Mexican Cauliflower And Guacamole Salad Recipes

EASY MEXICAN SALAD

Steps:

• If using, make the Crispy Tortilla Strips. Or, make them the day before and store in a sealed container in the pantry until serving.
• Cilantro Lime Dressing, Creamy Cilantro Dressing (pictured), Chipotle Ranch, or Taco Salad Dressing (fastest!)
• Chop the romaine. Thinly slice the red onion (follow the instructions at 1:30 of this video). Slice tomatoes in half. Thinly slice the radishes. Defrost the corn. Prepare any other add-on veggies as appropriate. Add a sprinkle of salt on the tomatoes, radishes, and corn to lightly season them.
• Place the greens on the plate and top with the vegetables (and tortilla strips, if using). Top with the dressing and serve. If making in advance, refrigerate the components separately; bring the dressing to room temperature before serving.

MEXICAN CHICKEN SALAD WITH GUACAMOLE

Steps:

• Marinade/Dressing: Heat the oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and chile, and cook until the garlic is soft and lightly browned, 2-3 minutes. Cool, reserving the oil.
• In a blender, add the lime juice, cilantro, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and the garlic and chile oil. Purée until smooth. Lay the chicken breasts into a large baking dish; pour a third of the marinade on top, then use tongs to evenly coat the thicken. Marinate in the refrigerator for up to 1 hour.
• Heat a grill pan or gas grill to medium to medium-high heat. (Alternatively, start a charcoal fire and let it burn until the coals are medium-hot and covered with white ash.) Lightly brush the onion slices with oil and season with salt. Grill the onion slices and the chicken until the chicken is cooked through and the onion is well-browned, 5-6 minutes per side.
• Guacamole: Chop the grilled onion into small pieces and set aside in a bowl. Pit and peel the avocados; add the flesh to the onion. Add half the remaining Marinade/Dressing; then coarsely mash everything together with a potato masher, large fork, or the back of a spoon. Taste and season with salt, about ½ teaspoon.
• Salad: Put sliced romaine into a large bowl. Add about half the remaining Marinade/Dressing, and toss to combine.
• Assembly: Divide the dressed romaine among four plates. Dollop a portion of the guacamole into the center of each plate. Cut the grilled chicken into cubes and arrange over the guacamole. Sprinkle with cheese and drizzle with remaining Marinade/Dressing before serving.

GUACAMOLE SALAD

Steps:

• Place the tomatoes, yellow pepper, black beans, red onion, jalapeno peppers, and lime zest in a large bowl. Whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic, and cayenne pepper and pour over the vegetables. Toss well.
• Just before you're ready to serve the salad, fold the avocados into the salad. Check the seasoning and serve at room temperature.

MEXICAN CAULIFLOWER AND GUACAMOLE SALAD

Steps:

• FOR THE GUACAMOLE: Keep the vegetables a little chunky. Combine all ingredients and stir. Allow the flavors to meld by refrigerating for several hours.
• FOR THE CAULIFLOWER: Bring 2 inches of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the cauliflower, covering with a lid and bring back to a boil. After 4 minutes remove from heat.
• Drain. Immediately plunge into icy cold water. (I might repeat this several times - you just want to stop the cauliflower from continuing to cook. The cauliflower should hold it's shape.) Drain. Then drain completely in paper towel lined bowl.
• Mix vinegar, oil, salt and pepper in a plastic container with a lid, stir until the salt dissolves. Toss in the cauliflower. Cover, let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, giving it a good shake every once in awhile.
• Just before serving arrange a platter with the romaine or baby greens, arrange cauliflower over, mounding it up slightly with each head of flowerettes facing outward. Top with the guacamole in the center. Sprinkle with the almonds and cilantro.
• Enjoy!

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER SALAD WITH HALLOUMI AND LEMON

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees and set a large rimmed baking sheet on the middle rack.
• In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower with 3 tablespoons olive oil, the Aleppo, coriander, turmeric, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Transfer to the hot baking sheet, spread in an even layer and roast until browned in spots and crisp-tender, tossing once halfway through, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, stir together the shallot, raisins, preserved lemon, vinegar and honey with 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Prepare the halloumi: Cut the halloumi into 3/4-inch cubes and pat dry using a kitchen towel or paper towels. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over high. Add the halloumi cubes and cook, stirring frequently, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. (You'll want to be fairly attentive, flipping frequently, as you want to make sure the cubes toast without burning or melting.) Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and season with pepper.
• Toss the arugula with half the vinaigrette until lightly coated and divide among plates or shallow bowls. Top with the cauliflower, halloumi and avocado. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette, sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.