Cowboy Chopped Salad Recipes

Steps:

• For the bacon and tortilla strips: Fry the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Add some vegetable oil to the bacon skillet and fry the tortilla strips until crisp, approximately 1 minute. Drain on paper towels. For the BBQ ranch dressing: In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, barbecue sauce, parsley, chives and garlic. Adjust the consistency with buttermilk to make it a little thinner. Taste and add hot sauce and salt as needed. For the salad: Put the lettuce, tomatoes, scallions, bacon and most of the cheese into a bowl. Drizzle over the dressing and stir. Scatter over the pico de gallo, tortilla strips and the reserved cheese, then serve.

Steps:

• Make a bed of couscous/quinoa on a large round shallow serving plate. In a wedge shape arrange the chicken, corn, cheese, pumpkin seeds, currants, tomatoes, and spinach on top of the couscous/quino. Alternatively the ingredients can be arranged in strips in individual salad bowls.
• To make the dressing: in a medium bowl, combine the shallots, buttermilk, 1 cup aioli, 1/2 cup pesto, lemon juice, and pepper. You will have approximately 3 cups.
• Serve the dressing in a pitcher for your guests to drizzle on their salad. Reserve the remaining dressing in a glass jar, refrigerated, for other salads.
• Easy Aioli.
• (makes about 1 cup).
• Combine the olive oil, garlic, and salt in a small bowl. Refrigerate, covered, for up to 1 week.
• Pesto.
• (makes about 3/4 cup).
• In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the olive oil, basil, pine nuts, and salt until combines. Refrigerate, covered , for 2 or 3 days.

Steps:

• Blend basil leaves, mayonnaise, and shallot in processor until smooth. Gradually blend in buttermilk and lemon juice. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Mix Asiago cheese, currants, and pumpkin seeds in medium bowl.
• Using 1/6 of couscous, 1/6 of arugula, 1/6 of tomatoes, 1/6 of chicken, 1/6 of corn, and 1/6 of Asiago cheese mixture, form rows on each of 6 plates. Serve, passing dressing separately.
• Available at specialty foods stores and some supermarkets.

Steps:

• Layer salad ingredients in large bowl.
• To make dressing, add first 3 ingredients to food processor and blend thoroughly.
• With motor running pour in buttermilk.
• Add remaining ingredients to combine.
• Dress salad as desired, tossing to combine.
• Store remaining dressing in refrigerator.

Steps:

• Arrange salad ingredients in separate rows on a large platter. To make the dressing, place all ingredients in a blender and blend well. Toss the dressing on top of the salad. Will keep in fridge for up to a week.

Steps:

• 1. In a small bowl, combine the onions, water, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
• Add 1/2 cup of the oil to the vinegar mixture. Add additional to taste.
• 2. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, roasted peppers, olives, haricots verts, cucumber, and herbs. Toss with enough dressing to coat, and season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Serve any remaining dressing on the side.