Mexican Caesar Salad is the fusion dish you never imagined trying, until now!
How’s this for a fusion dish: combine a veggie-packed taco salad and Caesar salad, and what do you get? A delicious Mexican Caesar salad! I’ve made plenty of taco salads with meat in the past and have enjoyed countless Caesar salads, but without the croutons, since I’m gluten-free. However, this recipe combines the best of each, swapping crispy, fried corn tortilla strips for the croutons, making it the perfect gluten-free salad without requiring any modifications.
This salad is incredibly delicious, with the saltiness of the tortillas, the crunch of the pepitas, the creaminess of the avocado, and the bold, rich flavor of the Caesar dressing. Sometimes, for variety, I use parsley instead of cilantro and scallions (green onions) instead of red onions.
I love eating salads for lunch or dinner during the hot summer days, and we are certainly having plenty of them this year. Any time I don’t have to heat the kitchen by turning on the oven or stove is a win in my book. And, like any good salad, you can customize it to your heart’s content.
I happen to love cherry or grape tomatoes in salads, so they often find their way in. Since this is not a traditional Caesar salad, I feel no remorse in adding ingredients that are usually not found in that dish. For example, banana peppers, pepperoncini, and olives are some of my favorites, as are crispy roasted lentils. I always have a few bags of those in my pantry.
How to make the perfect Mexican Caesar dressing
Adding some zing to your dressing to make it perfect for this Mexican Caesar salad requires a few touches not found in traditional Caesar dressing. We will use our Healthy Caesar Dressing recipe as a foundation for this dish. The first thing I want you to do is to omit the anchovy fillet, Worcestershire sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Next, keep all the other ingredients the same, but use lime juice instead of lemon juice and add the following:
- two chipotle peppers from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce
- two teaspoons of honey
- two tablespoons of mayonnaise
Combine all the ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Taste the dressing and adjust the seasonings as needed. Store the dressing in a glass jar or other airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
How do I store leftovers?
Leftover Mexican Caesar salad is best stored separately from the dressing. It will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 3 days but may begin to wilt. If you have leftover salad with dressing already on it, expect it to last only 24 hours or so before it becomes soggy. Always stir the leftover salad before serving.
Serving suggestions
This Mexican Caesar salad is a complete meal in a bowl. If you like, you can top it with the protein of your choice. I like to alternate between leftover Mexican Chicken, Steamed Shrimp, Instant-Pot Chicken Adobo, or Air-Fryer Pork Tenderloin. Serve some Roasted Poblano Peppers on the side, or slice them into your salad for added heat. You can also serve this salad alongside a bowl of Mexican Chicken And Rice Soup. Serve some Sopapillas for dessert.
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped kale tough stems removed
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup fried tortilla strips
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup toasted pepitas
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/3 cup diced bell pepper any color, optional
- 1 avocado peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced
- Caesar dressing as needed
- Crumbled cotija or queso fresco
- Lime wedges for serving, optional
Instructions
- Place the chopped kale and romaine lettuce in a large bowl.
- Add the fried tortilla strips, chopped cilantro, toasted pepitas, red onion, optional bell pepper, and sliced avocado to the bowl.
- Drizzle evenly with the Caesar dressing and gently toss to combine.
- Top the salad with the cheese just before serving. Optionally, serve with lime wedges for squeezing.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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