Taco Bell's 1985 taco salad bowl was actually deep-fried tortilla—customers unknowingly ate the container with their meal.
Crunchy Taco Salad
Dive into a delightful Crunchy Taco Salad that bursts with freshness and flavor! This colorful bowl combines crisp veggies and protein-packed beans, all drizzled with a luscious creamy dressing and crowned with zesty chili cheese Fritos for that perfect crunch. Get ready to dig in and enjoy a fiesta of tastes in every bite!
Prep
15
min
Cook
0
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(4)
- 1/4 cup of fresh chopped cilantro (60 ml)
- a can of corn, drained
- 1/4 cup of freshsqueezed lime juice (60 ml)
- A red bell pepper diced
🥛Dairy & Eggs(2)
- a bag of chili cheese Fritos
- half a cup of sour cream (120 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- a can of black beans, rinsed and drained
🧂Spices & Seasonings(2)
- a pinch of cumin
- A tablespoon of taco seasoning (15 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(1)
- Half a cup of mayonnaise (120 ml)
📦Other(4)
- two tablespoons of the adobo sauce (30 ml)
- some green onionsoptional
- A jalapeno diced
- 16oz bag of kleslaw (454 g)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Add a 16oz bag of kleslaw to a mixing bowl.
- 2
Add a can of black beans, rinsed and drained.
- 3
Add a can of corn, drained.
- 4
Add a diced jalapeno.
- 5
Add a diced red bell pepper.
- 6
If you have green onions, add those as well.
- 7
Add 1/4 cup of fresh chopped cilantro.
- 8
Add a tablespoon of taco seasoning.
- 9
Add a pinch of cumin.
- 10
Toss all the ingredients together.
- 11
Set the salad aside and make the dressing.
- 12
In a bowl, combine half a cup of mayonnaise, half a cup of sour cream, and 1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lime juice.
- 13
Add two tablespoons of adobo sauce.
- 14
Whisk the dressing together.
- 15
Pour the dressing over the salad.
- 16
Add a bag of chili cheese Fritos on top and toss again.
- 17
Sprinkle the rest of the Fritos on top for extra crunch.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Drain and rinse canned black beans for exactly 2 minutes under cold running water to remove 40% of excess sodium and prevent the salad from becoming soggy.technique2 minutes, 40% sodium reduction
- ✓Pat corn kernels completely dry with paper towels after draining because residual moisture will dilute your dressing and make coleslaw wilt within 30 minutes.technique30 minutes wilting time
- ✓Add taco seasoning to vegetables 15-20 minutes before serving to allow spices to bloom and penetrate without drawing out moisture that makes the salad watery.timing15-20 minutes
- ✓Dice jalapeños to exactly 1/4-inch pieces so each bite contains balanced heat distribution - larger pieces create hot spots while smaller pieces disappear into the mix.technique1/4-inch pieces
- ✓Keep coleslaw mix refrigerated until final assembly because cabbage loses 25% of its crunch when it sits at room temperature for over 20 minutes due to cell wall breakdown.timing20 minutes, 25% crunch loss
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