Mexican meals are so easy. The ingredients are predictable; taco seasonings, cheese, sour cream, avocado, black beans, tortillas and tomatoes. We have had a few warm days and a refreshing Mexican salad sounded like a great idea. I found an excellent recipe in a Cooking Light cookbook. It has a creamy dressing made with chipotle chile, lime juice, cilantro, seasonings and light sour cream that mellows the heat from the chiles.
The salad ingredients are simple. You could use a rotisserie chicken if time is short. But I had two boneless chicken breasts that I dusted with taco seasonings and sauteed until cooked through. Also in the mix to dress the lettuce are red onions, cherry tomatoes, avocado, black beans and corn. I served a few corn chips on the side to be crumbled over the salad.
We are making progress on the cottage. It makes me nervous when my surroundings are in chaos. I like to be in control and am easily overwhelmed by the need to do everything at once when things are in disarray. But I saw the light of day (literally) earlier this week and spent a sunny day with my blogging buddy Penny of the Comforts of Home. We antiqued. . . . . . .
It is always fun to visit The Screen Door in Asheville. Love this vignette. I am thinking of using chalk paint to transform one of my dressers like the one shown here.
This is one of my favorite booths. Lots of French linens, topiaries and antique posters. After antiquing we dined . . . .
It is a rite of passage for us to have lunch at our favorite French Bistro “Fig”. We always try to eat on the patio. The green grass is such a welcoming sight after a grey winter. As is that lovely glass of Riesling.
What a luncheon feast. The other Penny (TOP) had PEI mussels with steak frites. I had chicken schnitzel with white beans and greens in a flavorful red sauce. We caught up with everything that has happened since we last saw each other last season. It was a fun day under the warming sun.
Hopefully we will all be experiencing warmer weather soon. This salad is a good way to sit back and enjoy it.
CHIPOTLE CHICKEN TACO SALAD (Cooking Light; the Essential Dinner Tonight Cookbook )
Dressing:
2/3 cup light sour cream
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon minced chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Salad:
4 cups shredded romaine lettuce
2 cups chopped roasted skinless, boneless chicken breast (about 2 breast halves)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup diced peeled avocado
1/3 cup thinly sliced red onion
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels, cooked and cooled
To prepare dressing, combine first 7 ingredients, stirring well.
To prepare salad, combine lettuce and remaining 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over salad; toss gently to coat. 4 servings.
That salad looks great. I never know what kind of dressing to use in a taco salad and this one sounds yummy! I had fun with you the other day and am looking forward to many more get togethers this summer.
xo
TOP
That salad looks great. I never know what kind of dressing to put on a taco salad and this one sounds yummy.
I had fun the other day and look forward to many more get togethers this summer
xo
TOP
oops….two messages…sorry.
That’s OK Penny. The more comments the better. LOL. It was fun. I know you will love the dressing.
Wish I had been there – you know I always love the ScreenDoor! Glad you two dear friends had fun.
This looks delish Penny – I’ve not had Mexican in ages. Heading across the pond soon and will be starting with Hungarian which, being a non-meat eater is a bit difficult, all that goulash!! Actually I did get excellent food when there before so hopefully I will this time too!
Enjoy the weekend – hope the plumbing problems will soon be just a bad memory!
Hugs – Mary
Anxious to hear about all of your travels Mary. The plumbing problems are behind us, thankfully.
This looks so good, Penny! We are hoping to incorporate more dinner salads into our diet. Definitely a winner here.
So glad you and Penny had a great time…love the Screen Door and can’t wait to visit again. The restaurant sounds wonderful, too.
Good luck with the house…I know, big headache.
Jane x
Thanks Jane. We are looking forward to seeing you next time you come to Asheville!
Any dish with the word chipotle in the name immediately grabs my attention and your salad sounds very good. “It makes me nervous when my surroundings are in chaos.” – you’d be popping nerve pills by the handful if you lived with us 🙂
I think I could handle it Larry. You live in a beautiful place.
I enjoy all your recipes and stories. Being from Asheville (years ago). I feel very connected. My Grandparents lived in Lake Lure. Making the Chicken recipe today. Thanks.
Thank you so much Shirlee. Hope your chicken turns out great! So nice that you feel connected.
What a nice day, Penny. Lunch with a friend and a chance to browse in a good antique market are a great way to spend the afternoon. I’m just learning about Annie Sloan chalk paints and I want to paint everything. It’s addictive.
I know what you mean Cathy. I love Annie Sloan paint and have several projects in mind.
I dislike disarray too ..I am happiest w/ order and clean..Not qtip clean..but pretty sparkley:)
You are so lucky to have a blogging friend to do such fun things with.
2 Pennies:) Loose Change.:)
I forgot to say the salad looks yum..fresh..crisp..clean:)
We are definitely loose change. Funny Monique.
I can’t imagine a more fun day with a friend, Penny. Antiquing and lunch sound wonderful. I love the southwest flavors in your salad and we’ve been eating lots of salads after all of our celebrations 🙂
Thanks Susan. We have been eating salads too. I am lucky to have a blogging friend like Penny close by.
This would be fantastic stuffed into a wrap for lunch on the go. Great pictures too!