Steak, Avocado, & Bean Salad

ciao's Note:

This salad is delicious, and so easy! Tender strips of lime-garlic marinated steak, pinto or black beans, avocado, tomatoes, crushed tortilla chips, and more served on a bed of fresh greens with a wonderful tangy dressing. From a wonderful little book picked up in the bargain section at the book store--simply titled Easy Meals-Mexican. Very easy and fast to put together...don't let the ingredient list throw you.

• Total Time: 20 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 3

• 12 ounces tender steak , like sirloin
• 4 cloves garlic , chopped
• 2 limes
• 6 tablespoons olive oil , divided
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar or 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 pinch sugar
• 5 green onions , thinly sliced
• 7 -10 ounces prepared salad greens
• 1 (14 ounce) can pinto beans or 1 (14 ounce) can black beans or 1 (14 ounce) can kidney beans , rinsed and drained
• 1 avocado , pitted,sliced,and tossed with a bit of the juice from one of the limes
• 2 ripe tomatoes , diced
• 1 green chili peppers or 1 red chili pepper , chopped
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 (8 ounce) can corn , drained
• generous handful tortilla chips , broken into pieces

Directions:

1. Place the steak in a large zip top bag, or nonmetal dish with the garlic, juice from 1/2 of one of the limes, and 3 tbsp olive oil, set aside to marinate while you make the dressing and prepare the salad.
2. For the dressing: Combine the juice from 1 whole lime, the remaining 3 tbsp olive oil, vinegar, chili powder, cumin, paprika, and the pinch of sugar.
3. Set aside.
4. Pan fry the steak, or broil, until browned on the outside and cooked to your liking on the inside.
5. Remove from the pan, let it sit for a few minutes, then slice into thin strips.
6. Toss the green onions with the salad greens and arrange on seving plates.
7. Pour some dressing over the greens, reserving some for topping the salad later.
8. Put some beans, avocado, and tomatoes over the greens next, topping with the chile, cilantro and corn.
9. Arrange the steak over the greens, then add some crushed chips over that.
10. Divide the rest of the dressing over the salads, serve immediately.

Reviews

[kosherkitchen]

This salad has become a staple summer salad in our home. It tastes amazing and looks gorgeous on a plate. A hit with guests and even my 4 yr old and 18 month old will eat it! Only change is that I sometime omit the chili pepper because then it's too spicy for some.

[Kellie in SLO]

This was so very easy to make and so incredibly good. I grilled my steak, and I think next time I will plan ahead and let it marinate for a couple of hours so the meat can absorb more of the garlic and lime flavor. The only thing I didn't add was the tortilla chips as I didn't have any on hand.