Palmini Rice Southwest Salad

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This Southwest Palmini Rice Salad is the perfect dish for an effortless, flavor packed, nutrient rich meal. Preparing it with hearts of palm rice instead of traditional rice keeps it light and fresh. This salad includes black beans, corn, cilantro and poblano peppers, all brought together with a zesty chipotle lime dressing.

Southwest Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

Enjoy a refreshing Jackfruitful take on the classic Southwest flavors with this Palmini Rice Southwest Salad. If you’re looking for a dish that tastes indulgent but is low carb, packed with protein and totally dairy free – then this is the perfect choice for you! This hearty salad is packed with nutrient-rich ingredients and dressed in a zesty chipotle lime dressing making it ideal for a nutritious lunch or a fulfilling dinner. You can even dress it up with additional protein like this bbq tofu.

Ingredients in Southwest Salad

  • Palmini Rice: A low-carb alternative to traditional rice, made from hearts of palm. It’s light and absorbs flavors beautifully, making it an excellent base for our salad. If you’ve never tried this rice alternative click here or pick it up at your local grocer! 
  • Poblano Pepper: Adds a mild heat and a slightly smoky flavor, enhancing the Southwest essence of the salad.
  • Sweet Corn: Adding a pop of sweetness and balance to the heat of the poblano and also adds a crisp texture.
  • Red Onion: Its sharpness complements the sweet and smoky notes, adding depth to the salad. Can swap for white or green onion if you prefer something more mild.
  • Black Beans: Provide a hearty, protein-rich, fiber-packed element that makes the salad satisfying and filling.
  • Cilantro: Offers a burst of fresh, herbal notes that tie all the flavors together beautifully.

Southwest Dressing Ingredients

  • Lime Juice: Adds freshness and zest, necessary for the dressing’s vibrant character.
  • Roasted Tahini or Olive Oil: Tahini offers a creamy texture and whole food oil-free option, while olive oil provides a traditional richness.
  • Maple Syrup: Balances the acidity with its subtle sweetness.
  • Cumin, Chipotle Chili Powder, and Garlic Powder: These spices are quintessential for achieving the deep, smoky Southwest flavor.

How to Make a Southwest Salad

Start by preparing the Palmini rice using my tried and true tips, ensuring it’s well-rinsed and squeezed dry with a clean dish towel. In a large salad bowl, combine the Palmini rice with finely chopped poblano pepper, thawed or fresh sweet corn, chopped red onion, black beans, and cilantro. This creates a colorful and textured base for your salad.

For the dressing, whisk together lime juice, tahini or olive oil, maple syrup, cumin, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt in a jar until smooth. The dressing should be vibrant and creamy, ready to add flavor to the salad ingredients.

Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss everything together until well-coated. The flavors are best when they’re allowed to meld together for at least an hour before serving, making this an excellent dish for meal prep or making ahead for gatherings. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will keep for up to four days.

pouring syrup into a glass jar with dressing ingredients

Why You Will Love This Southwest Salad

Each ingredient has been chosen for its ability to contribute to the overall freshness, crunch, and flavor of this southwest salad. I’m loving this salad these days and I’m sure you will too! It keeps so fresh in the fridge making it perfect for your busy weekday lunches. It’s easy to dress up with additional proteins and takes little to no time to prepare! I dare you to find something not loveable about this salad! 

Want more delicious and easy salads that are light and refreshing or hearty meal-prep friendly salads?

Try these recipes and be sure to leave a review to let me know how you liked them! 

Orange Miso Palmini Noodle Layered Salad

Cilantro Lime Palmini Rice Layered Salad

Sesame Cabbage Layered Salad

Jackie Akerberg

Author of the Clean Vegan Cookbook, Food Blogger and Recipe Developer from Des Moines, Iowa. 

Jackfruitful Kitchen has proudly been featured in Forks Over Knives, Vegan Bowls, Vegan Food and Living, and DSM Magazine.

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Southwest palmini rice salad with black beans, corn, jalapeño, red onion, and cilantro
Jackie Akerberg

Palmini Rice Southwest Salad

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This Southwest Palmini Rice Salad is the perfect dish for an effortless, flavor packed, nutrient rich meal. It’s crafted with hearts of palm rice instead of traditional rice, which keeps it light and fresh. The mix includes black beans, corn, cilantro and poblano peppers, all brought together with a zesty chili lime vinaigrette. A little chipotle chili powder, garlic, and cumin add just the right touch of Southwest flair while keeping this salad light and bright. It’s a refreshing and colorful dish that’s perfect for a weekend lunch, healthy meal prep, or as a side at your next BBQ.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner, lunch, Main Course, Salad

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pouch Palmini rice, rinsed, excess moisture squeezed out*
  • 1 poblano pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 cup frozen sweet corn, thawed
  • ½ red onion, finely chopped
  • 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • ½ cup cilantro, finely chopped
Chipotle Lime Dressing Ingredients
  • ¼ cup lime juice
  • 3 tbsp roasted tahini or olive oil*
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chipotle chili powder
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp kosher salt

Method
 

  1. Add all of the ingredients for the salad to a large bowl.
  2. Combine the dressing ingredients in a jar and whisk to combine. Drizzle over the salad and toss to coat. Season to taste.
  3. This salad is best prepared at least an hour in advance, and even better the next day! It can be prepared in advance and enjoyed for up to 4 days when stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Notes

*For the Palmini Rice, be sure to rinse thoroughly and squeeze out all excess moisture with a dish towel. This improves the texture and enables the rice to absorb the delicious dressing and have the best flavor!
*If you want to use a more traditional grain option, you can substitute with 2 cups cooked white rice, quinoa or orzo
*For an oil-free option, roasted tahini is a delicious creamy option for preparing this dressing. If you are not looking for oil-free, you can use cold pressed olive oil, or even a combination of both!

*Macros are provided as an estimate for convenience. Your final numbers will vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and how you portion the recipe.

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