Chayas Chopped Salad Shrimp Recipes

CALIFORNIA-STYLE CHOPPED SALAD WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• For the salad: Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat or preheat a gas or charcoal grill. In a large bowl add the romaine lettuce, corn, zucchini, and shrimp and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill the romaine lettuce, turning occasionally, until crisp-tender and browned in spots, about 2 minutes. Coarsely chop the grilled lettuce and add it to a large salad bowl. Grill the corn and zucchini for 2 minutes on all sides until crisp-tender. Remove the kernels from the corn and add to the salad bowl. Chop the zucchini into 1/2-inch pieces and add to the bowl. Grill the shrimp until the meat is opaque and cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Cool slightly and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Add the chopped shrimp, butter lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado to the bowl.
• For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil and agave nectar until smooth. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until all the ingredients are coated. Garnish the salad with tortilla strips and serve.

CHAYA'S CHOPPED SALAD (SHRIMP)

Steps:

• To prepare the dressing: Place the jalapenos on a rack set over a stove-top burner or on the grill and roast until charred on all sides. When cool enough to handle, peel and seed. In a blender, combine jalapenos, mayonnaise, lemon juice and 2 tablespoons olive oil; blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and chill until needed.
• To prepare the shrimp: In a small bowl, combine chili powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, cayenne pepper and celery seed powder to make a spice blend.
• Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat until hot, then add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add shrimp and sauté until slightly opaque, 1 - 2 minutes, then sprinkle the spice blend over the shrimp, shaking pan and continue cooking just until opaque. Remove from heat and set aside.
• To assemble the salad: In a large bowl, toss chopped romaine with the cucumber, avocado, corn kernels and sauteed shrimp. Add half the dressing and gently toss to coat. Add additional dressing, a couple of tablespoons at a time, to coat as desired.
• Divide the salad among 4 plates; top each with 1 tablespoon cheese, 4 halved tomatoes and 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro. Serve immediately.
• Note: For the celery seed powder, grind celery seeds in a spice or coffee grinder, or use a mortar and pestle.