Chipotle Chicken Taco Salad

A Southern Grace decided to have a "Beat the Heat" blogging event. In order to help beat the heat, we were to cook, er not cook actually, make a dish that didn't require turning on the oven or cooking on top of the stove (though ice cream makers were okay).

I came across this recipe on several sites but I think it originated in an August 2006 issue of Cooking Light. It was sent to me in a newsletter I get from My Recipes. It sounded perfect for a summer dinner, no heating of appliances required.

Mr. L and I both really liked this. We buy rotisserie chickens from Costco all the time and we never do much other than eat the chicken as is. This dish is something that I can easily make and usually have all the ingredients (or similar) on hand. Plus it's HEALTHY...wahooo...and I did substitute  whole wheat pita triangles for the tortilla chips.

I did think the dressing might be a little hot (I added a bit more chipotle than called for) but it melded well with the salad once it was mixed together. I've never cooked a Cooking Light recipe before so I just may have to start buying the magazines.

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN TACO SALAD

DRESSING:
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2/3 cup light sour cream
1 tablespoon minced chipotle chile, canned in adobo sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt

SALAD:
4 cups shredded romaine lettuce
2 cups chopped roasted skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about two breasts)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup diced peeled avocado
1/3 cup thinly vertically sliced red onion
1 (15-oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (8 3/4-oz) can no-salt-added whole-kernel corn, rinsed and drained

To prepare dressing, combine first 7 ingredients, stirring well.

To prepare salad, combine lettuce and remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over salad; toss gently to coat. Serve Immediately.

Recipe Tip: Add a spoonful of adobo sauce for a spicier salad. Kidney or pinto beans also taste great in this dish. Makes 4  two and a half cup servings. (249 calories a serving).

Note: I used probably a bit more than two tablespoons chipotle chili. I used pre-packaged romaine lettuce hearts (I used a knife to shred them). I used a whole avocado. I used one cup of frozen petite corn in stead of the canned.

Note: It says to "drizzle" dressing but my dressing was pretty thick. I just globbed it on top. It seemed to mix in pretty easy.

This made a good "pita stuffing" but I'm sure it would taste great with tortilla chips (though it would add more calories).

I'll post the Beat the Heat round up when it's up. I'm sure I'll find more wonderful no cook dishes to make!

 

Comments

[noble pig]

Oh yummy...love the whole taco salad thing! Yahoo.

[Deborah]

This sounds like my kind of salad! And anything that keeps me from using any heat is definitely a plus!

[Mom]

Looks good Mrs. L. You can fix that for me anytime!

[Ann]

I am making this tonight, although it's not really hot here today. :) I also LOVE Cooking Light magazine. I've been a subscriber for years.

[grace]

i'm seriously loving this. and the hotter the dressing, the better. hmm. isn't it odd that i hate hot temperatures but love hot food? anyway, thanks for sending this my way! :)

[Jeanette]

The photo looks delish as well as the recipe. We love the rotisserie chickens from Costco as well. It's refreshing to use it for other things like salad. Never thought about it till now!

[Jan]

Mmmmm....mmmmmm.....good!

[Mrs. L]

I do hope you guys try this and like it. Sooo simple and yes Jeanette, those Costco chickens are awesome! (and much cheaper than Safeway or Lucky's).

[Nazarina Andrychow]

Thank you for informing us all about the Costco chickens. This is all the more reason to buy a membership from the gal in the mall close to my house. I was contemplating whether to buy one. Your no cook salad looks very yummy which is perfect for this weather. I wish it was ski season already!

P/s you had me at chipotle!

[Mrs. L]

Nazarina - The Costco chickens are a bargain. If you go to a local grocery store around here, you'll pay several dollars more for a chicken twice as small as the Costco ones! They all have "added water" but honestly, we think the Costco ones are tastier and less dry than the grocery store ones.

And Costco memberships can be dangerous, we never seem to be able to just go in and get out of there without a cartload of stuff!

[Kevin]

This taco salad looks so tasty!