Vegan Southwest Salad with Cilantro Jalapeno Cashew Dressing

This vegan Southwest Salad with Cilantro Jalapeno Cashew Dressing is the perfect recipe for spring, summer, or any time of year. It's crispy, fresh, and hearty enough for dinner. Prepare it ahead of time and then top it off with a creamy cashew-based dressing with a hint of spice!

Disclosure: I received the cookbook Vegan Yack Attack's Plant-Based Meal Prep for review from Fair Winds Press. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are my personal view.

Jump to:

• About Plant-Based Meal Prep
• About plant-based meal prep
• Easy to adapt to your needs
• Other recipes in the cookbook
• About this Southwest Salad
• Equipment
• Ingredients
• How to make Southwest Salad
• How to make the Cilantro Jalapeno Cashew Dressing
• Storage
• Expert tip
• Related recipes
• Vegan Southwest Salad with Cilantro Jalapeño Cashew Dressing

After the holidays, I looked forward to getting back on track with planning and eating healthy meals like this Southwest Quinoa Salad. I was thrilled to receive a free copy of Vegan Yack Attack's Plant-Based Meal Prep for review.

I will be sharing the recipe for Southwest Salad with Cilantro Jalapeño Cashew Dressing. Today's recipe is a healthy salad with fresh vegetables and is perfect for meal prep, a main dish, quick lunches during a busy week, or a side dish.

About Plant-Based Meal Prep

If you have been wondering how to incorporate nutritious and delicious vegan meals into your life, Jackie Sobon's third cookbook, Vegan Yack Attack's Plant-Based Meal Prep, is for you! This cookbook is an excellent start for those who want to begin meal prepping or for those who wish to start eating plant-based.

I wish I had a cookbook like this as a resource when I first attempted going vegan. I have been vegan for nearly four years. However, sometimes it can be a struggle to meal plan and put together a weekly menu. The cookbook is well thought out and helps make meal planning a breeze. Jackie's new cookbook has quickly become a favorite!

About plant-based meal prep

The idea behind meal prepping is that you prepare the food you are going to eat during the week in a block of time, usually during the weekend. The time you set aside during the weekend will be worth it since you will have meals prepared during the week and save time. It helps to set aside a Saturday or Sunday morning or afternoon to do this.

The Plant-Based Meal Prep Cookbook by Jackie Sobon makes it simple for you by guiding you with easy to follow, make-ahead recipes. She includes nutrition information, menus, helpful tips, well-planned grocery lists, and equipment advice. In this cookbook, you will see that most of the recipes have an accompanying photograph. I love to see how the final dish is supposed to look.

Easy to adapt to your needs

If you are on the go or have long workdays, this cookbook can help. This cookbook helps you to decide what to make at home so that you can take it with you on the road. Jackie gives suggestions to customize the plan according to your preferences or nutritional needs.

In Vegan Yack Attack's Plant-Based Meal Prep, Jackie Sobon has put together 14 weekly meal plans and over 100 recipes. You can start the meal plans any day of the week you wish. With each menu, you'll get three main courses, as well as two snacks, which will provide enough food during the week. 

You will find great ideas for breakfast on the go, work lunches, and dinner. There is something for everyone, whether you need:

• meal plans for one person
• meal plans for families
• multipurpose meals
• higher protein meals
• kid-friendly meals

Other recipes in the cookbook

As I reviewed the book, I found lots of recipes I wanted to try like the Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Bars, which are perfect for snacks or on the go. I made these bars right away since I had all of the ingredients. They were no-bake, easy to make, and they were delicious. If you love chocolate and peanut butter, this recipe is for you!

I just put together the Blueberry Smoothie Jars, which will make breakfast a breeze. I am looking forward to also making these other recipes:

• Springtime Sheet Pan Polenta Pizza
• Jackfruit Tacos with Black Beans
• Chipotle Tempeh Kale Bowls
• Hashbrown-Crusted Frittata
• Mushroom Omelet
• Penne Bolognese
• Shakshuka
• Blood Orange Freezer Waffles with Berry Compote

About this Southwest Salad

I love having a vibrant salad ready to go for a healthy lunch, so I decided to make the Southwest Salad on page 31 with the Cilantro Jalapeño Cashew Dressing on page 161.

This delicious and vibrant colorful salad with southwest flavors is satisfying with its crunchy texture. The creamy dressing is spicy and tangy! The beautiful green dressing is easy to make in a blender.

The fresh taste of this southwestern salad is perfect for the summer months!

This new recipe is:

• ready in less than 30 minutes
• gluten-free
• nut-free
• oil-free
• no sugar added

Equipment

Here's what you will need to make this vegan southwest salad recipe:

• five 30-oz storage containers to make this recipe.
• cutting board
• chef's knife
• blender

Ingredients

These are the ingredients you need to make this vegan salad, which you can find at the local grocery store:

• romaine lettuce for fresh greens; you can also try spring mix
• black beans
• yellow and orange bell peppers (or red bell pepper), grape tomatoes, red onion, radishes
• avocado
• cashews
• cilantro
• lime
• jalapeño
• onion powder, cayenne pepper
• salt

These are the ingredients you need to make the spicy dressing:

• raw cashews
• water
• fresh cilantro
• lime juice plus lime zest
• fresh jalapeño, stemmed and seeded
• onion powder
• salt
• cayenne pepper

How to make Southwest Salad

• Set out five 30-ounce glass storage containers
• Divide the lettuce evenly among the containers. Top with black beans, bell peppers, tomatoes, and onion.
• Then top with radishes and sliced avocado.
• Drizzle the dressing over the top of each salad (or divide into five small containers or jars).

How to make the Cilantro Jalapeno Cashew Dressing

• Mix the cashews, water, cilantro, lime juice and zest, jalapeño, salt, and seasonings in a blender until the mixture is as smooth as possible. Let it rest in the pitcher for five minutes.
• Blend again to further break up the cashews.
• Season to taste.
• Transfer to a jar and store in the refrigerator.

Storage

Store the salad in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to six days. The dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to seven days.

Expert tip

This salad is great to make ahead to enjoy the next day or for several days after. Be sure to store the dressing separately.

Related recipes

The recipe is reprinted with permission from Jackie Sobon and Fair Winds Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc. © 2020. You can get a copy of the cookbook here.

If you make this Southwest Salad with Cilantro Jalapeño Cashew Dressing, let me know what you think by ★★★★★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. You can follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me! Just tag me @resplendentkitchen and hashtag #resplendentkitchenrecipes.