This spicy twist on the classic Caesar salad features seasoned croutons and an avocado based dressing. The perfect side for any Mexican inspired meal.
My boys love traditional Caesar salad–like, they really love it, and would eat it at every meal. So I came up with this Tex-Mex Caesar Salad to serve when we’re having Mexican fare for dinner.
I suppose I could serve regular Caesar salad with Tex-Mex dishes, but that just didn’t feel quite right to me.
But with a little experimentation, I was able to tweak a classic Caesar salad by adding some spice to my croutons, using cotija cheese, and whipping up a creamy, avocado based dressing.
The first time I served this salad, we had company for dinner, and everyone loved it. Including my boys–who don’t especially care for avocados.
I just didn’t tell them what was in the dressing, and the gobbled this up as quickly as a traditional Caesar salad.
One of my favorite things about Caesar salad is how easy it is to make. I love a good salad, but hate all the chopping and dicing, so Caesar is the only salad I make on a regular basis.
And this southwestern version is almost as easy as the classic version. I did make the dressing from scratch, which was a tiny bit of extra work, since I usually just use my favorite bottled Caesar dressing.
But in a pinch, I’m sure you could use a bottled avocado based dressing with equally tasty results. If you have trouble finding cotija cheese at your grocery store, crumbled feta is a good substitute.
If you really like to spice things up, try adding a dash of cayenne pepper to your dressing, and a little extra seasoning to your croutons.
If you’re looking for a unique side to serve with your next Mexican meal, this Tex-Mex Caesar Salad is the perfect solution! My Caesar salad loving family agrees.
Be sure to save this Tex-Mex Caesar Salad recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
Tips for Choosing and Storing Lettuce
Which kind of lettuce should I buy? There are so many kinds of lettuce to choose from! If you’re wondering which type of lettuce will work best in the dish you are making, check out this fantastic buying guide.
Appearance: Look for lettuce that seems fresh, with firm leaves. Check out the stem end too. If it’s brown and dried out, the lettuce is probably not as fresh. Lettuce is mostly water, so it’s going to wilt quickly. Use most lettuce within 2-5 days, depending on the variety.
Storing: The best way to store lettuce is to separate the leaves and then wash and dry them well before storing. A salad spinner works great for this process. Wrap the lettuce in paper towels and place it in a plastic bag with air to breathe. Keep it in the vegetable drawer or another cool part of your fridge.
Here’s what you’ll need to make Tex-Mex Caesar Salad
- Produce: Romaine lettuce, limes, avocado, cilantro, green onions, garlic
- Croutons
- Spices: chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper
- Cotija cheese
- Sour cream
- Milk
Tex-Mex Caesar Salad
Ingredients
For the salad
- 1 large head Romaine lettuce washed and torn
- 1 5 oz. bag croutons
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- Cotija cheese for garnish
For the dressing
- 1 small avocado diced
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons cotija cheese
- 1-2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1-2 green onions
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
Equipment
- Avocado Slicer
Instructions
- Add Romaine lettuce to a large bowl. Add the chili powder and cumin to the bag of croutons. Seal bag and shake well to coat croutons in spices. Add croutons to the lettuce in the bowl.
- Add avocado, sour cream, cotija cheese, lime juice, green onions, garlic and cilantro to a blender, along with half of the milk. Puree until smooth. Gradually add remaining milk until dressing reaches desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Add desired amount of dressing to salad and toss to coat well. Garnish with additional cojita cheese, if desired.
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Nutrition
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Who Dished It Up First: This is an original recipe
2 comments
Tiffany
What is the measurement for milk?
It only reads 1/2 milk.
Danelle
1/2 cup