Whether you plan to grill, picnic, or potluck for your next summer gathering, chances are that you'll serve at least one salad. Almost everyone has a favorite salad or two, but it's nice to have a few new ones for variety. The following Ultimate Mexican Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing is healthy, attractive, and unique. It uses a frozen vegetable medley to save time, and most of the other ingredients can be chopped ahead and put together at the last minute. The dressing is simply whizzed in the blender and can be made a week or so ahead, if necessary.

This salad has plenty of crunch – diced jicama, crushed tortilla chips, pepitas – as well as fresh spinach, avocados, and cheese. It can be made into a full meal salad by adding grilled chicken or beef.

12 Servings

Dressing:
1 cup light mayonnaise
1 envelope ranch dressing mix
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup cilantro, packed (ok to use stems too)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon sugar
1-3 large jalapeno pepper(s), seeded and chopped (depending on how spicy you like)

3 cups diced jicama
14 ounces frozen Southwest Blend Vegetables, (corn, black beans, poblano chilies, red peppers, roasted onions), microwaved according to package directions and chilled
2 medium avocados, diced
3 plum tomatoes, diced
1 cup shredded cheddar jack cheese
2 cups crushed spicy nacho cheese tortilla chips
1/2 cup pepitas, (roasted pumpkin seeds)

1 pound baby spinach

1. Dressing: Place the dressing ingredients in the blender; blend until smooth, scraping sides at least once.
2. Refrigerate until serving.
3. Mix the jicama, vegetables, avocados, tomatoes, cheese, tortilla chips and pepitas; toss with the dressing.
4. Stir in the spinach and serve immediately.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 234 Calories from Fat 119
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 51% Protein 12% Carb. 37%

Nutrient Amount per
Total Fat 13 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Cholesterol 15 mg
Sodium 404 mg
Total Carbohydrate 22 g
Dietary Fiber 5 g
Sugars 3 g
Protein 7 g

Vitamin A 72% Vitamin C 62% Calcium 0% Iron 11%