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Mexican Caesar Salad

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This Mexican Caesar Salad recipe is made with a lighter Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing, lots of my favorite Mexi ingredients, and it tastes so fresh and flavorful and delicious!

This Mexican Caesar Salad recipe is SO DELICIOUS, and made with kale, Romaine, avocado, crispy tortilla strips, pepitas, crumbled cotija cheese, and a creamy Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing. | gimmesomeoven.com

Look out, world. My favorite kind of food just met my favorite kind of salad.

And the result is a mega-delicious win-win. ??

Seriously, this recipe is everything I love about a rich and creamy Caesar salad…but kicked up a notch with lots of my favorite Mexi ingredients (think: creamy avocado, crunchy pepitas, salty tortilla chips, fresh cilantro, zesty cotija, y más)…and then lightened up a notch with lots and lots of fresh kale and a lighter Caesar dressing (featuring lots of Greek yogurt and fresh lime juice).

So basically, you have every excuse in the book to go back for seconds, right?!

I can't get enough of this Mexican Caesar Salad! It's so hearty and delicious, and made healthier with a Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing. | gimmesomeoven.com

Seriously, I have no idea how it took me so long to consider this favorite food mash-up, but thank goodness it finally happened.

To make the salad, simply combine all of your salad ingredients in one big bowl:

  • lots of fresh kale and Romaine lettuce (I recommend dinosaur/Lacinato kale)
  • fresh cilantro
  • crispy tortilla strips (I made my own, but you can use store-bought)
  • toasted pepitas
  • sliced avocado

So obsessed with this Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing that lightens up this Mexican Caesar Salad! | gimmesomeoven.com

Then all of that gets drizzled with my favorite Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing (<– which I recommend making with lime instead of lemon juice for this recipe, as part of the Mexi twist). Delish.

Give it all a good toss until everything’s nice and coated with that heavenly dressing…

LOVE this Mexican Caesar Salad! It's made with lots of avocado, crispy tortilla strips, pepitas, zesty cotija cheese, fresh lime juice, and a creamy Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing that is AMAZING. Such a great recipe!! | gimmesomeoven.com

…then sprinkle with cotija or queso fresco…

This Mexican Caesar Salad recipe is THE BEST! It's made with lots of avocado, crispy tortilla chips, kale, pepitas, queso fresco, and a delicious Greek Yogurt Lime Caesar Dressing. Love it! | gimmesomeoven.com

…and voila! In just 20 minutes or so, this fabulous salad will be ready to serve and enjoy. It’s awesome as a main dish or a side dish. And if you’d like to add in some grilled chicken or shrimp or steak, go for it!

Enjoy, everyone!

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Mexican Caesar Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 7 reviews
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 -6 servings 1x

Description

Everything you love about a classic Caesar salad…made with a Mexican twist!  Feel free to add grilled chicken, shrimp or steak to this salad, or serve it vegetarian as-is!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 56 cups roughly-chopped dinosaur (lacinato) kale leaves, tough stems removed
  • 4 cups roughly-chopped Romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup fried tortilla strips, homemade* or storebought
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1/3 cup toasted pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds)
  • 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and thinly sliced
  • 1 batch Greek Yogurt Caesar Dressing (which I recommend making with lime juice, instead of lemon juice, for this recipe)
  • crumbled cotija cheese or queso fresco

Instructions

  1. Combine kale, Romaine, tortilla strips, cilantro, pepitas, and avocado in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Drizzle evenly with the Caesar dressing, and toss to combine.
  3. Serve immediately, sprinkled with crumbled cotija or queso fresco.

Notes

*You can either buy crispy tortilla strips at the store (they’re usually in the salad dressing section).  Or if you’d like to make them homemade, just cut a bunch of corn tortillas into small strips.  Fill a small saucepan or sauté pan 1/2-inch full of oil.  Heat over medium-high heat, until the oil sizzles when you add a drop of water.  (If it sputters and splatters, the oil is too hot — turn it down.)  Add in a handful of the tortilla strips and fry for 1-2 minutes, or until they start getting golden and crispy.  Use a slotted spoon to transfer the tortilla strips to a paper-towel-covered plate, and let cool.  Repeat with remaining tortilla strips until all are fried.

