Thank goodness for this Tangy Cilantro Lime Confetti Salad because I’ve had a heck of a time figuring out what I’m hungry for these days. These warm days totally mess with my appetite but I seem to be able to eat this summery salad anytime. Light, tangy and refreshing, I love it for lunch, as a light dinner with some grilled chicken, and I have to admit I’ve eaten the left overs for breakfast (don’t judge). It’s lack of mayo or other ingredients I’d worry about spoiling quickly not only makes this salad weigh in less in the calorie and fat department, it makes it totally perfect for all those summertime barbecues and potlucks that are lurking just around the corner. You don’t have to reserve it for summer though because it’s also a great way to add that fresh taste of the warmer months to your table on cold winter days. I eat it year round. I love healthy recipes that leave me feeling as if I had indulged without even noticing that I’ve missed out on that slice of chocolate cake and the tangy zing of this salad does just that (I still love my chocolate cake though). I wouldn’t be surprised if I live on it, the salad not the cake, for the next few months. I have to remind myself to share this yummy avocado corn salad because I may or may not have eaten one entire batch myself. You’ll have to give this summer salad recipe a try and let me know what you think.

Tangy Cilantro Lime Veggie Salad

Author: Jasey's Crazy Daisy

Ingredients

Salad

1 container of cherry tomatoes halved
2 sweet bell peppers chopped (I usually use orange for color but any will work)
1/2 red onion sliced very thin and then chopped
1 cup frozen corn thawed
2 avocados chopped
Pepper

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

juice of 3 limes
1/2 cups seasoned rice vinegar or white whine vinegar I prefer rice though
4 cloves garlic minced
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt or sea salt
4 teaspoons sugar
1/4 cup oil
heaping 1/2 cup chopped cilantro I use about 1/2 bunch.

Instructions

Salad

Place prepared veggies into a salad bowl. You can either pour about 1 cup of the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette over the salad stirring to coat well, or serve it on the side letting guests use as it as desired. Sprinkle with pepper. If you aren't eating it right away, keep the salad chilled and add the avocados and dressing just before serving. I have eaten left overs the next day after storing the prepared salad in the fridge and its still go, the avocado kind of melts into the dressing, but it doesn't turn icky black.

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

You can make this one of two ways, combine everything except cilantro in blender, and give a whirl. Add cilantro and blend until the cilantro is the way you like it, into bigger or smaller pieces. If you make it in the blender, you don't have to worry about mincing the garlic too much.
Or you can mix everything together in a bowl and just stir really well before you pour it. Obviously you would want to mince/chop things a bit more. I've done it both ways and I suppose it comes down to whether you want to chop and mince, or clean your blender. For this salad, I like to leave the cilantro in bigger pieces.

Recipe Notes

This dressing is very tangy, I like it this way and most everyone I have served it to has as well. I know it breaks the usual vinaigrette oil to vinegar rule of 3:1, but I find once added to the salad the flavor of the dressing lightens up quite a bit. If you find yourself questioning the vinegar you could start by adding only 1/4 of a cup and then adding the extra as desired or by adding 1/3 cup vinegar with 1/4 cup water.