Southwest Sunset Palette Salad (Printer View)

Layered with colorful peppers, red chili cheese, black beans, and fresh cilantro for bold Southwest flavors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 cup yellow bell pepper, diced
02 - 1 cup orange bell pepper, diced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup romaine lettuce, shredded
05 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1 avocado, sliced
07 - 1/2 cup corn kernels, drained

→ Legumes

08 - 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, rinsed and drained if canned

→ Cheese

09 - 1 cup shredded red chili pepper cheese or sharp cheddar with chili powder

→ Garnishes & Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
11 - 2 tablespoons lime juice
12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Method Steps:

01 - Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
02 - Dice and slice the vegetables as specified, keeping them separate for layering.
03 - In a large clear glass serving bowl, spread black beans evenly as the base layer. Follow by layering yellow bell peppers, orange bell peppers, and corn kernels to create distinct color bands.
04 - Add a layer of shredded red chili pepper cheese, then distribute cherry tomatoes evenly, followed by shredded romaine lettuce and avocado slices on top.
05 - Drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the salad and sprinkle chopped cilantro on top.
06 - Serve immediately using a large spoon to scoop through all layers ensuring balanced servings.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a conversation starter—the visual beauty alone will have your guests reaching for their phones before their forks.
  • The flavor builds with each spoonful as you hit different layers, keeping every bite exciting and new.
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes, making it perfect for weeknight entertaining without the stress.
02 -
  • Don't assemble this more than an hour before serving, or the lettuce will start to wilt under the weight of the dressing. If you need to prep ahead, layer everything except the lettuce and avocado, then add those right before serving.
  • The order of the layers matters more than you'd think. Starting with the heaviest ingredients (beans) and ending with the lightest (lettuce, avocado) keeps everything looking beautiful and prevents sogginess.
  • If your glass bowl isn't deep enough, the proportions get weird. A trifle bowl or a bowl that's at least 4 inches deep gives you room to build something stunning.
03 -
  • If you're feeding a crowd and want to avoid the last-minute rush, prep all your vegetables in advance and store them separately in airtight containers. The actual assembly takes less than five minutes if you're organized.
  • The difference between a good version of this salad and an unforgettable one is how much you taste it as you build it. Sneak a black bean, a piece of pepper, a bit of cheese—understand what you're working with before it all comes together.
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