Taco salad gets a healthy makeover with my Vegetarian Taco Salad recipe! Top it with a super simple, Creamy Cilantro Avocado Dressing-- it only tastes indulgent!
Hi friends!
I'm back again with another Mexican themed recipe. Big surprise, huh?
Another one of my Mom's dishes growing up was taco salad. She made hers with kidney beans and taco meat. If I remember correctly it also involved iceberg lettuce, bottled Catalina dressing and perhaps Doritos? Now there is nothing wrong with that, I remember I always loved taco salad night! No judgement if that's your dinner tonight 🙂
I'd like to offer you a way to mix it up though. I gave my Mom's version a healthy makeover!
It's my Vegetarian Taco Salad recipe!
I start with fresh veggies and a simple can of kidney beans, dressed up in some spices. You could also easily do this with tempeh or vegetarian sausage, but I find beans to be more universally appealing AND much easier to get the Hubs to eat.
The real star is the homemade Creamy Cilantro Avocado dressing. This stuff is da bomb, friends. And it is ridiculously easy to make. The creaminess comes from the avocado and Greek yogurt.
Serve it with or without cheese and tortilla chips, depending on how healthy you want to go. I went with tortilla chips, but no cheese.
Don't be intimidated by the longer ingredient list, this recipe comes together in no time. If you are really in a pinch, you can always eat the beans without sauteing them first.
Either way, this is really the perfect weekday meal. Enjoy!
Vegetarian Taco Salad with Creamy Cilantro Avocado Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Creamy Avocado Dressing **
- 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 2 hearts of romaine, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ yellow bell pepper, chopped
- ½ avocado, sliced (use other ½ in dressing)
- ½ cup corn
- ¼ cup cilantro
- Optional sides/ toppings: tortilla chips, shredded Mexican cheese
Instructions
- In a pan over medium heat warm the coconut oil. Add the bean, chili powder, oregano and cumin. Saute for 3-5 minutes or until beans have absorbed some of the flavor. You can also serve the beans out of the can.
- To assemble the salad, make a bed of romaine lettuce. Top with the beans. Sprinkle the rest of the toppings. Serve with chips and optional Mexican cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
Like it? I'd love for you to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board! Thank you.
Thanks for stopping by today! Tomorrow I have a fresh spring look for Fashion Friday.
I’m linking up with: Thinking Out Loud Thursday, Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah, Meatless Monday with Annmarie and Rachel Delicious Dish Tuesday, What’s Cookin’ Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday with Miz Helen, FoodFriDIY, Foodie Friday, and the Weekend Potluck. Thanks so much ladies for the link up parties!
Your turn!
How many excuses can you make to eat tacos?[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Miz Helen says
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week and has been pinned to our Features Board. Hope you enjoy your weekend and your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
JulieWunder says
How exciting! Thank you so much for featuring me! You made my day.
Toni Yaple says
This looks amazing I can't wait to make it!! Thanks for sharing!
JulieWunder says
Yay! I hope you enjoy it.
Rach's Recipes says
I'm so excited to try this! I want to experiment with a combination of various cheese, what do you think would go well with it?Thanks!
JulieWunder says
Absolutely! You can never go wrong with cheese!
Rachel says
We love Taco Tuesday. And avocados. 🙂 Thanks for linking up!
JulieWunder says
I love tacos every day 🙂 Thanks for hosting.
Sommer @aspicyperspective says
The ingredients in this amazing taco salad look so fresh! Yummy!
JulieWunder says
Thank you so much!
Mary Ellen @ VNutrition says
Looks delicious! I have some cilantro so I'll have to try that dressing, it sounds amazing!
JulieWunder says
You'll love it! It's soooo good!
Farrah says
I love how colorful and delicious your recipes always look! :D! Makes me ready for spring! :]
JulieWunder says
Thank you! I'm totally ready... unfortunately the weather had other ideas this week.
dixya @food, pleasure, and health says
im absolutely digging the idea of avocado + cilantro dressing.
dixya @food, pleasure, and health says
you had me with that dressing..i could smear it on everything!
JulieWunder says
Oh yeah... and it would be good on all of it!
Annmarie says
This looks so good! My husband makes a corn, lime and cilantro "salsa" since I can't have tomatoes and I bet it tastes similar to this! Pinned to share, thanks for linking up! 🙂
JulieWunder says
Yum! Sounds delicious.
Heather@hungryforbalance says
I don't need any excuses to eat tacos or Mexican food! This salad looks divine! And I'm pretty sure I would pour that dressing over everything!
JulieWunder says
I really think you will love it!
runawaybridalplanner says
Yes, Yes to all of this. This looks amazing!
Even better, it all fits within my current stricter diet restrictions I've put on myself. Now I am craving for when dinner gets here, if only it wasn't still morning, LOL
JulieWunder says
Haha! I feel ya 🙂 I hope you enjoy it.
Christina Bauer says
These pics are so wonderfully vibrant, I can't wait to make this!! And that dressing sounds divine.
JulieWunder says
That means so much to me! Thank you!
Andrea on Vacation says
I like your avocado dressing idea. Maybe I'll use that with my dorito salad next time 🙂
JulieWunder says
haha! I'm sure that would be wonderful!
Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple says
Your photos are gorgeous! Love how bright and fresh this looks. Now I'm hungry....
JulieWunder says
That means so much to me. Thank you.
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
I'm all about Mexican food. This looks like such an easy, tasty meal!
JulieWunder says
It is! So good too.
Mary Jean Henson says
This looks so good. Thanks for the hint about warming the beans in coconut oil infused with the herbs. That will sure add flavor to the beans. This will be dinner tonight. Keep the delicious vegetarian recipes coming. Thanks...
JulieWunder says
It's a nice little trick! I hope you enjoy it.
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner says
I love taco salads and we are having that tonight! I will try your dressing 🙂
JulieWunder says
I hope you enjoyed it!
Heather @Fitncookies says
Send that my way for lunch! I LOVE tacos, taco salads, nachos, anything to do with Mexican. I ate far too many chips and salsa while in Houston. Mexican was just everywhere! I didn't complain, ha. I had my aunt bring a taco salad to my fourth of July party with the Doritos and cantina (is that it?) dressing. It was sooo good, but not too healthy!
JulieWunder says
I'm the same way. All mexican all the time.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
Look at all those bright colours! That dressing is just calling my name too - I want to put that on everything.
JulieWunder says
It really would be good on everything!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
It is 6 AM and now all I want is a taco salad and a giant thing of chips. This is your doing.
JulieWunder says
Mission accomplished 🙂
Blane Sherer says
Yep, you do love those Mexican themed recipes.
JulieWunder says
I do!!! A little obsessed 🙂