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Layered Salad with Tomatoes, Corn, and Avocados

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 2, 2011

Time

20 minutes

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Layered Salad with Tomatoes, Corn, and Avocados

Ingredients

Dressing

¼ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup sour cream ¼ cup prepared salsa 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves 2 teaspoons lime juice

Salad

1 heart romaine lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces (about 4 cups)½ small red onion, sliced thin2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (quartered if large)1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn 1 (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed2 ripe avocados, pitted, skinned, and chopped1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 2 cups tortilla chips, crushed

Before You Begin

You will need a large (at least 2½-quart) serving bowl for this recipe. If using frozen corn, make sure to thaw and rinse it first.

Instructions

  1. For the dressing: Whisk all ingredients together in medium bowl.
  2. For the salad: Place lettuce in large serving bowl. Spread half of dressing over lettuce, then layer with onion, tomatoes, corn, beans, avocados, and cheese. Spread remaining dressing over salad. Sprinkle with tortilla chips. Serve. (Salad can be refrigerated for 1 day; reserve tortilla chips until just before serving.)
Layered Salad with Tomatoes, Corn, and Avocados

Layered Salad with Tomatoes, Corn, and Avocados

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

20 minutes

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

Dressing

¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
¼ cup prepared salsa
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons lime juice

Salad

1 heart romaine lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces (about 4 cups)
½ small red onion, sliced thin
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (quartered if large)
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn
1 (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 ripe avocados, pitted, skinned, and chopped
1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups tortilla chips, crushed

Ingredients

Dressing

¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
¼ cup prepared salsa
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons lime juice

Salad

1 heart romaine lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces (about 4 cups)
½ small red onion, sliced thin
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (quartered if large)
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn
1 (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 ripe avocados, pitted, skinned, and chopped
1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups tortilla chips, crushed

Ingredients

Dressing

¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
¼ cup prepared salsa
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons lime juice

Salad

1 heart romaine lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces (about 4 cups)
½ small red onion, sliced thin
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (quartered if large)
1 cup fresh or thawed frozen corn
1 (16-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
2 ripe avocados, pitted, skinned, and chopped
1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups tortilla chips, crushed

Why This Recipe Works

We quickly discovered that a layered salad is only as good as the ingredients you put into it. We liked crisp, cool romaine for our salad base. For a summer hit, we decided that fresh cherry tomatoes were a must, as were ripe avocados. Canned black beans added a little heft to the mix.

Before You Begin

You will need a large (at least 2½-quart) serving bowl for this recipe. If using frozen corn, make sure to thaw and rinse it first.

Instructions

  1. For the dressing: Whisk all ingredients together in medium bowl.
  2. For the salad: Place lettuce in large serving bowl. Spread half of dressing over lettuce, then layer with onion, tomatoes, corn, beans, avocados, and cheese. Spread remaining dressing over salad. Sprinkle with tortilla chips. Serve. (Salad can be refrigerated for 1 day; reserve tortilla chips until just before serving.)

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