Southwest Salad (with Cilantro Lime Dressing)

This Southwest salad is recent, hearty, and loaded with daring taste from juicy grilled hen, candy corn, and a zesty Cajun kick. It’s a simple, colourful meal that comes collectively shortly.

Taste: Daring, recent, and crunchy with smoky hen, candy corn, avocado, and romaine.
Really helpful Instruments: A meat mallet and an instant-read thermometer are the 2 keys to completely cooked juicy hen.
Serving Recommendations: High with tortilla strips, pepitas, jalapeños, purple pepper, or cilantro.

avocado , green onions , oil , chicken , cheese , beans , seasoning , tomatoes , dressing , corn and lettuce to make Southwest Salad

Ingredient Notes

Hen: Pound to an excellent thickness so it cooks evenly and stays juicy. Hen thighs work effectively for a richer chew, or use rotisserie hen for a shortcut.
Seasoning: Cajun seasoning provides smoky warmth and plenty of taste with little or no effort. Modify salt to style relying in your mix, or swap in taco seasoning for a milder possibility.
Corn: Contemporary corn provides an important char. Thawed frozen corn and canned corn work in a pinch too, particularly when you’re making this on the stovetop.
Lettuce: Romaine is crisp and durable. A mixture of romaine and iceberg provides additional crunch.
Beans: Black beans add additional protein and make this salad filling. Pinto beans could be swapped in if that’s what you may have available.
Cheese: Sharp cheddar provides a wealthy, savory chew to the salad. Strive pepper jack or cotija for a flavorful twist.
Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes keep candy and juicy with out watering down the salad. If utilizing bigger tomatoes, seed and cube them.
Dressing: Shiny and recent, it pairs completely with the smoky hen. For a richer possibility, attempt chipotle ranch or a creamy lime dressing.
Variations: You possibly can simply make this vegetarian by skipping the hen and including additional beans and even some grilled tofu for protein. For extra coloration and warmth, add sliced purple bell pepper or jalapeño.

seasoned chicken to make Southwest Salad

How To Make a Southwest Salad

Season and grill the hen (full recipe beneath).
Char the corn and slice off the kernels.
Add lettuce, corn, beans, tomatoes, cheese, and avocados to a bowl.
Slice the hen and place excessive.
Drizzle with dressing and serve.

Pound Hen Evenly: Having the hen an excellent 1/2-inch thick helps it prepare dinner quick and keep juicy.
Let Hen Relaxation: Retains the juices in.
Use Frozen Corn: Sear in a scorching skillet for higher coloration and taste.
Rinse Beans Nicely: Retains the salad from getting watery.
Add Avocado Final: Retains it recent and crisp and avoids it browning.

adding dressing over top Southwest Salad

Save It for Later

Refrigerate: Retailer elements individually when doable. Lower avocado recent earlier than serving. Cooked hen retains for as much as 4 days. Undressed salad retains for as much as 2 days.
Freezing: Cooked hen will maintain for as much as 3 months within the freezer.
Reheating: Heat hen within the microwave or a skillet.
Leftovers: Wrap every part in tortillas for southwest hen wraps or flip leftovers in rice bowls with additional beans and salsa.

Contemporary Southwest Favorites

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This publish has been sponsored by McCormick.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 20 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 15 minutes

Whole Time 25 minutes

Preheat the grill to medium-high (400°F).
Utilizing the flat aspect of a meat mallet, pound the hen breasts to ½ inch thickness. Brush with 2 teaspoons of olive oil and the Cajun seasoning.
If utilizing corn cobs, brush frivolously with remaining olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place on the grill. Prepare dinner till frivolously charred, rotating sometimes. Cool barely and lower the kernels off the cob.
Prepare dinner the hen on the grill for six minutes, flip, and prepare dinner for an extra 6 to eight minutes till absolutely cooked and reaches 165°F. Take away from the grill and put aside to relaxation for five minutes.
Add romaine lettuce to a big salad bowl. Add corn kernels, black beans, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese, inexperienced onions, and sliced avocado.
Slice the hen and place it on prime of the salad.
Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat.

To organize on the stovetop: Warmth 1 tablespoon of oil in a big skillet over medium warmth. Add the seasoned hen and prepare dinner for 5-6 minutes per aspect or till the hen reaches an inside temperature of 165℉.
Use frozen (and thawed) or canned corn kernels when assembling the salad.
This salad would additionally pair effectively with a creamy lime ranch or chipotle ranch-style dressing.
Maintain leftover elements in separate containers within the fridge. Cooked hen will maintain for as much as 4 days. An undressed salad will maintain for as much as 2 days within the fridge

Diet info offered is an estimate and can range based mostly on cooking strategies and types of elements used.

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