Best Copycat El Toritos Mexican Caesar Salad Recipe Cdkitchencom Recipes

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EL TORITO SOUTHWESTERN CAESAR SALAD



El Torito Southwestern Caesar Salad image

El Torito Restaurant's Caesar salad has been a popular favorite for decades; I obtained the recipe in 1994 when it was published in the Los Angeles Times and have made it many times since. The recipe contains some Mexican ingredients such as pepitas, which are roasted pumpkin seeds, avilable at Trader Joes, as well as at Mexican markets. The cotija cheese ia a Mexican grating cheese. If not available use any hard grating cheese such as Parmesan.

Provided by lynnski LA

Categories     Salad Dressings

Time 43m

Yield 6 salads, 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 17

2 corn tortillas
oil, for frying
1 head romaine lettuce, a large head, rinsed and spun dry
1/2 cup Cotija cheese, grated
1 red bell pepper, roasted, peeled and cut into julienne strips
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds, roasted (pepitas)
1 medium anaheim chili, roasted, peeled and seeded
3 tablespoons roasted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1 garlic clove, large
1/8 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup oil
2 tablespoons vinegar, red wine
3 tablespoons Cotija cheese, grated
1 bunch cilantro, stemmed
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons water

Steps:

  • Cut tortillas into matchstick-size strips; then heat oil for deep-frying . Add tortilla strips and cook for a few seconds until crisp; remove with a slotted spoon, drain and set aside.
  • Tear romaine lettuce into bite size pieces and place greens on six salad plates.
  • Ladle Cilantro-Pesto dressing on each salad and sprinkle each dish with cotija cheese and tortilla strips.
  • Arrange four red pepper strips like spokes on top of each salad and garnish with pepitas.
  • For the Dressing.
  • Place chile, pepitas, garlic, pepper, salt, oil, vinegar and cotija cheese in a blender or food processor; and blend for about 10 seconds, then add cilantro, bit by bit, until smoothly blended.
  • Place mayonnaise and water in large stainless-steel bowl and whisk until smooth.
  • Add blended chile mixture and mix thoroughly.
  • If the dressing is made ahead, place in an airtight container and refrigerate. May be stored up to three days.

EL TORITO’S MEXICAN CAESAR SALAD



EL TORITO’S MEXICAN CAESAR SALAD image

Categories     Condiment/Spread

Number Of Ingredients 19

Cilantro Pepita Dressing:
2 medium Anaheim chiles, roasted, peeled and seeded
1/3 c roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
2 large garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. salt
12 oz. salad oil
1/4 c red wine vinegar
5 Tbs. grated Cotija cheese (see note)
2 small bunches cilantro, stemmed
1 1/2 c mayonnaise
1/4 c water
Salad:
2 corn tortillas
Vegetable oil
1 large (or two small) heads romaine lettuce, rinsed and spun dry
1/3 c finely grated Cotija cheese
Roasted red bell pepper, peeled and cut into julienne strips
1/2 c pepitas (roasted pumpkin seeds)

Steps:

  • 1. Place all dressing ingredients except cilantro, mayonnaise and water in a a blender of food processor. Blend approximately 10 seconds, then add cilantro little by little until blended smooth. Depending on size of blender, it may be necessary to do in batches. Place mayonnaise and water in a large stainless steel bowl, and mix with a wire whip until smooth. Add the blended ingredients to the mayonnaise mixture, and mix thoroughly. Place in an air-tight container and refrigerate. Will keep for three days. Yields 1 quart. 2.To assemble salad: Cut corn tortillas into matchstick-size strips. Heat oil in sauté pan; fry tortilla strips until crisp. Remove with slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels. Set aside. Tear romaine into bite-size pieces. Place greens on salad plates and ladle approximately 2 ounces of cilantro pepita dressing on each salad. Sprinkle each dish with Cotija cheese and tortilla strips. Arrange four red pepper strips like spokes on the top of each salad, and garnish with whole pepitas. Note: Cotija cheese is a hard cheese, similar to Parmesan. It is available at some grocery stores and most Mexican markets.

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