Salpicón de Pollo (Cold Shredded Chicken Salad on Tostadas)
Cool shredded chicken dressed with lime, chilli, oregano and sharp pickled onion, piled on crisp tostadas.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips) and Shredded chicken (pollo deshebrado). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.81 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the pollo deshebrado (see the base recipe) in a large bowl.
- 2
Add the pickled red onions (see the base recipe), tomatoes, lime juice, oregano, olive oil and jalapenos. Toss gently with half the coriander.
- 3
Taste and add salt. Leave for 10 minutes so the flavours mingle.
10 min - 4
Spoon onto the tostadas (see the base recipe) just before serving and top with avocado and the remaining coriander.
- 5
Serve straight away, 2 tostadas per person.
Tips
- Salpicón is served cold or at room temperature, so make it ahead and chill it for up to 2 hours.
- Add a spoonful of the onion pickling liquid for extra tang.
- Mexican oregano has a citrusy edge. Use ordinary dried oregano if you cannot find it.
Storing and freezing
Keep the dressed chicken in the fridge for up to 2 days. Put it on tostadas only when serving.
Questions
What is salpicón?
Salpicón is a Mexican salad of shredded meat, usually beef but often chicken, dressed with vinegar or lime, onion and chilli, and eaten cold on tostadas.
Can I use it as a sandwich filling?
Yes. It is also good in crusty rolls or lettuce cups.
Is it spicy?
Mild. Add more pickled jalapenos or a pinch of chilli flakes for heat.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Tacos de Pescado al Adobo (Guajillo Fish Tacos)
GFDFEFLamb Shawarma Wraps with Tahini Sauce and Pickled Red Onions
DFEFNFTacos de Carnitas con Cebolla Encurtida (Carnitas Tacos)
DFEFNFEnsalada de Col y Jícama con Aderezo Cremoso de Jalapeño (Crunchy Cabbage and Jicama Slaw)
GFEFNFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.