I’ve heard that one of the best parts about being vegan is the fun you can have in the kitchen, experimenting with different recipes. While there are literally infinite instructions of intricate vegan dishes out there, sometimes after a long day, you just want a quick and delicious dinner sans any animal products. One of my go-to dinners these days is a low maintenance version of my Mom’s taco salad recipe minus the taco meat, cheese, and sour cream. It’s just as delicious and even more nutritious.
Super Simple Vegan Taco Salad (serves one)
- Refried beans (half the can/8 oz)
- Romaine lettuce (3-4 big leaves)
- Chopped tomato (½ cup)
- Red onion (3 Tbsp finely chopped)
- Sliced avocado (½ cup)
- Vegan French dressing (drizzle)
Start with a can of refried beans, but be careful what kind you use. Beans are vegan, but often if it doesn’t specify that it’s vegetarian, it may have been processed with animal fat. To be safe, I use vegetarian refried beans. It’s good practice to always check your ingredients for animal byproducts if you’re practicing a strict vegan diet.
For a single serving, scoop half of the beans onto a plate and microwave it until it’s hot. While it heats, wash and dry your desired amount of lettuce. I usually use 3-4 big leaves as I prefer a lettuce to beans ratio of just under 1:1. Tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place on the heated beans. Chop a small amount of tomatoes and onions to top your lettuce and slice up your desired amount of avocado.
I usually use half an avocado per serving, but I also am obsessed and realize that’s probably an excessive amount to most people. Once you’ve topped your creation with avocado, drizzle French dressing over the whole thing and dig in! Pair your salad with some kale chips to make it an extra delicious vegan evening.
This is a great weeknight recipe as it takes a total of 10 minutes to prepare and possibly 3 minutes to eat because it’s so dang good. Enjoy!
Pro-tip: Turn your dish into a dip by adding some vegan tortilla chips for scooping. Or wrap it into a burrito. That’s the beauty of taco salad. Have fun making this recipe your own!
Want a sweet treat for dessert? Try our Lushus Lemon BumbleBars, they’re on sale this month!
