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A plate of vegan taco salad with tofu ground beef, black beans, corn, lettuce, tomato, radish slices, jalapeño, red onion, guacamole, and a drizzle of sour cream. A knife rests on the plate’s edge.
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Vegan Taco Salad Recipe

Nobody asked tacos and salad to get together and work things out. And yet here we are with chipotle tofu taco meat, straight-up drinkable avocado lime dressing and tortilla strips on top of a bowl so packed with fresh veggies, it might just trick your picky kiddos.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 487kcal
Author: Adam Sobel
Cost: $11

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Tofu Taco Meat:

For The Avocado Lime Dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons avocado meat
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • ¼ cup vegan sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon lime zest
  • ¼ cup cilantro chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup cold water
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste

For the Salad:

  • 6 cups romaine lettuce chopped
  • 2 cups baby arugula
  • 1 cup cucumber diced
  • 1 cup tomato diced
  • 15 oz. canned black beans drained and rinsed

To Serve and Garnish:

  • Guacamole
  • Vegan sour cream
  • Thinly sliced red onion
  • Thinly sliced red radish
  • Tortilla strips or chips
  • Jalapeno slices

Instructions

  • Wrap the tofu in a clean towel and press to remove excess moisture. Once pressed, crumble into small, uneven pieces.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. After 90 seconds when the oil is hot, add the crumbled tofu and spread it into an even layer. Cook over medium heat for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, using a thin metal spatula to scrape any buildup off the bottom of the pan as you go, until lightly browned and slightly crisp in some spots.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, Mexican chili powder, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, tamari, and water.
  • Pour the seasoning mixture into the skillet with the tofu. Stir thoroughly to coat all bits evenly. Cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring regularly, until the liquid reduces and the tofu reaches a meaty reddish brown color. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  • To prepare the dressing, combine the avocado, garlic, vegan sour cream, lime juice, lime zest, chopped cilantro, olive oil, and salt in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust salt to taste.
  • In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, baby arugula, diced cucumber, diced tomato, and black beans. Toss to distribute evenly.
  • Add the tofu taco meat to the salad. Drizzle with the avocado lime dressing and toss gently to coat.
  • Divide into serving bowls and top with guacamole, vegan sour cream, thinly sliced red onion, radish slices, tortilla strips or chips, and jalapeño slices.

Notes

🦴 Bone Dry Tofu, Son
Wrap the tofu in a clean kitchen towel and press firmly for at least 15 minutes before crumbling. The drier it goes into the pan, the crispier and more flavorful the taco meat comes out. Rush this and you're making pale steaming sadness for dinner.

Nutrition

Calories: 487kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Sodium: 3667mg | Potassium: 1173mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 7381IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 150mg | Iron: 6mg