Southwest Sunset Layered Salad (Printable)

A vibrant layered salad with yellow and orange peppers, spicy chili cheese, black beans, and fresh cilantro.

# What You 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

→ Cheese

09 - 1 cup red chili pepper cheese, shredded

→ 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 pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Whisk together lime juice, olive oil, ground cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
02 - Dice yellow and orange bell peppers, halve cherry tomatoes, shred romaine lettuce, slice red onion thinly, slice avocado, and drain corn kernels. Keep each ingredient separate for layering.
03 - In a large clear glass serving bowl, layer evenly starting with black beans as the base. Add yellow bell pepper, then orange bell pepper, followed by corn kernels in distinct bands.
04 - Add shredded red chili cheese, arrange halved cherry tomatoes, then top with shredded romaine lettuce and avocado slices.
05 - Drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the layers and sprinkle chopped cilantro on top.
06 - Serve immediately using a large spoon to scoop through all layers, ensuring each serving has a balanced mix of ingredients.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a conversation starter—the layered colors are so striking people can't help but admire it before digging in
  • Everything comes together in about 35 minutes with mostly just prep work, so you can actually relax before serving
  • It tastes bold and complex, but it's surprisingly simple to throw together once you've diced your vegetables
  • It works as a side dish or a light main, and keeps beautifully in the fridge for leftovers the next day
02 -
  • The avocado browns fast once sliced, so slice it literally five minutes before serving—this keeps it that beautiful pale green color and creamy texture
  • If you're serving this more than an hour after assembly, keep the dressing separate and add it just before serving, otherwise the lettuce will start to wilt and lose its crunch
  • The beauty of this salad is the distinct layers, so resist the urge to mix it together in the bowl—let people scoop through the layers themselves for that magical moment of seeing all the colors
03 -
  • Invest in a really good clear glass bowl or trifle dish—you're essentially creating art here, and the presentation is half the magic
  • Make the dressing the night before and let it sit in the fridge; the flavors deepen and marry together, making it taste even better
  • If serving for a crowd, assemble the salad in a large shallow dish rather than a deep one—it's easier to scoop through the layers evenly and everyone gets the full sunset effect on their plate
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