Southwestern Salad

Ingredients

• SALAD INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup diced yellow squash
• 1 small romaine heart, sliced thin
• 1/2 cup black beans (optional)
• 4 ounces cooked sliced chicken
• 1/2 of an avocado, diced
• 5 cherry tomatoes, quartered (optional)
• 1/4 cup diced cilantro
• 1/4 cup sliced scallions
• DRESSING INGREDIENTS:
• 1 small dried chipotle pepper (optional)
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 clove garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 limes, juice
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 cup olive oil

Instructions

1. 1

   Make the dressing: Preheat oven to 400 F.

2. 2

   Break the dried pepper into a few pieces, discarding the stem and most of the seeds. Roast the pepper for about 10 minutes.

3. 3

   Remove pepper from the oven and put it into a bowl with the vinegar, garlic, oregano, lime juice, and honey. Season with salt and pepper. Allow to soak for an hour.

4. 4

   Put the mixture into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Slowly drizzle the oil into the blender to form the dressing. Store in the fridge until ready to use.

5. 5

   Make the salad: Preheat broiler on high.

6. 6

   Put the squash on a pan and toss with a teaspoon of olive oil. Broil on high for about 10 minutes to lightly char.

7. 7

   Put the lettuce into a large shallow bowl. Top with the squash, beans, chicken, avocado, tomato, cilantro, and scallions.

8. 8

   Drizzle on dressing to your taste,(1/4 cup or so) and reserve the rest for future use.