And since I love fries in a salad, this crispy tater Caesar salad is for you. In this meal in a bowl, Romaine lettuce and Parmesan are joined by crispy smashed tater tot croutons, a doctored up bottled Caesar dressing, and crispy chicken cutlets.
Ingredients
- Frozen crispy chicken cutlets, 8 ounces.
- Cooking spray
- Cut (or use) 2 1/2 cups frozen bite sized potato nuggets (Tater Tots®)
- 1 (8 ounce) package of fresh baby spinach (thawed if frozen)
- Microplane grated 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, divided, and more to garnish (about 1 cup).
- 1 cup Caesar dressing
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh garlic
- Divided. 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Finely chopped Romaine lettuce, 4 cups.
- White balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon
Directions
STEP 1
For example, preheat the oven to 425 (220) F. Place 2 shelves close to the oven center. Cooking spray a baking pan, and place the frozen chicken filets on the pan.
STEP 2
Place filets in the preheated oven on the lower-center shelf and bake until hot and crisp, about 20 minutes, turning filets over halfway through heating time. When cool enough to handle, cut off filets and cut into bite sized pieces.
STEP 3
I meanwhile line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and add the tater tots in an even layer.
STEP 4
Place tots on an upper-center shelf in the preheated oven and bake until tots are soft and a little baked, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Spray some cooking spray on the bottom of a cup. Cup and smash each tater tot to a flat disk.
STEP 5
Bake until golden brown and crispy, 15 to 20 minutes, return to the oven. Take from oven, and sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
STEP 6
Coat well with cheese and then bake again until it's melted, about 1 minute. Cool about 5 minutes.
STEP 7
Whisk Caesar dressing, lemon juice, anchovy paste, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and salt in a bowl to make Caesar dressing, then whisk until smooth.
STEP 8
Combine remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, remaining 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and chicken and lettuce until well mixed. Add half of the dressing to salad mix and toss until salad mix is evenly coated. Toss cooled tater tots, then add until well combined.
STEP 9
Transfer to a server platter and drizzle with white balsamic vinegar garnish with more Parmesan cheese before transferring to serving platter. Serve immediately.
