Taos Salad

Bursting with bold Southwestern flavors, this Taos Salad is a vibrant medley of fresh, wholesome ingredients and zesty homemade dressing. Crisp romaine lettuce forms the base, while black beans, sweet corn, juicy cherry tomatoes, and creamy avocado create a satisfying blend of textures. Red bell pepper and red onion add a touch of crunch, perfectly complemented by fresh cilantro for a fragrant finish. The star of this dish is the smoky lime dressing, made with olive oil, fresh lime juice, a hint of honey or agave, and warm spices like cumin and smoked paprika. Topped with crunchy tortilla strips or chips, this 20-minute salad is a colorful, gluten-free, and vegetarian meal (easily vegan with a single swap) that's perfect for lunch, a light dinner, or as a flavorful side. Whether you're savoring it solo or sharing with friends, the Taos Salad brings a taste of the Southwest straight to your table! Keywords: Taos Salad recipe, Southwestern salad, vegetarian salad, lime dressing, healthy salad.

Nutriscore Rating: 83/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 head Romaine lettuce
• 1 cup Black beans
• 1 cup Corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
• 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 large Red bell pepper
• 1 large Avocado
• 0.5 medium Red onion
• 0.5 cup Cilantro (fresh)
• 1 cup Tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips
• 3 tablespoons Olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon Honey (or agave syrup for vegan option)
• 0.5 teaspoon Ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon Smoked paprika
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Wash and dry the romaine lettuce, then chop it into bite-sized pieces. Place the chopped lettuce in a large salad bowl.

Step 2

Rinse and drain the black beans. Add them to the salad bowl along with the corn kernels.

Step 3

Slice the cherry tomatoes in half, dice the red bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion. Add these vegetables to the salad bowl.

Step 4

Peel and dice the avocado, and add it to the salad. Roughly chop the cilantro and sprinkle it over the top.

Step 5

To make the dressing, whisk together olive oil, fresh lime juice, honey (or agave syrup), ground cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or jar until well combined.

Step 6

Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.

Step 7

Sprinkle the tortilla strips or crushed tortilla chips on top just before serving to retain their crunch.

Step 8

Serve immediately and enjoy this vibrant, flavor-packed Taos Salad!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1904.4 grams (1904.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1580

Total Fat 92.20g	118%
Saturated Fat 13.50g	68%
Polyunsaturated Fat 8.10g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 2275mg	99%
Total Carbohydrate 176.60g	64%
Dietary Fiber 49.90g	178%
Total Sugars 41.60g
Protein 40.10g	80%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 530mg	41%
Iron 16mg	89%
Potassium 4450mg	95%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 48.9%

Protein: 9.5%

Carbs: 41.6%