Chermoula is a traditional Moroccan marinade made with hefty amounts of cilantro, lemon and garlic that packs a big flavor punch. While this dressing is traditionally used as a marinade for meat and fish, we decided to make it the flavor base for a zippy cauliflower salad in an effort to dress up a vegetable that can be bland and boring.

We set out to create a fresh, bright chicken salad inspired by the flavors of Mexico. A simple tequila-lime mixture boosted the chicken’s flavor both in a quick marinade before cooking and, when cooked down with some orange juice, as a reduced sauce drizzled over the chicken after cooking. Grilled avocados gave the salad more smoky depth.