Lentil & Bean Taco Salad

I am in love with this Lentil & Bean Taco Salad! It is healthy but also packs in so much flavor. You get healthy greens (kale), fiber & protein (beans, lentils & soyrizo), and the BEST chipotle dressing. Trust me you will want to put this dressing on everything! Plus, this salad holds up well in the fridge which makes it perfect for meal prepped lunches!

Step One: Prep

There are only a couple of things we need to cook for this salad. And I like to get those things done first so they have enough time to cool.

We are making our own tortilla strips for the salad. And trust me, they taste WAY better than anything you could buy.

Heat some oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped corn tortilla strips and cook until browned on both sides, tossing occasionally – approx. 3 minutes. Once they are almost done, sprinkle with garlic salt. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

Add some crumbled soyrizo to the empty skillet and cook until it starts to crisp up, tossing frequently – approx. 5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside to cool.

Step Two: Make the Dressing

Now that we have our hot elements cooling, it is time to make the dressing. I LOVE this dressing. It has a slight kick, and the perfect amount of smokiness.

Here is what you need:

• avocado oil
• chipotle peppers in adobo
• adobo sauce – from the chipotle can
• garlic
• apple cider vinegar
• agave – or sub maple syrup
• cumin
• salt & pepper

Add everything to a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Set aside.

Step Three: Assemble & Serve

And now it is time to bring everything together. Grab a super large bowl and add the kale & 1/2 of the dressing. Use your hands to massage the dressing into the kale.

Add the cabbage, red onion, green onion, cilantro, beans & lentils to the bowl. Pour over the rest of the dressing and toss until everything is combined. Finish off the salad with avocado slices and the tortilla strips.

You can serve this right away are put it in the fridge to chill for a bit. If you are going to wait to serve it, I would hold off on adding the avocado & tortilla strips.

You can also put this into individual containers for easy lunches on the go!

Tips & Tricks

I get my cooked lentils from Trader Joe’s in the produce section. You can also find cooked lentils in the canned section. If you make the lentils from scratch, be sure to let them cool completely before adding them to the salad. I used brown lentils, but you can use your favorite.

This salad holds up well in the fridge, even with the dressing on it.