Description
Say hello to your new favorite salad! This Mexican Caesar Salad takes everything you love about the classic and cranks up the flavor with a smoky, zesty dressing, crispy tortilla strips, and a sprinkle of Cotija cheese. It’s the perfect balance of crunch, creaminess, and bold Mexican-inspired goodness. One bite, and you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making it this way all along!
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup corn kernels (fresh or canned)
- ½ cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 medium avocado, diced
- ½ cup tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
- ¼ cup cotija cheese, crumbled
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
For the Dressing:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Prepare the Dressing
In a blender or food processor, combine mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lime juice, chipotle pepper, garlic, Parmesan, olive oil, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning if needed.Assemble the Salad
In a large bowl, toss together the romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, corn, black beans, avocado, and tortilla strips.Add the Dressing
Drizzle the chipotle Caesar dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat everything evenly.Finish with Toppings
Sprinkle cotija cheese and fresh cilantro over the top. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- f you prefer a lighter dressing, use all Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
- Cotija cheese can be substituted with feta or grated Parmesan.
- Add grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a heartier meal.
- Make the dressing ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Mexican Caesar Salad, chipotle dressing, cotija cheese, tortilla strips, healthy salad, easy salad recipe, Mexican food, Caesar salad twist