This salad is SO DELICIOUS, and made with kale, Romaine, avocado, crispy tortilla strips, pepitas, crumbled cotija cheese, and a creamy Greek Yogurt Mexican Caesar Salad Dressing. | gimmesomeoven.com

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32 comments on “Mexican Caesar Salad”

  1. While I am printing out this recipe, the Asian Noodle Slaw recipe is made in the fridge for my oldest to take to work for her lunch and to share with co-workers. Plus a bit saved for me. Thanks for all you do. Every recipe I try of yours is fantastic. You are the first site I recommend to someone looking to try new recipes!

    • Thank you for your kind words, Judy! We’re so happy you enjoy the Asian Noodle Slaw, and we hope you enjoy this salad as well! :)

  2. caesar salad will forever remind me off my grandpa who loved to make his own dressing, thankfully no anchovies but it definitely wasn’t light ha ha

    • Homemade Caesar dressing is the best! :) We hope you enjoy this one, Kelli!

  3. So creative, I love it!! I’ll definitely have to try the lime juice spin on Caesar dressing (I make it with Greek yogurt, too!) Thanks for the recipe! ?

    -MAK

  4. All of my favorite things in salad form. That dressing is killer!!

  5. This recipe combines one of my favorite cuisines with one of my favorite salads. Yet I have mixed feelings about it. I’m married to a Caesar salad purist, who doesn’t care much for avocados, and I’ve sort of become of the same mind about Caesar Salads (I do like the avocados). I’m going to save the recipe and perhaps try it out on my husband. He needs to be shook up every now and then… ?

  6. This was a great weeknight dinner. I added some grilled chicken with Mexican spices to it and it turned out perfectly. The salad dressing was so incredibly easy to make. I will never buy Caesar dressing again!
    thank you!

  7. Oh hey, just me fawning over another one of your salads. Kinda sorta obsessed with this one. Always looking for a lighter side for taco night, and this would be PERFECT!

    • Thank you, Karly, we’re so glad you like the recipe — we hope you can give it a try sometime soon! :)

  8. Delicious and we call it Salazar Salad (after Emiliano Zapata Salazar) to make it more Mexican. :)
    Love your recipes, this one is a big hit with my family!






  9. They make a salad like this at a restaurant El Torito and I love it! Can’t wait to try to make it!

  10. This Mexican salad has an amazing flavor! I put it in my favorite cookbook.

  11. Not really into vegetables and salads, but this one definitely goes to my recipe book… just made it and totally liked the taste profile… on a side note, do you know that Caesar’s Salad is actually mexican? It was born in Tijuana by an italian inmigrant…

    • Thank you, Jorge — we’re so glad to hear you enjoy it! Yes, a common misconception!

  12. Another winning recipe!






  13. Brought to my house for a pot luck and was so glad to discover this wonderful recipe! I tried it with the dressing recipe. Light and refreshing. Definitely a keeper!






  14. I seriously did not expect this salad to be as delicious as it was. Im not huge on kale, but this was SO TASTY. Every single recipe I have ever made from your blog has been the best version of whatever that food is. If I am looking for a recipe and I find it on your blog that is the recipe I am making because I know it will be amazing. Your food is next level.






  15. This was fantastic! I loved the Greek yogurt Caesar dressing with lime too!

  16. Caesar salad originated in Tijuana, Mexico, so I think you should find another name for this version.

  17. This was absolutely delicious! My husband said it was the best salad he had ever had. I made mine with vegan dressing and served as a side with tacos.






  18. So you know a Caesar salad was invented by a Mexican named Caesar true story

  19. Delicious! Topped with your baked chicken recipe and put the lime in the dressing as recommended :)






  20. This is such a great recipe. I make so many Mexican dishes and often want a good side for them…this is perfect. My family LOVES it and it is a good way for them to get some greens!!

  21. The Crew is making tamal this week for the holidays. (Think big batch)
    Thanks for the salad idea. Love it.
    AMM