Spicy Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde

Spicy grilled chicken breasts are dressed with a tomatillo and cilantro sauce in this tasty main dish salad.

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 550 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• Salt, to taste
• 4 teaspoons lime juice
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning, or to taste
• 1 cup crumbled cotija cheese
• 2 ears corn
• 1 pound tomatillos, husked
• 1 head green leaf lettuce
• 0.5 bunch fresh cilantro leaves
• 0.5 jalapeno chile pepper, chopped
• 0.25 large white onion, chopped
• 0.25 medium head red cabbage, chopped

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil; add the corn and boil 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the corn and allow to cool until cool enough to handle. Cut the corn off of the cob and place into a large mixing bowl; set aside.

Step 2

Place the tomatillos, cilantro, jalapeno, onion, garlic, salt, and 4 teaspoons of lime juice into a blender. Pulse until the vegetables have been finely chopped; set aside. Toss the avocado with 1 teaspoon of lime juice and mix with the corn, cabbage, black beans, and bell pepper.

Step 3

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Season the chicken breasts with Cajun seasoning.

Step 4

Cook the chicken breasts on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 6 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Set the breasts aside until cool enough to handle; cut into bite sized pieces.

Step 5

Divide the lettuce leaves onto 4 plates. Mound the avocado mixture on top of the lettuce, followed by the chicken. Sprinkle with cotija cheese and garnish with lime wedges to serve.