Blackened Mexican Caesar Salad Recipes

EL TORITO SOUTHWESTERN CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Cut tortillas into matchstick-size strips; then heat oil for deep-frying . Add tortilla strips and cook for a few seconds until crisp; remove with a slotted spoon, drain and set aside.
• Tear romaine lettuce into bite size pieces and place greens on six salad plates.
• Ladle Cilantro-Pesto dressing on each salad and sprinkle each dish with cotija cheese and tortilla strips.
• Arrange four red pepper strips like spokes on top of each salad and garnish with pepitas.
• For the Dressing.
• Place chile, pepitas, garlic, pepper, salt, oil, vinegar and cotija cheese in a blender or food processor; and blend for about 10 seconds, then add cilantro, bit by bit, until smoothly blended.
• Place mayonnaise and water in large stainless-steel bowl and whisk until smooth.
• Add blended chile mixture and mix thoroughly.
• If the dressing is made ahead, place in an airtight container and refrigerate. May be stored up to three days.

BLACKENED SALMON CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Combine seasonings in a medium bowl.
• Rinse fish and pat dry. Coat thoroughly with seasonings, pressing into flesh.
• Spray both sides thoroughly with non-stick vegetable spray after coating.
• Cook in a hot nonstick or cast iron skillet, on grill or under broiler for 10 minutes per inch of thickness. Turn halfway through cooking. Set aside to rest.
• Add lettuce, half of Parmesan cheese and slightly more than half of dressing to a large salad bowl. Add croutons and toss gently and thoroughly to evenly coat greens.
• Distribute mixture between 4 serving plates. Top each salad with a piece of salmon, sprinkle with additional cheese and garnish with lemon.
• Grind black pepper over top if desired. Serve with additional dressing if needed.
• Note: I prefer the sizzle of pan frying and using 1 tablespoon each butter and vegetable oil.

MEXICAN CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Place all dressing ingredients except cilantro, mayo and water in a blender or food processor. blend approx 10 sec., then add cilantro and blend until smooth.
• Place mayo & water in a glass jar or bowl and shake or whisk until combined - add the blended ingredients and mix thoroughly. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate, will keep for 3 days.
• Cut tortillas into match sized sticks. Heat oil in saute pan over med-high; fry tortillas until crisp. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.
• Tear lettuce into bite size pieces, toss in large bowl with half of the crumbled cheese, roasted peppers, pepitas and as much salad dressing as you wish. Top with the remaining cheese, roasted peppers, pepitas and fried tortilla strips.
• NOTE***Cojita is a hard cheese, similar to parmesan, found in some grocery stores and most mexican markets. To make assembly easier I often use crumbled tortilla chips. I also buy the jarred roasted red peppers packed in water & already roasted pepitas - I'm too lazy to roast my own! I've also subbed shelled, roasted sunflower seeds for the pepitas - and it was ok (not as good as the pepitas).