LETTUCE CELEBRATE!!!

Caesar Salad.

Crisp greens topped with bread croutons, cheese shavings and shredded boiled chicken in a creamy dressing. For a vegetarian counterpart, omit the chicken and add some cucumber slices and tomato wedges.

Serves 3-4

TIME Preparation takes 35-40 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 1 large chicken breast (boneless) - boiled and cut into strips (1 cup)

• 1 head lettuce, preferably iceberg variety

• 3 slices of white bread - cut into tiny cubes and fried to make croutons

• 1 cup parmesan or cheddar cheese, cubes or shredded

• 1½ tbsp pumpkin seeds (magaz), optional cooking oil to fry the croutons

The Creamy French Dressing:

• 1 tsp mustard paste

• ¼ cup olive oil

• 1½ tbsp lemon juice

• 2 flakes garlic - finely chopped

• ¼ cup cream

• 1 tsp dried parsley or oregano

• ¼ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper

Garnishing:

• 4-5 round slices of cucumber, 1 tomato-cut into 4 pieces lengthwise (wedges)

Method / Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breast in a pressure cooker with ½ cup water and 4 tsp salt. Pressure cook to give 1-2 whistles and remove from heat. Cool. Cut the breast into thin strips, about 1" long.
   

2. Wash the lettuce leaves, in plenty of water to remove grit. Keep in ice cold water in a bowl in the fridge till serving time.
   

3. For bread croutons, remove the crusts of bread slices and cut bread into small squares. Heat oil in a frying pan and deep fry over medium heat until they just turn golden. Remove to a paper napkin to absorb excess oil.
   

4. Shred cheese into very thin long slices with a potato peeler.
   

5. To prepare the dressing, combine all the ingredients of the dressing and blend or whisk together with an egg beater. Keep in the fridge till serving time. If it turns too thick, add 2 tbsp water to make it slightly thinner at serving time.
   

6. At the time of serving the salad, remove lettuce from water and tear into bite sizes pieces with your hands and put on a kitchen towel to absorb any water.
   

7. Put the leaves in a bowl, to fill till half the height. Sprinkle some dressing.
   

8. Arrange a cucumber and a tomato piece, alternately, on the sides of the bowl.
   

9. Top salad leaves with chicken, bread croutons & cheese shavings. Toss in the pumpkin seeds and pour the prepared creamy French dressing over the salad and also on the cucumber and tomato placed on the sides.

10. Serve immediately.

Best Wishes.