Thread: Houston's Salad

Does anyone have any ideal what makes Houston's salads sooo good? Are they doing something special to the lettuce? Someone said they rinse the lettuce in something.? Of course their salad dressings are the best, but no restuarant comes close to the taste of their salads. Rafferty's is the only one that comes close.
Joyce McNair

Houston's Grilled Chicken Salad

Lime Dressing:
1/2 cup lime juice
4 teaspoons honey mustard
7 1/2 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons oil
2 cloves minced garlic
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Sauce:
4 tablespoons peanut butter
4 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons hot water
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon ground ginger

Salad:
mixed greens
carrots
tortilla strips
sliced grilled chicken breast

Mix ingredients for lime dressing, then mix ingredients for peanut sauce. Mix the salad ingredients with the lime dressing. Drizzle peanut sauce on top.



Houston's Southwest Caesar Salad
Created by admin, September 13, 1999
Description If concerned about using raw egg yolk in the dressing because the risk of salmonella poisoning, use egg substitute, or omit egg from recipe.


Ingredients
At a glance
Course
Appetizers
Source
Copykat Recipe2 Heads romaine lettuce, washed & torn into 1 1/2 x 1 inch pieces
1 1/2 C. Spicy Caesar Dressing (recipe follows)
3/4 C. each: cooked black beans & roasted corn kernels
1/2 C. each: pumpkin seeds from a Mexican squash cotija cheese (Mexican white cheese) or other Queso fresco
Julienne multicolored tortilla chips, baked or fried (for garnish)
Methods/steps
Spin or pat dry & place in large salad bowl. Add dressing & toss lightly. Add beans & corn; toss again. Divide mixture among 4 chilled plates. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds & cheese. Garnish with tortilla chips.

Spicy Caesar Dressing

1 Egg Yolk
1 Tbsp. Minced Garlic
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 Anchovy fillets, minced
1 1/2 tsp. Coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. each: ground coriander & cumin
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. Cold water
1/2 C. each: extra-virgin olive oil & canola oil
1 1/2 Tbsp. Sambal chili paste (Thai Chili Paste)
Juice of 1/2 each: lemon & lime
3 Tbsp. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Combine yolk, garlic, mustard, anchovies, pepper, salt, coriander, cumin, Worcestershire & water in food processor; process until smooth. With motor running, pour oils in a slow, steady stream into egg mixture. When all oil has been incorporated, add chili paste, lemon & limejuices, and Parmesan; process until smooth.

I don't see anything special that they do with the salad greens, however greens taste good with any delicious salad dressing.

Here is their Buttermilk/Garlic dressing. We also use it as a dip for veggies. Delicious!

1/2 c. buttermilk
1 c. mayo
2/3 c. sour cream (I use reduced fat)
1/4 t. t. garlic, minced (I use 1/2 t.)
1/2 t. salt
1 t. paprika
1/2 t. ground black pepper (i use 1 t.)
2 T. sugar
1 t. dry mustard

Mix all the ingredients in blender or whisk in a bowl
Chill well before serving. Longer it sits the better it is.