Taco Salad

Taco Salad with Cumin Lime Cilantro Dressing

Taco Salad With Cumin Lime Cilantro Dressing

Ingredients

Makes 2 To 3 Large Salads

Cumin-Lime-Cilantro Dressing

• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• ¼ teaspoon minced garlic (half a small clove)
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• heaping ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon minced cilantro leaves
• 6 tablespoons olive oil

Salad

• 1 15-ounce can pinto beans or black beans (about 1½ cups cooked beans)
• 1 pound romaine lettuce (a large head or hearts)
• 1 small red bell pepper, cut into thin strips (or bite-sized pieces of any shape)
• 1/3 cup very thinly sliced red onion (about half a medium onion)
• 1 cup (packed) crumbled mexican cheese
• 6 ounces tortilla chips broken into bite-sized pieces
• 1 medium-sized perfectly ripe tomato, sliced
• freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. To make the dressing, combine the lime juice, garlic, cumin, salt, sugar, and cilantro in a smallish bowl
2. Whisk until thoroughly combined, then continue whisking as you drizzle in the olive oil
3. When all the olive oil is incorporated, set the dressing aside
4. Or you can put all the ingredients in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid and just shake it emphatically
5. Set a colander in the sink and pour in the beans
6. Give them a quick rinse and allow them to drain
7. Separate the romaine leaves, and then wash them in very cold water and spin them very dry
8. If you have purchased hearts of romaine in a sealed pack, you can skip the washing; just cut off the stems and separate the leaves
9. Tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces
10. Combine the lettuce, bell pepper, and onion in a large bowl, and toss to mix well, sprinkling in the beans and cheese as you go
11. Just before serving, toss in the tortilla chips
12. Whisk the dressing-or shake it, if it’s in a jar-to recombine, and add about half of it to the salad
13. Toss to coat, and give it a taste
14. You might want to add the rest of the dressing right now, or bring it to the table (along with the pepper mill) for people to add more to their own portions
15. Top with the tomato slices and a few grinds of black pepper, and serve immediately