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When it comes to avocados, I ain’t basic. I make a damn dressing out of it! Move over avocado toast ladies, lemme show you how it’s done!
Nothing says I love summer more than a delicious southwest salad. Well, with a beer of course… and a pool. Okay, it isn’t that powerful a statement, but I tried.
If you want to make this salad on easy you can sub out the shish kebabs for a rotisserie chicken. It’s my lazy go to as well. I feel no shame for buying those, gotta do what you gotta do. The kebabs can also be served on the side. You could also do canned corn, but fresh is just so much better.
For those that wish to play on hard mode, you can fry up some corn tortilla chips and really impress your friends. Just throw some salt, cumin, and lime on those. I think I just drooled on my keyboard.
You really want to make sure to taste the dressing before you serve it. Make sure the flavor is to your liking. If like me, you think cilantro tastes like soap, just use it sparingly or use some parsley instead. You can also just omit the herbs, not a huge loss.
Southwest Avocado Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado
- ½ tbsp plain yogurt or sour cream
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 ½ tsp honey or agave syrup
- 1 tbsp fresh lime or lemon juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup fresh parsley or cilantro optional
- 4 tbsp water
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Instructions
- Place all ingredients, except half of water, in a food processor.
- Blend ingredients together. Add more water if needed for pouring consistency.
- Taste, add more seasoning or citrus if needed.
Southwest Shish Kebab
Ingredients
Kabob
- 3 chicken breasts trimmed and cut into 1” cubes
- Water soaked skewers
- 1 bell pepper cut into 1 ½” chunks
- 1 red onion cut into 1 ½” chunks
Marinade
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp plain yogurt
Instructions
- In a dish with a cover or gallon ziplock baggie, place chicken and marinade ingredients. Mix well to coat all chicken. Refrigerate 1 hour.
- Preheat grill on high.
- Stack kebab ingredients on skewers.
- Lower heat on grill to medium, place skewers on grill.
- Cook 12 – 15 minutes or until juices are clear. Remember to turn to cook all sides.
Southwest Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 hearts of romaine washed and chopped
- 2 ears of corn boiled and shaved
- 1 ripe avocado pitted and sliced
- ½ cup black olives sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cucumber sliced and quartered
- ½ cup shredded cheddar
- ¼ red onion chopped thin
- Tortilla chips for garnish
- Avocado dressing
- Southwest chicken shish kebab or just grilled chicken
Instructions
- Slice up shish kebab chicken and veggies into bite sized pieces.
- Mix salad ingredients in a large bowl. Add cut up kebab to salad.
- Pour dressing on right before serving and garnish with tortilla chips.
