Wonderful Tex-Mex salad is filled with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, black and kidney beans, corn, avocados, cilantro, seasoned ground beef and tortilla chips. Serve with French or Catalina dressing. This salad is gluten free.
8oz. pkg.Habanero Jack Cheddar cheeseshredded, or Chipotle flavored cheese
2lbs.93% to 96% lean ground beefcooked and drained
1packettaco seasoningor Homemade Taco Seasoning
1/215-oz. canblack beansrinsed
1/215-oz. candark red kidney beansrinsed
1/215-oz. canwhole kernel cornrinsed
2pintsgrape tomatoesI used one container Champagne orange cherry tomatoes
1/2largered bell pepperdiced
1/2largegreen bell pepperdiced
1slicered oniondiced fine, or about 1/3 cup
1/4 to 1/3cupfresh cilantrochopped
1avocadopeeled, diced and dipped in lemon juice to preserve color (if not ripe, microwave a few minutes at 50% power until softened)
tortilla chipsor strips, for garnish
Instructions
Brown beef and onion in skillet and drain.
Stir in taco seasoning. Set aside.
Layer lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, black beans, kidney beans, corn, beef mixture and then cheese in very large salad bowl.
Refrigerate.
Add avocado, cilantro and tortilla chips before serving.
If desired, toss before serving with dressing and tortilla chips.
Notes
NOTE: This recipe makes enough for 12 large servings. Cut in half if you can't eat this all up in a day or so. NOTE: To preserve salad, leave the meat mixture and salad dressing off and serve it on the side with avocados, tortilla chips and cilantro. Then add these ingredients right before serving. The salad will last a few days that way. NOTE: This salad is excellent with a Catalina or French Dressing. NOTE: I used a Homemade Taco Seasoning.