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When your daughter says, "This salad is way better than I thought it was going to be" ... you know you have a winner! I am admittedly not a huge salad person, but I know leafy greens are good for me so I do try. And when salads are full of flavor, like in this Sweet and Spicy Salad with Chipotle Ranch, it makes eating them so much easier, even enjoyable!
What Does Sweet and Spicy Salad Taste Like?
With a super-tasty combo of sweet and spicy nuts, fresh avocado, soft crumbled cheese, and a dressing with a kick, this is a salad you'll be making again and again!
How to Make Chipotle Ranch Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 chipotle pepper from a small can of Chipotles in Adobo Sauce
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives or green onions, roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Directions
Simply combine all ingredients in a blender or small food processor and blend until smooth.
Featured Comment
The chili powder and the cayenne pepper give this an interesting zing that I really enjoyed. Thank you for this one! :)
What Other Recipes Can I Use with Chipotle Ranch?
This dressing is SO good! It would be great drizzled on tacos, nachos, burritos, or even a burger to give it a little kick.
Other Salad Recipes You Might Enjoy
- Mexican Citrus Salad
- Simple Grapefruit and Avocado Salad
- Cauliflower & Pomegranate Salad with a Yogurt Dressing
Sweet and Spicy Salad with Chipotle Ranch
Ingredients
For the Glazed Pecans
- ¾ cup raw pecans
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ¾ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 dash cayenne (red) pepper
For the Chipotle Ranch Dressing
For the Salad and Assembly
- 1 big head lettuce (chopped (butter lettuce, Romaine or similar amount of mixed greens))
- ¾ cup queso fresco ((Mexican cheese) freshly crumbled)
- 1 small avocado (peeled, seeded, and diced)
Instructions
For the Glazed Pecans
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the pecans to a medium mixing bowl. Mix in the oil, honey, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper, and stir until thoroughly combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes. Stir the nuts to help prevent burning and bake for 3 to 5 minutes more.
- Allow the nuts to harden in clumps as they cool, then break them apart with your hands.
For the Chipotle Ranch Dressing
- Combine all ingredients in a blender or small food processor and blend until smooth.
For the Salad and Assembly
- Place greens in a large bowl and toss with glazed pecans, crumbled cheese, and diced avocado. Serve the dressing on the side (there will be extra!).
Griff Neilson says
The chili powder and the cayenne pepper give this an interesting zing that I really enjoyed. Thank you for this one! :)