds). These can usually be found near the croutons or nuts in the produce section of the grocery store. If you can’t find them at your market then there are some fairly inexpensive ones on Amazon. They make a good snack too!
Optional: Sprinkle some Cotija or goat cheese on top and oh boy! You’ll probably need to start your own restaurant!
Now put some of that amazing cilantro dressing on top and you have yourself the most delicious and healthy avocado salad! If I want a more robust meal, it is easy to add grilled chicken or shrimp on top. Sometimes I marinate my chicken in this Lime Juice Marinade and it gives the chicken a delicious crunch on the outside with a pop of flavor on the inside.
Need more salad ideas or healthy summertime recipes? Check out my 30 Minute Grilled Chicken Artichoke Salad or my Teriyaki Shrimp and Vegetables. There are even more options on my Recipe Index or Pinterest Boards. Happy cooking y’all!
Avocado Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
Ingredients
- For the salad:
- 1 head Romaine lettuce
- 1 large tomato diced
- 2 ripe avocados cut in slivers
- 1 cucumber peeled and chopped
- 1 bunch cilantro finely minced with stems removed
- 1/4 cup toasted pepitas
- Optional: Cotija or goat cheese for topping
- For the dressing:
- 1 avocado
- 2 cloves garlic peeled
- ½ cup loosely packed cilantro
- ¼ cup light sour cream
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp Kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp water plus extra
Instructions
- Mix all the salad ingredients in a large bowl except for the pepitas and cheese.
- Blend the dressing ingredients in a food processor until smooth.
- Add more water 1 Tbsp at a time to reach desired consistency.
- Divide the salad among bowls and top with pepitas, dressing, and cheese.
Notes