Boricua Caesar with Hoja Lettuce

A Caesar salad with a Puerto Rican twist—crispy tostones, local cheese, and our fresh leaves as the base of this delicious Caribbean version.

🧾 Ingredients (Serves 2)

For the salad:

  • 6–8 large leaves of Hoja lettuce, washed and dried
  • 1/2 cup of grated queso del país (or shredded mozzarella)
  • 6–8 small tostones (fried plantain slices), golden and crisp
  • 1 breaded chicken breast, cooked and sliced into strips
  • 2 tablespoons of toasted peanuts (optional, adds crunch)
  • (Optional) diced tomato for extra freshness and color

For the Puerto Rican-style Caesar dressing:

  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Salt, pepper, and a dash of Puerto Rican seasoning (adobo or sazón) to taste

👨‍🍳 Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken:
    Season a chicken breast with adobo or Puerto Rican-style spices. Dip in egg and breadcrumbs, then fry until golden. Let cool and slice into strips.
  2. Fry the tostones:
    Slice a green plantain into thick rounds, fry until lightly golden, smash with a tostonera or flat surface, then fry again until crispy. Season with salt.
  3. Make the dressing:
    In a small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients until creamy. Adjust seasoning with garlic, lemon, or more sazón as needed.
  4. Assemble the salad:
    On a large plate, lay down the Hoja lettuce. Add tostones, chicken strips, grated cheese, and peanuts on top.
  5. Serve and enjoy:
    Drizzle with dressing right before serving or serve it on the side so guests can add to taste.

🍹 Serving suggestion:

Pair it with a chilled passion fruit lemonade or tamarind juice for the perfect island lunch.

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