Salads in Tortilla Shells

Ingredients

• 2 lbs squid rings (or use sliced smoked chicken breasts, of which you need much less in weight)
• 1 cup ranch salad dressing or tangy vinaigrette
• 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce or hot sauce
• 4 cups lettuce, torn up (you might have to use less)
• 1 large sweet onion
• 1 green pepper
• 1 red pepper
• 2-3 sliced ripe tomatoes
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced (the long English cucumber)
• 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
• 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
• watercress or herbs, for ganish

Directions

1. 1

   (You don't have to use calamari, so read through. Zaar changed "calamari" to "squid", but it's the same thing. The photo's give two ideas for using this easy, versatile way of serving a light lunch or starter).

2. 2

   Fry the calamari rings in oil, in batches, for about 1 - 2 minutes per batch. If calamari is fried or boiled for too long it goes tough. You can also boil it. Whichever method you use, it should just turn opaque white, and then removed to a sieve to drain and cool slightly.

3. 3

   Mix the hot pepper into the dressing. (We prefer a vinaigrette, but any favourite salad dressing is fine). Put the cooked calamari in a bowl and mix in the salad dressing. Cool and cover. (Can be done a day ahead).

4. 4

   As suggested (see picture) you can sidestep that and merely use pre-prepared smoked chicken breasts, sliced.

5. 5

   The salad ingredients are to taste as well: use what you have at hand. (I add peppadews, which are delicious. Avocado slices are also great, or use pickled instead of fresh bell peppers).

6. 6

   To make the tortilla shells, heat oven to 325 deg F or 160 deg Celsius.

7. 7

   Use similar round dishes to shape the bottom of your salad "bowl": put it on a tortilla.

8. 8

   The easiest way is actually to turn the round dish upside down, and drape the tortilla sides over the dish, and bake it that way.

9. 9

   If you don't have enough small round oven dishes to do that, just use one dish to shape all the "bowls" of the tortillas. Keep the tortillas right side up, and use scrunched foil to support the wavy sides. Bake on a tin until hard and browning at the edges. (I'm not sure of the time: just watch them, but it should be about 15 mins). Cool.

10. 10

    Prepare and slice all the salad ingredients and put in a bowl. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

11. 11

    To serve, add the calamari to the salad ingredients with the dressing. Toss lightly; you only want the salad to be lightly coated. Lift out with a slotted spoon so excess liquid can drip off, and fill the shells.

12. 12

    Serve.