Let me tell you a little story about a wedge salad that meets a taco. They hit it off, and here’s the delicious result! This Tex-Mex wedge salad is easy, light, and loaded with flavor! Serve it as an appetizer, and perfect party side dish, or a meal of it’s own!
Why a Wedge Salad?
The wedge salad shot to stardom 50 years ago, but has remained a favorite at restaurants since. I tried my first wedge salad about ten years ago. It was fresh, crisp, and something about having to slice it myself added a “DIY” appeal akin to the “IKEA effect” (that’s an actual thing, by the way). I loved everything about it, except one very key component – the blue cheese dressing.
I’ve never been a fan of the chunky, moldy tasting cheese that so many love. Maybe it’s my unpopular opinion, or maybe you’re throwing your hands up in agreement! The blue cheese dressing has become the token topping to any wedge salad, leaving me to turn down the otherwise appealing option nearly every time. In an effort to satisfy my desire for a crisp and fresh wedge salad, I set out to create a blue-cheese-haters variety!
It’s All in the Dressing…
Introducing the Tex-Mex wedge salad, complete with a healthy dose of an even healthier homemade dressing! What differentiates this wedge salad from the rest is not only the southwestern style topping selection, but the dressing! My dressing is simple, homemade, and actually very healthy! I call it my “Avocado Cilantro dressing”, and it really doesn’t require much of an explanation. Here’s what you need to prepare this delicious and simple dressing:
- Avocado
- Cilantro
- Greek yogurt
- Lime
- Water
- salt/pepper
- garlic powder
… see what I mean? Straight up healthy! Not only will this salad dressing create the perfect canvas with which to top off your crisp lettuce wedge, but it can be stored in the fridge for continued use! To store the dressing for a few days in the fridge, you’ll want to make sure you do so in an airtight container. Before serving again, you’ll want to mix it up to disperse any oxidized film (slightly brown top) that may have appeared.
Preparing your Wedge Salad
This is the fun part! Preparing this Tex-Mex wedge salad is both simple and enjoyable! I’ve included a video below which details the process of slicing your iceberg lettuce head and sprinkling on the toppings. You’ll want to quarter your iceberg lettuce wedge and then begin layering your preferred toppings! Here are the toppings I have used and loved:
- Diced tomatoes
- Red onion
- Roasted corn
- Cilantro
- Avocado
- Jalapeno
- Lime
- Cotija Cheese
- Bacon
- Cracked black pepper
Of course you can include or omit any ingredient you so choose, but these are the toppings I love and the ones photographed below!
Serving the Salad
The beauty of the wedge salad is to serve it just the way it is – a wedge! Allowing the recipient to “chop” their own salad invites customization – something everyone appreciates about a salad. That being said, there are a few things to consider when preparing to serve a wedge salad.
- Pile on the toppings and dressing. It may seem like an overwhelming amount of “stuff” smothering the small wedge, but once it’s sliced and tossed, those toppings will disperse and grow sparse if not overcompensated!
- Serve an extra dose of dressing on the side – just in case the initial drizzle wasn’t enough to cover the spread! This goes for the cheese, too!
- Wedge salads make great “salad bar” salads! Amplify the DIY factor with a “build your own” style wedge salad bar complete with a variety of toppings and dressings!
- Finally, if serving at a gathering, set iceberg wedges out on ice to avoid premature wilting! Iceberg lettuce is make largely of water and it doesn’t take long for the temperatures to suck the life right out of them!
Looking for more “Tex-Mex”?
Well, you’ve come to the right place! As someone who grew up with salsa for blood and lived in Texas for the better part of her adult life, it’s safe to say I’ve had some experience with this cuisine! Many of my family’s favorite recipes are Tex-Mex inspired, simple, and delicious! Check out the following Tex-Mex recipes to keep the heat coming all year long!
- Tex-Mex Smothered Chicken Bake
- Slow Cooker Verde Chicken Street Tacos
- Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Mango Basil Chicken Salad with Zesty Lime Vinaigrette
- Honey Sriracha Chicken
- Fresh Zesty Corn Dip
- Southern Deviled Eggs
- One-Pan Honey Lime Chicken Skillet
…there’s more where that came from! I hope you’ll come back to my virtual kitchen – I’ve got so much more to share with you! But for now, here’s what you came for! My Tex-Mex Wedge Salad and Creamy avocado cilantro dressing recipe is below!
Tex-Mex Wedge Salad Recipe
Tex-Mex Wedge Salad
Equipment
- electric mixer or blender
Ingredients
- 1 head iceberg lettuce
- 1 C diced tomatoes
- 1 C chopped red onion
- 1 C cotija cheese
- 1/2 C roasted corn
- 8-10 strips crispy bacon
- 1/4 C cilantro
- 2 jalapenos
Avocado Cilantro Dressing
- 1/2 C plain greek yogurt
- 1 Avocado
- 1/2 C water
- 1 lime (squeezed) (about 1-2 T lime juice)
- 1 T cilantro finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- to taste salt and pepper
Instructions
- Quarter iceberg lettuce and chop produce. Cook bacon if not pre-cooked.
- Prepare dressing (instructions below).
- Top wedge with dressing followed by toppings. Garnish with cilantro, cotija cheese, and added dressing if desired! Also a great candidate for a salad-bar salad (prepare toppings in bowls for people to build their own)!
Avocado Cilantro Dressing
- Mash a very ripe avocado in a medium sized bowl. Add greek yogurt, lime juice, cilantro, and seasonings. (If using a blender, add water now. If using electric mixer, save water for later to avoid splattering).
- With an electric mixer or blender, combine ingredients until smooth. If using an electric mixer, mix until smooth and then stir in water to combine (this makes it more of a runny dressing rather than a dip).
- Once dressing is smooth and runny, taste test and add more seasoning to taste! If you prefer more of a runny dressing, add more water! If you want it thicker, add more avocado or yogurt.
Notes
Nutrition
If you do try this recipe, I would so appreciate a review! Let me know how you liked it with the button above! Thank you so much for being here!
With love,
Kelsie
