Santa Fe Salad (Southwest Chicken Salad)
User Reviews
5
Santa Fe Salad (Southwest Chicken Salad)
Description
The Santa Fe Salad features grilled chicken breasts seasoned with chili powder and kosher salt, imparting a smoky warmth to the tender meat. The grilled chicken is sliced and layered over a bed of crisp romaine lettuce, sweet grape tomatoes, creamy avocado slices, fire-roasted corn, black beans, fresh scallions, and crumbly cotija cheese. The combination highlights a balance of fresh vegetables, protein, and slightly tangy cheese.
Accompanying the salad is a Southwest dressing blending Greek yogurt and mayonnaise with lime juice, honey, and spices including chili powder, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder. This dressing offers a creamy, mildly tangy complement to the robust salad ingredients without overpowering the flavors. Crispy tortilla strips add a crunchy element, contributing texture contrast.
This salad can be customized with additional toppings such as guacamole, sour cream, or salsa, and benefits from fresh herbs or pickled vegetables. The chicken can be prepared fresh or substituted with leftover or rotisserie chicken. The recipe also includes instructions to make homemade tortilla strips by baking or air-frying tortilla cuttings brushed with olive oil, adding to the dish's authenticity.
Ingredients
Salad
- 2 chicken breast large (8 oz each
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups romaine lettuce
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 1 avocado sliced
- 1 cup corn I use frozen fire roasted corn
- ½ cup black beans drained and rinsed
- 4 scallions sliced
- ¼ cup cotija cheese can substute shredded Mexican blend or Monterey jack, or queso blanco
- 1 cup tortilla strips see notes, for salads
- oil for brushing grill
Southwest Salad Dressing
- ½ cup Greek yogurt plain, 2% fat
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon honey or agave
- 1-2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Sprinkle the chili powder and salt evenly over the chicken breasts, patting it in so that it adheres. Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat. Brush with oil. Grill the chicken, about 4-5 minutes on each side, until cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from grill and let chicken rest for several minutes.
- To make the salad, mix the yogurt, mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, onion powder, garlic, powder, salt, honey, and water together in a medium bowl until smooth. Add more water as needed to thin the dressing out to the desired consistency.
- Arrange the lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, corn, black beans, scallions, and cheese in a large serving bowl. Slice the chicken and arrange the slices on top. Garnish with tortilla strips, if desired. Serve with Southwest dressing on the side.
Notes
- Tortilla strips can be store-bought or homemade by cutting small tortillas into strips, tossing with olive oil, and baking or air frying until golden.
- You can customize the salad by adding ingredients like fresh cilantro, black olives, bell peppers, jalapeños, or pickled onions.
- Toppings such as guacamole, sour cream, or salsa can enhance the salad.
- For the chicken, use a Mexican chicken marinade or substitute leftover cooked chicken such as rotisserie.
- Store leftover tortilla strips at room temperature in an airtight container for crispness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 416 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 416kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 9% |
| Protein | 33g | 66% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5g | 29% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 0.03g | 2% |
| Cholesterol | 85mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 715mg | 30% |
| Potassium | 1081mg | 23% |
| Fiber | 8g | 32% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 4982IU | 100% |
| Vitamin C | 19mg | 21% |
| Calcium | 133mg | 13% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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