This cornbread salad with buttermilk lime dressing is as Southern as it gets! With sweet Vidalia onions, local tomatoes to go with crunchy cornbread croutons and herb packed buttermilk lime dressing.

Salads get such a bum rep. I mean, who gets excited about salad? Essentially no one. To most, it's the epitome of bland, boring diet food. When a client tells me he's been eating more salad, it's always in the same droll monotone that reminds me of Ben Stein calling Ferris Buller's name for class attendance.

"I've been eating more sah-luuuds"

So sad.

Hopefully a few of my recipes have already inspired you to see beyond bagged salad, shredded cheese and bottled ranch, but if you're still in the salad hating camp, read on.

Think of salads as a way to turn your favorite delicious ingredients into a full meal. Sitting down to a big plate of cheese, olives and bread might be tasty, but balanced (or filling), it is not. Toss those ingredients with spicy arugula, and tadaa! Dinner is served! You could also think of salads as a way to indulge in decadent foods in a more moderate way. A sprinkle of bacon, a wedge of triple cream brie, or a few slices of seared steak go a long way on a salad. Here are my favorite tips to build a better salad:

Use in season vegetables - what you find at the local farmer's market is great! There's a huge taste difference, important in a veggie-centric dish like salad.
Choose your lettuce right. Romaine is great for crunchy chopped salads. Spring mix has a mild flavor, making it versatile, but you should add strongly flavored ingredients like olives, dried fruit, or a bright vinaigrette to punch it up. Boston, butter and bibb lettuces work well with other creamy ingredients, like avocado and soft cheeses, but they need something with a little crunch too, like diced apple or toasted nuts. Arugula, dandelion, kale or other bitter greens need a hint of sweetness, like a bit of honey in the dressing, fruit or roasted root vegetables.
Toss out that shredded junk and splurge on flavorful, high quality cheese. You only need a small amount, about 1/2-1 ounce per serving, so make it count. My favorites - gorgonzola, feta and extra sharp aged cheddar.

Use fresh bread from the bakery to make croutons. Start by heating olive oil and garlic in large skillet, then add torn chunks of bread and cook until lightly toasted.
Toss in cooked whole grains like farro, barley or brown rice. It adds a nutty flavor and turns a basic salad into a substantial main.
Nuts make a great salad garnish or you could use a more substantial amount as a protein source. Toast them first to bring out their flavor.

Cornbread Salad with Buttermilk Lime Dressing

Serves 6

Ingredients

Salad:

1 1/2 lb tomatoes, preferably heirloom, in wedges
1 head leaf lettuce
6 radishes, thinly sliced
1/2 large Vidalia onion, peeled and sliced as thinly as possible

Buttermilk-Lime Dressing:

3/4 cup buttermilk, preferably organic
5 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 2-3 limes)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup finely chopped basil
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
Salt, black pepper to taste

Thin, Crispy Cornbread:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups stone-ground cornmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups lowfat buttermilk
2 tablespoons avocado oil or extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients for the cornbread together. In a medium bowl whisk the egg until frothy, then whisk in the buttermilk and oil. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until combined.
Grease a 12-inch skillet with the butter, leaving the excess in the pan and place it in the oven. When the butter in the pan in the oven is melted, remove from the oven and swirl it around (carefully!) to cover the bottom and sides. Pour the batter into the skillet. Bake for about 15 minutes until the bread is golden brown and the edges have pulled away from the skillet. Remove from oven and let cool
While the cornbread is baking, whisk together the salad dressing ingredients in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
When the cornbread is cool enough to handle, cut it into 1-inch cubes. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and bake in a 250 degree oven until it's lightly toasted, about 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, toss together lettuces, tomato and onions. Add 4 cups of cornbread cubes! Toss with dressing or serve on the side.