Mexican Panzanella Salad (Cornbread Salad)

This beautiful layered salad is the perfect dish to take to the park for a picnic; the taste improves when made in advance. Cooking time includes chill time for salad.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 6 -7  cups  cornbread, torn into small pieces (day old works best)
• 10  slices bacon, crispy and crumbled
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2  cups  fresh  sweet corn (cooked) or 2 (11 ounce) cans whole kernel corn, drained
• 1  head  romane lettuce, shredded
• 3  large  slicing tomatoes, chopped
• 1  green bell pepper, seeded and chopped (or poblano)
• 1  red pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1  cup green onion, chopped
• 6  tablespoons cilantro, chopped (adjust to taste)
• 2  cups  shredded cheddar cheese
• 2  avocados, chopped
• 1  lime, juice of

• Dressing

• 1  cup milk
• 1  tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1  cup mayonnaise
• 1  cup sour cream
• 2  tablespoons chipotle chiles in adobo, seeded and diced (adjust to taste)
• 1  tablespoon adobo sauce (adjust to taste)
• 1  jalapeno, minced (optional)
• 1  tablespoon  minced red onion
• 2  tablespoons cilantro, minced
• 1  garlic clove, minced
• 1  teaspoon lemon juice
• 1⁄2 teaspoon sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Dressing:
2. Add one tablespoon vinegar to milk and allow to set for 5 minutes.
3. Whisk together all the dressing ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
4. Note: Dressing can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored, covered in the refrigerator.
5. Assemble Salad:
6. In small bowl mix chopped avocados and lime juice; set aside.
7. In a small bowl, combine the tomatoes, onions, peppers, and 2 tablespoons cilantro; set aside.
8. In large serving bowl spread 1/2 of corn bread over the bottom.
9. Top cornbread with lettuce, then 1/2 of black beans.
10. Spread 1/2 of tomato mixture over beans.
11. Top with 1/2 of corn, 1/2 of cheese and 1/2 of avocado/lime mixture.
12. Spoon 1/2 of dressing on top.
13. Sprinkle 1/2 of bacon crumbles and 2 tablespoons cilantro on top.
14. Repeat layer process, topping with bacon and cilantro.
15. Cover and chill for several hours before serving.