Fajita Salad With Charred Jalapeño Dressing Recipes

FAJITA SALAD

Steps:

• Pulse 3/4 cup of the cilantro, the scallion whites, chipotles, chili powder, lime juice, 2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a mini-food processor to make a smooth paste. Coat the steak with the paste. Toss the peppers and onion with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Toast the cumin seeds in a small dry skillet over medium-high heat, about 1 minute. Mix seeds with the cabbage, remaining scallion greens, and remaining 1/4 cup cilantro in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Set a rack 6-inch from the broiler heating element and preheat the broiler. Preheat a broiler pan for about 10 minutes.
• Carefully pull the preheated pan from the broiler, set the steak in the center of the pan, and surround (but do not cover) with the peppers and onion. Return to the broiler. Cook until the meat feels firm but still gives gently when pressed, about 12 minutes for medium rare. Remove steak to a platter and let rest about 10 minutes before slicing. Toss the vegetables, and continue broiling until they soften and char, another 6 to 8 minutes.
• Dress slaw with orange juice and zest, lime zest, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1 tablespoon oil.
• Slice the steak, against the grain, into very thin slices. Arrange on a platter with the peppers and onions. Serve with the slaw.
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FAJITA STEAK SALAD WITH CILANTRO-LIME VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the steak: Set a large resealable plastic bag in a medium saucepan and pull the edges of the bag over the sides of the pan for easy access to the bag. Add the vegetable oil, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, oregano, paprika, lemon juice, garlic, scallion, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper to the bag and whisk to combine. Add the London broil and seal the bag tightly. Remove the bag from the pan and use your hands to rotate the meat, coating thoroughly in the marinade. Lay the bag flat on a cutting board and marinate at room temperature for 1 hour, flipping the bag after 30 minutes. (The seasoned meat can also be stored in the refrigerator overnight. Let rest at room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking.)
• Remove the steak from the bag and discard any stuck-on garlic cloves and scallion. Set a grill pan over high heat until just starting to smoke, about 3 minutes. (Or prepare a grill for high heat.) Lightly oil the pan. Place the steak in the center of the pan and grill until the bottom is nicely charred, about 5 minutes. Flip the steak and continue grilling until an insert-read thermometer inserted sideways into the center of the steak registers between 120 and 125 degrees F, 3 to 5 minutes more. Transfer the steak to the cutting board and rest for 10 minutes.
• For the vinaigrette: While the steak rests, whisk the cilantro, olive oil, cumin, lime zest and juice, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper together in a large bowl. Pour half of the vinaigrette into a small bowl and set aside.
• For the salad: Add the bell peppers and onions to the large bowl of vinaigrette and toss to thoroughly coat. Arrange the onions cut-side down and the peppers skin--side down on the same grill pan over high heat and grill until deeply charred, about 4 minutes. Transfer to the same cutting board as the steak.
• Add the remaining vinaigrette back to the large bowl. Add grated cheese and salad greens and toss to combine. Arrange the salad mixture on a large serving platter. Top with the grilled peppers.
• Cut the roots off the onion halves and slice the onions into thin wedges. Arrange on the salad. Thinly slice the rested steak against the grain and arrange in the center of the salad. Arrange the avocado slices around the edge of the platter, then sprinkle tortilla strips over the top of the salad.

CHICKEN FAJITA SALAD

Steps:

• For the fajita mix: Mix the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, sugar, salt, red pepper flakes and black pepper in a bowl.
• For the salad: Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat and brush with olive oil.
• Sprinkle a third of the fajita mix over one side of the chicken breasts. Place the chicken seasoned-side down on the grill and sprinkle another third of the fajita mix over the top of the chicken. Grill the chicken until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side; this will depend on the size of the breasts. Remove the chicken to a baking sheet to cool.
• While the chicken is cooling, add 2 tablespoons olive oil and the remaining fajita mix to a large mixing bowl and whisk together. Add the peppers and toss to coat. Place the peppers on the grill and cook, turning to get good grill marks, about 3 minutes per side. Remove to the baking sheet to cool.
• Brush the corn with the last 2 tablespoons olive oil. Arrange the corn on the grill and cook, turning frequently, until cooked and brown, about 10 minutes total. Remove to a plate to cool.
• Slice the chicken crosswise but keep the slices together. Slice the avocado crosswise, keeping the slices together like the chicken. Squeeze a bit of lime juice over top to prevent the slices from browning.
• For the cilantro lime dressing: Add the olive oil, cilantro, lime zest and juice, salt and chili flakes to a mason jar and shake until emulsified.
• For the assembly: Arrange the lettuce leaves on a large board or platter. Cluster the chicken breast slices, avocado slices and peppers among the leaves. Tuck in the corn cobs here and there and do the same with the sprigs of cilantro. It should look more free-form than composed. Add the tomatoes, limes halves and chunks of cheese in the same way. Drizzle a bit of dressing over the salad to give it a hint of flavor and serve the rest on the side.