Recipe: California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad with Garden Herb Ranch Dressing

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN BBQ CHICKEN CHOPPED SALAD

"This salad rated overwhelmingly number one among our employees' personal favorites. We love it, too, for so many reasons: the crunch of the jicama, corn chips, and lettuces; the explosions of different flavors with every bite; and the contrast of the sweet-and-spicy barbecue sauce with the cool ranch dressing. You can find jicama, a big knobby-looking Mexican tuber with crisp, sweet flesh, in well-stocked markets; peel it thickly before cutting into strips."

FOR THE FRIED TORTILLA STRIPS:
Vegetable oil for deep-frying
12 corn tortillas, cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips (about 6 cups)

FOR THE GARDEN HERB RANCH DRESSING:
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon cold water
2 3/4 cups mayonnaise
1 cup buttermilk
7 tablespoons sour cream
2 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons thinly sliced scallions (greens and whites)
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons minced fresh Italian parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoons minced fresh dill
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh oregano (or 1/4 teaspoon dried)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon minced fresh basil

FOR THE GRILLED GARLIC BBQ CHICKEN:
1 1/3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons salt
4 (5 ounces each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup good quality bottled sweet-and-spicy barbecue sauce

FOR THE SALAD:
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, cored, rinsed, dried, and cut into 1/8-inch-wide strips
1/2 head romaine lettuce leaves, separated and trimmed, rinsed, dried, and cut into 1/8-inch-wide strips
12 large fresh basil leaves cut into 1/8-inch-wide strips
1 pound jicama, cut into 1/4x1/4x3/4-inch strips
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup canned sweet white corn kernels, drained
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 pounds ripe fresh tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup good quality bottled sweet-and-spicy barbecue sauce
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallion greens (for garnish)

TO MAKE THE FRIED TORTILLA STRIPS:
In a deep, heavy frying pan, heat several inches of vegetable oil to a temperature of 375 degrees F. Working in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding, carefully add the tortilla strips to the hot oil, submerging them with a metal skimmer or slotted spoon. Fry the tortilla strips until evenly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Carefully lift them out with the skimmer or slotted spoon and transfer them to paper towels to drain and cool. Set aside, uncovered.

TO MAKE THE GARDEN HERB RANCH DRESSING:
In a mixing bowl, use a fork to stir together the mustard and cold water, forming a paste. Set aside for 10 minutes.

Add the remaining dressing ingredients to the bowl and, using a handheld electric mixer at low speed or a whisk, blend together just until smooth, taking care not to incorporate too much air into the dressing. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

TO MAKE THE GRILLED GARLIC AND BBQ CHICKEN:
Preheat a stovetop grill or the broiler.

In a mixing bowl, stir together the olive oil, garlic, soy sauce, and salt. Turn the chicken breasts in this marinade and leave to marinate at room temperature for about 15 minutes.

Grill or broil the chicken breasts until cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Chill thoroughly in the refrigerator.

Cut the chicken breasts into 3/4-inch cubes and, in a bowl, toss with the barbecue sauce to coat well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

TO MAKE THE SALADS:
In a large mixing bowl, toss together the lettuces, basil, jicama, Monterey Jack cheese, beans, corn, cilantro, dressing, and half of the Fried Tortilla Strips. Transfer the salads to chilled serving plates. Surround each salad with diced tomatoes and the remaining Fried Tortilla Strips. Top each salad with chunks of Grilled Garlic BBQ Chicken and drizzle the chicken with the barbecue sauce. Garnish with the scallion.

Makes 4 main-course or 8 appetizer servings
From: Cookbook Heaven at Recipelink.com
Source: California Pizza Kitchen Pasta, Salads, Soups, and Sides by Larry Flax,Rick Rosenfield