2 minute read
What’s Cooking?
BY JAN D’ATRI
I’ve always thought that we have certain exibility with our choices for lunch and dinner.
But breakfast? That’s a whole di erent story. If you’re a bacon person, you’re never going to order sausage. If you love your eggs over easy, then scrambled just won’t do. I think it’s safe to say that breakfast our way is nonnegotiable. The same thing may be true with salad and salad dressing.
If Italian vinaigrette is your choice, then a green goddess dressing is just not going to satisfy.
The other issue with salad is, well, it’s generally thought of as the obligatory side to your entrée.
That all changes here, with this mega main meal bonanza of goodness, avor and crunch with a surprisingly bright and full-bodied cilantro lime dressing! Wow, do I love this salad!
I love everything about it — the xings and the fact that it’s the main event!
You can start with any lettuce you like. My choice is a combination of healthful greens like a spring mix and a crunchy chopped bag salad that is so readily available these days.
This recipe has grilled chicken, but it’s fantastic with strips of steak of you’re a beef eater.
I’m hoping this salad and the delicious dressing has everything you love and then some.
If not, add your favorite xings and make it a main meal to remember!
Main meal salad with cilantro lime dressing
For the salad
• 4 cups spring mix. • 2 cups bagged chopped salad of your choice. • 2 cups grilled chicken, cubed. • 4 hard boiled eggs, chopped. • 1 large or 2 small avocados, diced. • 4 to 6 sliced crispy bacon, rough chopped. • 2 cups fresh corn, cut o the cob and toasted in dry skillet. • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half. • 1 1/2 cups cheese curds or cheese of your choice, cubed. • 1 cup toasted pumpkin or sun ower seeds. • Bleu cheese for topping, optional.
For the dressing
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice. • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (or white wine vinegar). • 3 tablespoons honey. • 2 tablespoons stone ground or Dijon mustard. • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped ne. • 1/2 teaspoon salt. • 1/2 teaspoon pepper. • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil.
Directions
Mix the cilantro lime dressing. Refrigerate until ready to use. In a large bowl, add the salad ingredients. When ready to serve, pour desired amount of dressing over salad and gently toss. Serve with bleu cheese for topping, optional.
