Description
Culinary magic happens when classic chicken caesar salad meets Mexican street food in these chicken caesar smash tacos. Crispy tortillas packed with zesty caesar-seasoned chicken create an irresistible fusion that promises to elevate casual dining for you.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound/500g ground chicken
- 4 slices streaky bacon
Dairy and Cheese:
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup aioli or mayonnaise
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon white miso paste
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 3 scallions (spring onions), finely sliced
- 1 Romaine lettuce, shredded
- 14 ounces/400g can of chickpeas, drained
Garnish and Base:
- Handful of chives, finely chopped
- 12 mini tortillas
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Black pepper
- Extra Parmesan cheese (for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 430°F/220°C for crispy chickpeas. Toss chickpeas with olive oil, smoked paprika, and salt on parchment-lined baking tray. Roast for 15 minutes until golden and crunchy.
- Sizzle bacon in hot skillet until crisp and brown, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towel to drain excess fat.
- Whisk Caesar sauce ingredients – aioli, Parmesan, fish sauce, Dijon mustard, white miso, and black pepper – until smooth and creamy.
- Combine shredded Romaine, roasted chickpeas, crumbled bacon, sliced scallions, and half the Caesar sauce. Gently toss salad mixture.
- Create chicken topping by mixing ground chicken with lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, thyme, chives, and black pepper until thoroughly incorporated.
- Spread uniform layer of seasoned chicken mixture across each tortilla, ensuring even coverage.
- Heat oil in skillet over high temperature. Place tortillas chicken-side down, pressing firmly with spatula. Sear for 4 minutes, then flip and cook additional minute until crisp.
- Garnish tacos with prepared Caesar salad, sprinkle extra Parmesan, scatter fresh chives, and drizzle remaining Caesar dressing. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Notes
- Enhance chickpea crispiness by patting them completely dry before roasting to achieve maximum crunch and prevent sogginess.
- Adjust bacon cooking time based on thickness; thinner cuts crisp faster, while thicker cuts require longer rendering to develop rich flavor.
- Customize Caesar sauce by adjusting ingredient ratios to create personal flavor profile, experimenting with extra umami elements like anchovy paste or Worcestershire sauce.
- Transform recipe into gluten-free version by using corn tortillas and ensuring all sauce ingredients are gluten-free certified.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 80mg