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Taco Salad with Jalapeno Cilantro Dressing

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 large sweet potato (about 12-16 oz), cut into bite-sized cubes
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
  • ½ tsp black pepper (optional)
  • 8 cups thinly sliced lettuce (romaine, iceberg, kale, etc…)
  • 3 cups thinly sliced or shredded veg (cabbage, carrot, and/or bell pepper)
  • 1 can black or pinto beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup frozen corn, thawed*
  • ½ cup crumbled feta or cotija cheese or shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup crumbled tortilla chips**
  • 1 avocado, chopped
  • Pickled red onions (see recipe)

For the dressing:

  • 1 cup whole milk plain Greek yogurt***
  • 1 jalapeno seeds removed (leave out if you don’t like spice!)
  • 1 small bunch of cilantro (leaves and stems, about 1 cup)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • 2-4 tbsp water
  • *My favorite way to thaw and add flavor is to add them to a very hot pan with a touch of oil and cook, undisturbed, until charred, about 2-3 minutes.
  • **Make your own! Follow instructions from Chicken Tortilla Soup
  • ***If you only have regular plain whole milk yogurt, don’t add water. Blend and add water if needed.

Items you can prep ahead (optional)

  • Pickle the red onion 
  • Cube 1 sweet potato
  • Thinly slice 6-7 cups lettuce
  • Thinly slice 3 cups crunchy veg
  • Roast sweet potato
  • Make the dressing
  • Thaw 1 cup frozen corn

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 450F or 425F convection. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add sweet potatoes, oil and salt to the baking sheet and toss to coat. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until cooked through and browned in spots. Remove from oven and toss with garlic powder and black pepper (if using). Set aside.
  • Add all dressing ingredients to a high speed blender, starting with just 2 tablespoons of water, and blend until smooth. If too thick, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until drizzle-able..
  • Add lettuce, veggies, beans, corn, and sweet potatoes to a large bowl. Pour about 1 cup of the dressing all over. Top with cheese, tortilla chips, avocado and pickled red onion. Finish with a final drizzle of dressing and black pepper.

Notes

Substitutions:

  • To  make vegan: use 1 cup of soaked or roasted cashews in place of the yogurt + increase the water to 1 cup. Taste and add more salt or lime, if needed. Skip the cheese.
  • Add shredded chicken or ground beef to up the protein 
  • Add or substitute with your favorite taco add-ins or toppings

Storage:

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer:
    • Store all components separately in the fridge for up to 4 days
    • Dressed taco salad will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days
    • Dressing: up to 5 days in the fridge
    • Pickle red onions: up to 2 weeks in the fridge

Leftovers + Repurposing:

  • Add all ingredients to a large bowl and toss with the dressing. Serve it up with all the toppings.
  • It’s best to add the dressing before eating, but leftover dressed salad will keep for up to 3 days.
  • I like to gently warm up the sweet potatoes before tossing the salad together.
  • Turn it into tacos!