Southwest Hen Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

Southwest Hen Salad is an hearty, wholesome salad that may tantalize your style buds and go away you glad for hours! Starring seasoned hen a vibrant cilantro lime dressing, this southwest salad is full of unimaginable taste and quite straightforward to make.

This Southwestern Hen Salad, together with Buffalo Hen Salad, BBQ Hen Salad, and Caribbean Hen Salad, are a few of my all-time favourite dinner salads to get pleasure from when the temperatures rise and I’m searching for a meal that’s totally of taste and can preserve me glad for hours, with out leaving me in a meals coma.

And if you’re searching for a flavor-packed, nutrient-dense, insanely flavorful salad your self, look no additional than this recipe for Southwest Hen Salad.

Substances for Southwest Salad

Do not be intimidated by the quantity of elements on this picture! Most are pantry staples you probably have available and can assist to create the Cilantro Lime Dressing and season the hen.

• Hen: Use both boneless, skinless hen breasts or boneless, skinless, hen thighs, for a hearty, but lean, protein.
• Cilantro Lime Dressing: This vibrant and contemporary dressing is completely unimaginable and the proper topping for this Southwestern Salad.
  • Limes: Use each the juice and zest of contemporary limes for the utmost taste.
  • Oil: I want utilizing additional virgin olive oil for this dressing. Avocado oil is an appropriate substitute.
  • Cilantro: The star on this dressing is the contemporary, herbaceous cilantro.
  • Garlic: I really like the flavour garlic provides, however be at liberty to omit if you happen to do not take care of garlic.
  • Jalapeno: Including in half of a deseeded jalapeno provides a little bit of a kick and complexity to the dressing. In case you are delicate to spice, go away it out.
  • Honey: Only a tiny little bit of honey helps to steadiness out and improve the flavors on this dressing and makes you need to preserve coming again for extra.
• Greens: I just like the crisp, freshness of romaine hearts for this salad, however you should utilize iceberg or blended greens for the bottom of this salad.
• Beans: I really like including in canned, rinsed black beans for extra protein, together with fiber. Be happy to make use of pinto beans instead of the black beans or omit the beans altogether.
• Corn: Use drained, canned corn or leftover Corn Salsa or grilled corn lower off the cob.
• Avocado: Diced, ripe avocado provides a wholesome fat and a wealthy, creaminess to the salad.
• Cheese: In case you are not dairy-free, shredded cheddar or Colby cheese or crumbled feta or queso fresco are all nice additions to this Tex-Mex Salad.
• Tortilla Chips: Ending this salad with tortilla chips is optionally available, however they do a add a pleasant crunch issue.

Make Southwest Salad with Hen

Step One: Put together Hen. Season the hen evenly with the seasoning of your alternative. As soon as seasoned, you may choose to grill, bake or broil the hen. I’ve supplied instructions for all strategies within the recipe card.

Step Two: Put together Cilantro Lime Dressing. This dressing is greatest ready in a small blender or meals processor to assist break down the garlic, cilantro, and jalapeno.

Step Three: Assemble Southwest Salad. Identical to most salads, it’s best to assemble instantly earlier than serving. You possibly can choose to toss every part collectively, or assemble as a cobb salad for a surprising presentation.

Recipe Modifications for Southwest Salad

• Vegetarian Possibility: Make this Southwest Salad meatless, by doubling the beans and omitting the hen.
• Dairy-Free: Omit the cheese for a Dairy-Free Hen Salad, that’s nonetheless stuffed with insane taste!
• Swap out the Cilantro Lime Dressing for a Salsa Ranch Dressing. When you do not take care of cilantro, or are searching for a creamy dressing, mix ranch dressing and add 1-2 teaspoons of taco seasoning and a a tablespoon or two of salsa for a flavorful Tex-Mex Ranch Dressing.

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When you tried this Southwest Hen Salad, I’d love so that you can go away a remark and assessment beneath.

Southwest Hen Salad

Starring seasoned hen a creamy cilantro lime dressing, this southwest salad is full of unimaginable taste and quite straightforward to make.

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Course: Primary Course

Delicacies: Mexican

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook dinner Time: 10 minutes minutes

Whole Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Energy: 325kcal

Cook dinner ModePrevents your display screen from going darkish whereas making ready the recipe.

Directions

For the Hen

• Preheat the oven to 400℉ levels F or a grill/grill pan to medium-high warmth.

• Trim the hen of any fats. Brush the hen with olive oil and season the hen breasts evenly with taco seasoning on all sides.

• Grill the hen for 6-7 minutes per aspect, or till the hen reaches 165℉ Alternatively bake the hen for 15-18 minutes, or till the hen reaches 165℉ or broil the hen for 4-5 minutes per aspect, watching carefully to not burn.

• As soon as cooked, enable the hen to relaxation on a reducing board for 5-10 minutes earlier than slicing it into bite-sized cubes or strips.

Cilantro Lime Dressing

• To a small blender or meals processor, mix the contemporary lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, honey, salt, garlic clove, cilantro, and jalapeno. Mix on excessive velocity till every part is damaged down and the dressing is clean. Add water if, 1 tablespoon at a time, if wanted to clean. Style and add salt if wanted.

For the Southwest Salad

• In a big salad bowl or platter, lay out the chopped romaine. Prime with the beans, tomatoes, corn, peppers, cheese, and avocado. Prime with hen and serve with the dressing and tortilla chips on the aspect. Serve instantly for greatest outcomes.

Notes

Vegetarian Possibility: Make this Southwest Salad meatless, by including extra beans and omitting the hen. 
Beans: Use any beans you want. Black beans, pinto beans, or pink beans all pair effectively on this southwest-style salad.
Salsa Ranch Dressing Possibility: When you do not just like the cilantro lime dressing, make selfmade ranch dressing and add 1-2 teaspoons of selfmade taco seasoning for a Do-it-yourself Southwest Ranch Dressing.
Storage: This salad is greatest served instantly after preparation, because the avocado will brown because it sits. When you occur to have leftovers, retailer the elements of the salad and dressing in particular person hermetic containers within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Toss collectively proper earlier than serving. 
 

Diet

Energy: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 19g | Fats: 13g | Saturated Fats: 2g | Ldl cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 710mg | Potassium: 934mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 7160IU | Vitamin C: 21.3mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2.5mg

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