Santa Fe Chicken Salad

Now that school's out for the SUMMER and there are so many activities going on, sometimes you just need a QUICK and EASY dinner to pull together that will satisfy those hungry tummies. This recipe is one of those. You can make it as fast as you can cut up the ingredients if you've made the dressing ahead of time. If not, no matter, the dressing is pretty quick, too!

Santa Fe Chicken Salad

 

Romaine Lettuce
Tomatoes (diced)
Avocados ( cut in chunks)
Radishes (sliced)
green onions (sliced)
Match stick carrots (or shred your own)
Cotija Cheese, granulated, (just a sprinkle)
Tortilla strips
Rotisserie Chicken (chopped)

(I haven't given amounts for the ingredients of the salad... just add what you think you'll need for the size of your family.)

I usually have most of the above ingredients on hand. The fresh veggies are part of my weekly grocery list. The Rotisserie chicken can be purchased and chopped up, then frozen. It's a quick thaw when you need it. The Cotija Cheese is in my freezer so I can use it when I need it. The radishes are in my garden now, so that's an easy ingredient for me as well. (Counting the days until fresh tomatoes are ripe!)

Cilantro Lime Salad Dressing
                    Recipe adapted from Our Best Bites

1/4 c. fresh lime juice (about 2-3 juicy limes)
1/4 c. white wine vinegar or rice vinegar
4-5 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp. Real Salt
2 tsp. sugar
1 c. vegetable oil (other oils will change the flavor)
1/2 c. roughly chopped cilantro (no stems)

In the jar of your blender, combine lime juice, vinegar, garlic, salt, and sugar. Blend until ingredients are completely combined. With the blender running, add the oil in a steady stream. Add cilantro and blend until the cilantro has broken down but still maintains some of its texture. Refrigerate.

 My family Loves this salad, and I love how quick it is to assemble!

Up next at Our Sweet Lemons...  another quick and easy recipe...
                                   Brown Sugar Spiced Pork Loins