Manly Salads: Carne Asada Salad

Pink, flowers, frills, salad. Which one of these doesn't belong?

For some reason we always attribute salad as a feminine dish. It shouldn't be. Granted, you don't want to go on your first date with a guy and have him order just a salad. That would be weird, unless it's a "man salad" like this carne asada salad made with steak. You see, a "man's salad" must have at least one muscular protein such as bacon or steak; seafood is allowed only if it's blackened or grilled; sorry, no exceptions. It must have lots of manly, that is, tasty, hi-cal toppings, such as cheese, avocado, tortilla chips, and diced ham. Dressings must be full-fat and creamy like ranch or blue cheese; if it's a vinaigrette, make sure it's spicy and has some heat. Hey, I don't make the rules, I just report them.

How about you? Got any manly salads that your guy likes and isn't embarrassed to eat?

Carne Asada Salad
Makes 4 servings
Printable recipe.

Don't worry. The ingredient list is long, but this Mexican salad is easy to make. For a speedier version, buy marinated carne asada which is available at Mexican speciality markets and most major supermarkets. You can also use bottled salsa in place of the homemade pico de gallo.

Steak and Marinade:
1 1/2 pounds flank steak
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
Several shakes of salt
The juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup olive oil

Pico de Gallo:
4 plum or 2 medium regular tomatoes, diced
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1 small jalapeno, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
The juice of 1/2 lime
Several shakes of salt

Vinaigrette:
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

The juice of 1 lime

1/2 teaspoon cumin

Several shakes of salt

Salad:
1 large head Romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup chopped jicama

Serve with any of the following:
Sliced red onions, sliced ripe avocado sprinkled with lime, roasted pepita or sunflower seeds, toasted tortilla strips, shredded Cheddar cheese, crumbled Mexican cotija cheese, sour cream

1. In a small bowl, combine marinade ingredients. Place steak in a Ziploc bag or tightly covered dish and cover with marinade, turning until coated. Marinate in refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour or up to 4 hours.

2. For the pico de gallo, combine all ingredients in a small bowl; toss well and set aside. The earlier you make this, the more flavorful it will be.

3. For the vinaigrette, whisk all ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. For the salad, combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

4. Before cooking the steak, let it rest on the counter for 10 minutes. Preheat grill to medium-high. If you don't have a grill, then use a grill pan on the stovetop or other large, heavy bottomed pan over high heat. Grill the steak for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until charred on the outside yet still pink and tender on the inside. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing against the grain.

5. To assemble: Pour vinaigrette over salad and toss well. Divide evenly among four plates. Top each with 1/4 of the steak and 1/4 of the pico de gallo and any other toppings of your choice. Serve immediately.

You might also enjoy these manly salad recipes: 
Grilled Shrimp and Avocado Salad recipe from Food Blogga
Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad recipe from Mommy, I'm Hungry!
Honey Mustard Pork Salad recipe from Black Girl Chef's Whites
Chipotle Barbecue Bean and Corn Salad recipe from Food Blogga
Maple Glazed Steak Salad with Blue Cheese recipe from Food For My Family

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