Flamin Hot Cheeto Salad (Print View)

Spicy Flamin Hot Cheetos meet crisp cucumber, cilantro, and tangy lime dressing for an addictive crunch.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Salad Base

01 - 2 cups Flamin Hot Cheetos, coarsely crushed
02 - 1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
03 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

→ Dressing

04 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
05 - 1 tablespoon hot sauce (such as Tapatío, Valentina, or Sriracha)
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Place the diced cucumber and chopped cilantro in a large mixing bowl.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over the cucumber and cilantro, tossing gently to coat evenly.
04 - Just before serving, add the crushed Flamin Hot Cheetos and toss lightly until evenly coated.
05 - Serve immediately for maximum crunch and texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between crisp, cool cucumber and spicy Cheetos creates this utterly satisfying texture experience that normal salads just cant touch.
  • Its ready in literal minutes but always gets the most excited reaction when I bring it to potlucks where people initially laugh then cant stop eating it.
02 -
  • The timing of adding Cheetos is absolutely crucial - add them too early and youll end up with soggy orange mush instead of a crunchy salad.
  • Crushing the Cheetos by hand gives you better control over the size than using a food processor which can turn them to dust in seconds.
03 -
  • Slightly chilling the cucumber beforehand creates an even more dramatic temperature contrast with the room-temperature Cheetos, enhancing the whole experience.
  • When serving for guests who might be skeptical, present it in elegant individual cups or glasses for a fun presentation that elevates it from junk food hack to conversation-starting appetizer.
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