Hot Mexican spices make this one-dish salad a great summer meal. Crisp tortilla chips, which you can make in a few minutes in the toaster oven, add a spicy crunch. If you're pressed for time, buy baked _ not fried _ tortilla chips instead.
You can use any quick-cooking beef, chicken or tuna for this recipe. For a really quick meal, use any leftover meat you have on hand or buy roast beef or cooked chicken at the deli counter. Toss it in some cumin before adding to the salad.
Helpful Hints:
_ Any type of washed, ready-to-eat lettuce can be used.
_ Tortilla chips take 5 minutes to bake in a toaster oven. If you don't have one, bake them in a 400-degree oven for 15 minutes.
_ A quick way to chop cilantro is to snip the leaves with a scissors.
To defrost corn, place in a microwave oven for 1 minute or place the corn in a colander and run under warm water.
Countdown:
_ Make tortilla chips.
_ Prepare lettuce, tomatoes and corn.
_ Saute meat.
_ Make dressing and toss salad.
Shopping List:
Here are the ingredients you'll need for tonight's Dinner in Minutes.
To buy: 1 small package 6-inch corn tortillas, 1 bag washed, ready-to-eat Romaine lettuce, 1 tomato, 1 small bunch fresh cilantro, 1 package frozen corn, { pound steak (skirt, flank, sirloin, strip, fillet), 2 medium jalapeno peppers and 1 small sourdough bread or French baguette.
Staples: vegetable oil spray, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, canola oil, reduced-sodium oil and vinegar dressing, salt and black peppercorns.
