Spicy Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde Recipe

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

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 2

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.

Step 3

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 the cob and place into a large mixing bowl; set aside.

Step 4

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

Step 5

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.