MEATLESS TACO SALAD

Meatless Taco Salad image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Time 1h15m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 33

3/4 cup Chermoula Sauce, recipe follows
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable juice or tomato sauce
2 poblano chiles
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
12 ounces button mushrooms, quartered
2 cups corn kernels (about 4 ears corn)
3 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 red onion, chopped
1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
1 tablespoon chili powder, such as Gebhardt's
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup beer
One 15-ounce can diced tomatoes or tomatoes with green chiles
2 romaine hearts or 1 head of iceberg lettuce, chopped
Tortilla Strips, recipe follows
Crumbled queso fresco or shredded sharp white Cheddar
Pickled jalapeno pepper rings or banana pepper rings
Scallions
1/2 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1/4 cup fresh mint
About 1/2 cup EVOO
2 to 3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 to 2 cloves garlic, grated or chopped
1 shallot, coarsely chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Place the basil, cilantro, mint, EVOO, jalapenos, garlic, shallots, lime juice and some salt and pepper in the food processor and pulse to finely chop, about the same as a loose pesto.
8 corn tortillas
Natural nonstick cooking spray
Ground coriander
Ground cumin

Steps:

For the dressing: Whisk up the Chermoula Sauce with the vinegar and vegetable juice. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
For the taco topping: Char the poblanos over a flame on a gas burners or char under the broiler until the skins are blackened all over. Place the peppers in a bowl. Cover and cool the peppers slightly. Then peel and seed the peppers, and chop. Reserve for later use.
Heat the oil over medium-high to high heat, add the mushrooms and brown a few minutes then add the corn and cook until it starts to brown as well, 5 to 7 minutes more. Add the garlic, onions, oregano, chili powder and some salt and pepper. Cook until the onions are tender crisp, couple of minutes, then deglaze pan with the beer. Add the tomatoes and poblanos, and cook to just heat through. Turn off the heat and cool. Store in the refrigerator for a make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium-high heat until just hot through.
To serve, line a serving platter, bowl or individual shallow bowls with the lettuce and fill with the warmed salad. Top with Tortilla Strips, cheese, peppers and scallions. Pour the dressing evenly over top and serve.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the tortillas in half and then into thin strips, 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick. Spray lightly with the nonstick cooking spray, then season with salt, and sprinkle with some coriander and cumin. Arrange on baking sheets in a single layer and bake until crisp.