Mexican Salad

Here is a recipe for a Mexican-style salad with an Italian twist:

Ingredients

• 150 g of romaine lettuce
• 150 g of canned red beans, already cooked
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 small red onion
• 2 ripe tomatoes
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 or 2 ripe avocados
• 100 g of sweet corn from a can
• 100 g of cheddar cheese (or an Italian cheese like smoked scamorza)
• Juice of 1 lime
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh cilantro (optional, can be replaced with parsley if preferred)
• Tortilla chips to accompany (this is also optional)

For the dressing:

• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika
• A pinch of chili powder (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Start by draining and rinsing the red beans and corn; set them aside.
2. Wash the lettuce and tear it into rough pieces by hand; place it on a serving dish as the base of the salad.
3. Cut the red bell pepper into thin strips, the red onion into thin slices, the tomatoes into cubes, and slice the garlic finely.
4. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit, and slice or cube it.
5. In a large bowl, mix the lettuce with the red beans, corn, red bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, garlic, and avocado.
6. Grate the cheese and sprinkle it over the salad.
7. For the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a jar and shake until the honey has dissolved and all the ingredients are well blended. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix well.
8. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves or parsley, according to your taste.
9. Serve with a squeeze of lime juice and, if you want a crunchy touch, add some crushed tortilla chips.

Trivia

The Mexican-style salad is a fresh and colorful mix of flavours typical of Mexican cuisine, like beans, avocado, and cilantro, perfectly blended with the lightness of an Italian salad. Make sure to use fresh and seasonal ingredients to enhance the flavors of this dish to the fullest!