Bandera Macho Chicken Salad with Dried Corn

Posted on September 11, 2020

WARNING: This Bandera Macho Chicken Salad with Dried Corn is NOT a side Salad, it is macho. literally. it is sure to satiate you and your protein, food loving guests.

When we moved from Southern california, one of the biggest downers was we had to leave many of our favorite food places behind. Brady likes to say that ‘eating’ is one of our couple strengths. ha! Ya take it where ya got it.

True. We find joy in feeding our faces! Together! Lemonade in Fashion Island, to spending the last 4 anniversaries at Anaheims finest Indian, Tandoori Garden, then to spending $20 on gosh darn good sweet potato fries and pretzel buns at Greenleaf and then to the $$$ (3 money signer) Bandera…a place that we went for all special special occasions-like the due date of jude when he didn’t come or when parents come and want to take you out. (wink). You know, things like that.

Oh Corona Del Mar. Take me back.

Bandera Bests

Of the many times we went, we only ordered three things. They were tried and true and we just couldn’t waver.

Smoked Salmon appetizer
MACHO SALAD with dressing on the side
Corn bread as a side. (magical)

We, the Cliffords are big eaters and we always love leftovers! awesome. And OOOHHHH man, we crave that MACHO salad!

Bandera Macho salad ORIGINALS…

corn

avocado

dates

goat cheese

slivered almonds

rotisserie chicken (fresh)

cornbread croutons (delectable)

Changes to make the NEW YORK BANDERA MACHO CHICKEN SALAD with Dried Corn

CORNBREAD:

So i kinda have my own take on it. Unfortunately, I had to nix the unbelievable cornbread croutons. I just have a feeling that my health can not afford to eat that as much as I would like. Its like a dessert. Also, I don’t really have time to make that every time we want the salad.

CORN:

Ok so thats the first thing that differs from the Clifford Macho salad. The second thing is I use dried corn instead of regular corn. Its supppperrrr easy and adds a nice crunch. Here’s how you do it: Place corn on cookie sheet and place corn in 250 degree oven until the corn is dry. Done. Then store in an air tight container and sprinkle on anything! And really, when i have it, we do sprinkle it on everything. Try it and you will too. A fun little addition.

DRESSING:

I also nixed the dressing. I don’t love greasy dressing and I also never make it or have any on hand! We feel most salads taste better without. You can taste all the individual ingredients if you nix the dressing.

CHICKEN:

The one thing that I can’t reproduce however is the rotisserie chicken. One just can’t recreate a juicy rotisserie chicken without having a juicy rotisserie maker. Sooooo, in its place, I make an almond coated chicken.

I throw the raw chicken in the sauté pan with about 1 tsp of Olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and garlic pepper, and then generously dump almond meal over the top. Easy peasy. And flip… being sure to coat all chicken pieces with almond meal.

I feel like the chicken stays pretty juicy when cooked this way. And its a little different flavor than just the regular old chicken.

AVOCADO: ADD ITTTTTT!!!!

GOAT CHEESE: yes and lots of it

DATES: pitted and chopped

TOMATOES: sliced cherry tomatoes

LEMON/LIME: squeeze as you pleeze

oh you’ll love.

Therefore, considering all of my alterations maybe this isn’t exactly like Bandera Macho Chicken salad after all….oops! Still, we call it the bandera salad.

PS. I used kale. Of course, any green can be used.