Print

Houston’s Southwest Caesar Salad

Houston's Southwest Caesar Salad - recipe card
Print Recipe

A robust, Tex-Mex inspired Caesar salad with charred corn, black beans, avocado, and a smoky chipotle-lime Caesar dressing. Crisp romaine hearts are tossed with cotija cheese, tortilla strips, and a creamy, tangy dressing for a bold, satisfying meal or side.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp anchovy paste (or 2 anchovy fillets, minced)
  • 1 tsp chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 2 limes)
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
  • 2 ears fresh corn, kernels removed (or 1 1/2 cups frozen corn, thawed)
  • 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 large avocado, diced
  • 8 cups romaine lettuce hearts, chopped (about 2 heads)
  • 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbled
  • 1/2 cup tortilla strips (from 2 corn tortillas, cut into strips and baked or fried)
  • 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped

Instructions

  1. Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolk, garlic, Dijon, Worcestershire, anchovy paste, chipotle, cumin, smoked paprika, lime juice, and red wine vinegar until smooth. The mixture should look slightly frothy and well combined.
  2. Slowly stream in the olive oil while whisking continuously to create a creamy emulsion. The dressing will thicken as you add the oil. If it looks separated, keep whisking—it should come back together.
  3. Whisk in the mayonnaise and season with kosher salt and black pepper. Taste and adjust salt or lime juice if needed. The dressing should be tangy, smoky, and well-seasoned. Set aside or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
  4. Prepare the corn: If using fresh corn, heat a dry cast-iron or regular skillet over high heat until very hot. Add the corn kernels and cook without stirring for 2-3 minutes until they start to char. Stir and continue cooking for another 2 minutes until nicely charred. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. If using frozen, thaw and pat dry before charring.
  5. In a large serving bowl, combine the chopped romaine, charred corn, black beans, cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, and cilantro. Toss gently to mix.
  6. Just before serving, drizzle about 3/4 of the dressing over the salad. Toss well to coat every leaf. The amount of dressing you use depends on your preference—you can add more if needed.
  7. Add the diced avocado and cotija cheese. Gently toss once more, being careful not to mash the avocado.
  8. Top with tortilla strips just before serving to keep them crunchy. If you’re making this ahead, add the tortilla strips and avocado at the last minute.
  9. Serve immediately. Leftover salad can be stored without dressing in an airtight container for up to 2 days, but it’s best fresh.
  10. If you prefer a grilled option, you can grill the corn ears over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until charred spots appear. Then cut the kernels off the cob.

Notes

Storage: The dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. Tossed salad with dressing should be eaten within 2 hours to avoid wilting. Keep undressed salad components in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Avocado should be sliced just before serving. To refresh leftover dressed salad, add a squeeze of lime and a little salt. Tortilla strips can be stored in a zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 1 week; if they lose crispness, re-toast in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 5 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: southwest caesar salad, houston's copycat, caesar salad with chipotle, black bean corn salad, avocado caesar, grilled corn salad, tex-mex salad, creamy caesar dressing, cotija cheese salad, weeknight dinner salad

Find it online: https://copycatkitchenco.com/houstons-southwest-caesar-salad/