guarino@decwrl.dec.com (Loretta Guarino Reid) (04/08/88)
SALAD-MEXICAN(M) USENET Cookbook SALAD-MEXICAN(M)
MEXICAN CHEF'S SALAD
SALAD-MEXICAN - A simple main-dish salad with Mexican sea-
sonings
I got this recipe from an old roommate, Ann-Marie Tarter. My
husband revised it to use chicken instead of the hamburger
that her version called for. It's a very simple, tasty
hot-weather main dish. It doesn't keep as leftovers: you
have to eat all of it immediately or else throw it away. I
like to serve it accompanied by Aztec soup (SOUP-AZTEC).
INGREDIENTS (Serves 6-8)
1 lb boneless chicken, diced
1 lb kidney beans
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 medium onion, chopped
3 medium tomatoes, diced
1 lb lettuce, chopped (about half of a large head)
1/4 lb cheddar cheese, grated
1 cup thousand island dressing
1/4 cup picante sauce (or more or less, to taste)
1 large avocado, sliced
3/4 lb corn tortilla chips
PROCEDURE
(1) Bone and dice the chicken. Heat a small amount of
vegetable oil in a large frying pan until it
starts to smoke. Add the chicken cubes and fry
over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until
they are browned (2 or 3 minutes).
(2) To the chicken, add the drained kidney beans,
salt, and chili powder. Reduce heat and simmer 10
minutes.
(3) Chop the tomatoes, onion, and lettuce. Grate the
cheese. Toss them together in a salad bowl with
the salad dressing and picante sauce.
(4) Slice the avocado and add to the salad. Break the
tortilla chips into flakes, and add to the salad.
(5) Mix the cooked chiken and beans into the cold
salad. Decorate with extra chips and slices of
avocado and tomato.
(6) Serve immediately.
NOTES
The chips get soggy within 5 to 10 minutes after the meat
has been added to the salad, so don't do that step until you
are ready to eat.
This recipe works best with iceberg lettuce. The more exotic
varieties of lettuce wilt instantly when the hot chicken and
beans are mixed in; iceberg lettuce keeps its crunch.
RATING
Difficulty: easy. Time: 15 minutes preparation. Precision:
no need to measure.
CONTRIBUTOR
Loretta Guarino Reid
DEC Western Software Laboratory, Palo Alto, California, USA
guarino@decwrl.dec.com -or- decwrl!guarino