Description
Zesty Mexican chicken taco salad delight brings bold flavors to your dinner table. Crisp greens, seasoned meat, and fresh toppings create a quick, satisfying meal you’ll crave again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained, rinsed
- 2 heads romaine, chopped
- 2 ½ cups halved cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup pico de gallo
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tbsps taco seasoning
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 corn tortillas, cut into ¼ strips
- 2 cups vegetable oil
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Activate a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, crumble ground beef thoroughly while cooking, ensuring uniform browning and releasing rich flavors.
- Seasoning Integration: Incorporate taco seasoning, tomato paste, and water into the beef, stirring consistently until the mixture develops a deep, caramelized consistency and moisture evaporates completely.
- Tortilla Crisping: Heat vegetable oil in a separate pan, submerge tortilla strips and fry until achieving a perfect golden-brown crunch, then drain on paper towels and season with a light salt dusting.
- Salad Foundation: Layer a base of crisp romaine lettuce in a spacious serving dish, creating a vibrant green canvas for the remaining ingredients.
- Component Assembly: Distribute the seasoned beef evenly over the lettuce, strategically placing black beans, cherry tomatoes, sharp cheddar cheese, and pico de gallo across the surface.
- Garnish and Finish: Sprinkle freshly chopped cilantro over the salad, artfully arrange crispy tortilla strips, and complete the presentation with elegant dollops of sour cream, ensuring a visually appealing and flavor-packed culinary creation.
Notes
- Meat Browning Technique: Ensure the skillet is hot before adding ground beef to achieve a perfect caramelized exterior and develop deep, rich flavors.
- Oil Temperature Control: Use a thermometer when frying tortilla strips to maintain 350-375°F for optimal crispiness without burning.
- Seasoning Balance: Taste and adjust taco seasoning gradually to prevent oversalting and maintain a harmonious flavor profile.
- Fresh Ingredient Tip: Use room temperature ingredients like tomatoes and cilantro to enhance overall salad texture and maximize flavor release.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg