Mexican Chopped Salad with Jalapeño Dressing
This Mexican Chopped Salad with Jalapeño Dressing recipe is one of those healthy and delicious salads we should eat more often.
I love a good salad. And I love spicy dishes. So this Mexican Chopped Salad with Jalapeño Dressing recipe checks both those boxes. This salad is one of those healthy and delicious salads we should eat more often.
For a little protein, this salad includes some delicious chicken. Also included in some Mexican Hominy just like I used in my Mexican Black Bean and Hominy Salad.
What is Hominy
If you’ve never heard of Hominy, It’s basically corn that has been treated. If you are curious about how it’s made check out this explanation on Wikipedia. Personally, I use the canned hominy for my recipes. Cheap and easy to find at most local grocery stores.
As far as the chicken goes, you can either cook yours from raw, use frozen chicken tenders are even buy one of those freshly baked chickens from your local grocery store. If you are going to be handling raw chicken, make sure you practice safe food handling.
How to Handle Hot Peppers
- The capsaicin in hot peppers is what makes peppers hot. If you handle hot peppers gloveless, it’s a guarantee that you’re in for a nasty case of chili burn, both on your fingers and anywhere you rub. Like your face. Ouch!
- Even if you wear disposable gloves, be careful about what you touch. The gloves are going to protect your fingers, but touching any part of your body with the gloves after you’ve handled hot peppers can lead to severe chili burn.
- Resist the temptation to rub your eyes. Wait until you’ve removed your gloves and washed your hands thoroughly with soap.
How to Handle Raw Chicken
- Leave the chicken in the fridge until ready to use.
- Be careful of dripping juices. Clean up immediately.
- Do not wash raw chicken (prevents cross-contamination).
- Wash all utensils and cutting boards.
- Wash your hands after handling raw chicken.
How to Cut an Avocado (Video)
If you struggle with cutting and coring avocados, this video tutorial is for you. This is an important skill to learn if you often make guacamole or any other type of Mexican Food.
How Hot Are the Peppers
The Scoville Scale is the measurement that tells you the spiciness of a given type of pepper.
| Pepper Type | Scoville Rating (Heat) |
|---|---|
| Bell Pepper | 0-0 |
| Banana Pepper | 0-500 |
| Poblano Pepper | 1000-1500 |
| Jalapeño Pepper | 2500-8000 |
| Serrano Peppers | 10,000-25,000 |
| Manzano Pepper | 12,000-30,000 |
| Tabasco & Cayenne | 30,000-50,000 |
| Habanero Pepper | 100,000-300,000 |
| Ghost Pepper | 855,000-1,000,000 |
| Carolina Reaper | 1,500,000-2,300,000 |
Tips
- Don’t you hate it when raisins get stuck together in a big clump? To unstick the raisins, wet your hands with a little water then work the raisins apart.
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Mexican Chopped Salad with Jalapeno Dressing recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Pickled Jalapeños, Mayonnaise, Mexican Crema, Fresh Cilantro, Lime Juice, Paprika, Milk, White Hominy, Cayenne Pepper, Romaine Lettuce, Chicken Breasts, Mango, Avocados, Grape Tomatoes, Yellow Bell Pepper and Raisins.
How to Make Mexican Chopped Salad with Jalapeno Dressing
MAKE THE JALAPEÑO DRESSING
- Combine the first 6 ingredients. Add milk for desired consistency. Cover and chill till ready to serve
PREPARE THE HOMINY
- Cook hominy on medium-low heat for 4-5 minutes. stirring. Sprinkle with cayenne
ASSEMBLE THE SALAD
- In a large serving bowl, combine the hominy and the rest of the ingredients. top with dressing, queso fresco and tortilla strips.
Mexican Chopped Salad with Jalapeño Dressing
Equipment
- Bowl for Mixing
Ingredients
JALAPENO DRESSING INGREDIENTS
- ½ Cup Pickled Jalapeños, finely chopped
- ½ Cup Mayonnaise
- ½ Cup Mexican Crema
- ¼ Cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped
- 2 Tbsp Fresh Lime Juice
- 1 Tsp Paprika
- 2 Tbsp Milk
HOMINY INGREDIENTS
- 1 Cup White Hominy
- Cayenne Pepper
SALAD INGREDIENTS
- 4 Cups Romaine Lettuce, Shredded
- 1 Cup Chicken Breasts, Shredded
- 1 Mango, Diced
- 1 Avocado, Diced
- ⅔ Cup Grape Tomatoes, Halved
- ½ Yellow Bell Pepper, Diced
- ½ Cup Raisins
SALAD TOPPINGS (OPTIONAL)
- Queso Fresco
- Tortilla Strips
Instructions
MAKE THE DRESSING
- Combine first 6 ingredients. Add milk for desired consistency. Cover and Chill till ready to serve
PREPARE THE HOMINY
- Cook hominy medium-low heat for 4-5 minutes. stirring. sprinkly with cayenne
ASSEMBLE THE SALAD
- In a large serving bowl, combine hominy and rest of ingredients. top with dressing, queso fresco and tortilla strips.
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.
This salad is perfect as a meal or just a side dish. The Mexican crema gives it that extra flavor that makes this salad so delicious.