Southwest Salad with Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing just has not taken over the UK like it has the US! While my favourite is a good ol’ buttermilk ranch, a close second is chipotle ranch. Chipotle peppers in adobo make the ideal add-in to ranch, but they’re hard to come by in England so I’ve opted for chipotle paste instead. I make a variation of this salad a dozen times during the warmer months, and the flavours always make me feel like I’m back in the desert.
Ingredients
For the dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise (I opt for vegan)
- 1/2 cup sour cream (or vegan alternative)
- 1 1/2 tsp chipotle paste
- 1 lime, juice and zest
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- 1/2 tsp salt
For the tortilla strips
- 2 corn tortillas, corn tortillas, cut in half and then into small strips
- vegetable oil for frying
For the salad
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and patted dry
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/4 tsp chilli powder
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 large head of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 ear of corn, kernels removed
- 1/2 can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 avocado, diced
- 2 small sweet peppers, seeds removed and cut into strips
- a handful of cherry tomatoes, halved
- leftover lime zest
- chopped coriander for serving
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients for the chipotle ranch together in a food processor or whisk by hand.
- Heat enough vegetable oil in a pan to cover the bottom over medium high heat.
- Place tortilla strips into pan for 3-4 minutes, moving pieces regularly to ensure they don’t burn. They should be crisp and hold their shape, but not too dark. Remove strips and place on a plate lined with kitchen roll.
- Mix chickpeas, cumin, chilli powder, cayenne, and salt for salad in a bowl. Reduce heat to medium and add chickpeas to the pan with the leftover oil. Fry chickpeas, stirring regularly, for 8-10 minutes until crispy.
- Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl (I suggest tossing!) and top with chipotle dressing and tortilla strips before serving.