Title

Cajun Style Caesar Salad

 Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Ready in: 35

Joe Shannon whips up a Caesar Salad with a twist. 

Ingredients

  • 1 medium French stick loaf sliced

  • 3 tbsp. olive oil

  • 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast

  • 2 heads of baby gem lettuce, leaves separated

  • 2tbs of Cajun spice

  • 2 cloves of garlic pureed

  • 2 Rashers of smoked back bacon (plain is fine as well) cooked until crispy and cooled, chopped into a fine dice

  • 100g each of red and green pepper, chopped into a fine dice

  • 1 tomato, seeds removed and chopped into a fine dice

  • ½ a red onion, peeled and chopped into a fine dice

  • For the dressing:

  • 1 garlic clove

  • 2 anchovy

  • Medium block Parmesan

  • 5 tbsp. mayonnaise

  • 1 tbsp. white wine vinegar

Method

  1. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Mix 2tbls of oil with chopped fresh herbs and garlic paste.

  2. Spread bread over a large baking sheet (nonstick or line with parchment paper) and sprinkle over 2 tbsp. rapeseed oil.

  3. Rub the oil into the bread and season with a little salt if you like (sea salt crystals are best for this).

  4. Bake for 8-10 mins, turning the croutons a few times during cooking so they brown evenly.

  5. Mix remaining oil with Cajun spice and rub over the chicken breasts, season.

  6. Place pan over a medium heat for 1 min, until hot, but not smoking. Lay the chicken on the pan (it will sizzle if it\'s hot enough) and leave for 4 mins.

  7. Turn the chicken, then cook for 4 mins more. Check if it\'s cooked by poking the tip of a sharp knife into the thickest part; there should be no sign of pink and juices will run clear.

  8. Bash the garlic with the flat of a knife and peel off the skin. Crush with a garlic crusher.

  9. Mash the anchovies with a fork against the side of a small bowl.

  10. Grate a handful of cheese and mix with the rest of the dressing ingredients.

  11. Season to taste. It should be the consistency of yogurt – if yours is thicker, stir in a few tsps. water to thin it.

  12. Mix together the chopped bacon and mixed peppers, onion and tomatoes

  13. Shave the cheese with a peeler. Separate and wash lettuce leaves and arrange decoratively in a large bowl, add the bacon and pepper mix, place croutons around the salad.

  14. Slice chicken into bite-size strips and place onto the salad. Drizzle sauce over the salad. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top and serve straight away.

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