You know a salad without vegetables is a salad approved by me.
The only veggies floating around in this bowl are the chunks in salsa, which I will inevitably avoid anyway.
Sure, there is some corn, but we all know corn isn’t a real vegetable.
If it was, I wouldn’t be eating it. Don’t burst my bubble.
I seasoned the chicken with salt, pepper, and a touch of cumin before grilling to give it more of a Mexican flavor.
Ideally, I would love to eat Mexican every night. I wish I could swim and shower in margaritas.
But my entree of choice would be greasy, cheesy enchiladas and endless bowls of chips and salsa.
I don’t think I need to explain why that shouldn’t happen every day. So instead, I throw a few measly pieces of lettuce (almost brown, since it has been hiding in the depths of my crisper drawer for 3 weeks) on a plate and top it with beans, cheese, and crispy tortillas.
I used a corn tortilla for the crispy tortilla strips – I think corn works better than flour or whole wheat. They are a bit more dense and toast perfectly.
Southwest Chicken Salad
3 cups leafy romaine
4-5 ounces grilled chicken
1/4 cup black beans
1/4 cup sweet corn
1 ounce shredded, low-fat cheese
2 slices avocado, chopped
2 tablespoons salsa
1/2 corn tortilla
sea salt & pepper
Preheat oven to 400.
Slice tortilla into thin strips and spritz with olive oil. Top with sea salt and bake for 4-5 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
Combine all salad ingredients together, topping with grilled chicken. Add tortilla strips on top.
This salad is a delicious mish-mash of flavors and textures.
And yes, I love it that much more since it is mostly veggie-free.
I’l never learn.
I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.
I agree, I could swim in margaritas. Especially with the warm weather we have been having. I love the idea of tortilla strips! You and tortillas are a match made in heaven.
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I could eat a mexican salad every day and it would never get old! You know I love my veggies, but corn is too sweet to be a veggie besides my oldest son will eat it, so I would definitely say…not a veggie! Cumin is my favorite herb and it makes me question myself because it is so good, but doesn’t it smell a little like BO? Anyway, your salad looks SO good! Enjoy your day!
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I would love to eat Mexican every day too. Their flavour combinations are to die for. As corn is so sweet I think it counts as a sweet treat! This salad look delicious!
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HAhahaha look at the dictionary definition of a salad:
a cold dish of various mixtures of raw or cooked vegetables, usually seasoned with oil, vinegar, or other dressing and sometimes accompanied by meat, fish, or other ingredients
I think I like yours better. ;)
Wei-Wei
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mmmm mexican! Delicious. I bet the avocado makes this salad. I love how you created your own healthier tortilla strips. Gorgeous
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Love this salad! I’m making this soon!
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I love salads with all kinds of bright colors involved. It just looks prettier :smile:
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yum, yum, yum!
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I LOVE big salads in the summer, and this looks perfect!
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Yum…looks good to me!
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yum! i love southwestern salads like this one! salsa is a must even if it is made of veggies ;-)
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I love how your recipes totally appeal to my seasonal cravings! This salad sounds fabulous!!
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Oh. Wow. Just. Ah…. wow. I am at a loss for words. It just looks so good!! The first salad that has ever left me speechless. I am drooling a little!
Blessings!
Amanda
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I made this chunky salsa/avocado/corn BOWL and use it as dressing on my salads its so so so good! HOWEVER I want this salad now with those tortilla strips and beans and avocado YUMM i love mexican too! :)
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Looks like my kind of salad!!
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You sure know how to make a salad! So colorful.
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Anything that can be served with a margarita (which, really, is everything), is a-okay with me
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mexican salads are one of my favorites…i love all of the flavors, and i’m with madeline…if you can serve it with a marg, I’m all in!
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Yum! Looks delicious! I love hearty salads with corn and meat!
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Totally with you on the mexican theme – I could eat it every day and never get sick of it.
Love your “almost” veggie salad!
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That looks deeeeeeeeelicious! I want those chunks of avocado all to myself, lol.
Jenn
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Mmm that looks wonderful!!
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Mexican-inspired salads are my favorite, especially with corn. It adds so much sweetness!
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very nice!
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I’m so with you on the Mexican every day. I always loved Mexican, but since moving to SA, it’s all I ever want. Breakfast tacos, quesdillas, nachos, enchiladas, tacos, burritos….we made a big bowl of homemade guacamole last weekend and polished off it and a bag of blue corn tortilla chips in one day.
Totally craving Mexican now…
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Lucky me I just had BBQ dinner and am satisfied, otherwise I would be craving this salad badly now :D
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you like SOME veggies! ;) haha sorry im such a pain.
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I feel the same way about Mexican and Margaritas!!!
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I LOVE southwest chicken salads! Need to make ASAP!
PS. I’m making nachos tonight and I think the veggies I’m sneaking in would even sneak by you! :)
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I think this is one salad that Mike would be on board to eat with zero complaints!
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This is hands down my favorite kind of salad. NOM NOM NOM!
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those tortilla strips are a great addition!
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Looks DELICIOUS Jessica! My kind of salad, and I agree. I, too, wish I could eat Mexican food every single night!
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Looks fantastic! LOVE salads, Love Mexican, this is a match made in heaven!
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I’ll have to try making my own tortilla strips. Great idea. The salad looks like it has the perfect amount of veggies to me. Delicious!
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What a great way of using tortilla chips! Love it!
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I love Mexican food too! If I had a choice of one thing to eat forever – it would probably be Mexican.
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Chicken salads are one of my favorite things on earth. This looks like the perfect meal.
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Mmm Mexican every night would be heavenly :) This looks delish, especially for a salad!
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Well hello, SALAD BEAST! Yummm. I love any salad with black beans and corn in it.
http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/
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This salad looks phenomenal! Like, wow! This is a must try and perfect for summer. So happy I found your blog!
xxMary
Delightful Bitefuls
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This looks so tasty! I love the mixture on ingredients you chose. Does this salad have a dressing? Or is it just too good on it’s own?
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I love a good BIG salad. Not the silly little plated kind of salads that you’d get at a wedding or a 5 star restaurant. Salads like this one that are a meal…that gets 6 stars in my book! ;-)
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SERIOUSLY one of my fav things ive seen on here girl!! YUMMM Jess!
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This looks so tasty! I love the mixture on ingredients you chose. Does this salad have a dressing? Or is it just too good on it’s own?
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Jessica — June 4th, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
I didn’t add dressing because the salsa acted somewhat of a dressing. I am pretty boring when it comes to dressing and just use vinegar. Unfortunately I just don’t really like the taste of salad dressings!
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I can’t wait to try this recipe! I got some Avocado’s this weekend just for the occasion :)
Finally, a chicken salad I don’t have to go out for!
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Looks delicious! I love southwest flavors… It’s a great way to trick me into eating a salad :)
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I am making this tonight! It looks amazing!
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