Description
This vibrant Kale Taco Salad with Chipotle Avocado Dressing is a fresh and flavorful dish that combines nutrient-rich kale with a creamy, smoky dressing made from avocado, Greek yogurt, and chipotle peppers. Topped with cheddar cheese, black beans, bell peppers, grape tomatoes, green onions, and crispy tortilla strips, this salad is perfect for a healthy lunch or dinner with a spicy kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 avocado, pitted and peeled
- 2 Tbsp. lime juice
- 1 Tbsp. sauce from a can of chipotles in adobo
- ½ tsp. chili powder
- Salt, to taste
Salad
- 8 oz. chopped kale
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 (15 oz.) can low-sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 bell peppers, sliced
- 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
- 2 green onions, chopped
- ½ cup tortilla strips
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: In a blender or food processor, combine Greek yogurt, avocado, lime juice, adobo sauce from the chipotle peppers, chili powder, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Puree until the mixture is smooth and creamy, then set aside.
- Massage the Kale: Place the chopped kale in a large bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the leaves and gently massage it into the kale with your hands for a few minutes. This softens the tough kale and helps reduce bitterness. Let the kale rest for 5 minutes to absorb the oil.
- Dress the Kale: Add the prepared chipotle avocado dressing to the massaged kale. Massage the dressing into the kale again to evenly coat the leaves. Add a pinch of salt and stir well to combine all the flavors.
- Assemble the Salad: Divide the dressed kale evenly among 4 dinner plates. Top each portion with one-quarter of the shredded cheddar cheese, black beans, sliced bell peppers, halved grape tomatoes, chopped green onions, and tortilla strips for a crunchy finish. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Massaging kale is essential for making it tender and easier to eat.
- You can adjust the amount of chipotle sauce to increase or decrease the spiciness of the dressing.
- For a vegan version, substitute Greek yogurt with a plant-based yogurt and use vegan cheese or omit it.
- Feel free to add cooked chicken, beef, or tofu for extra protein.
- Tortilla strips can be homemade by baking or frying thin strips of corn tortillas.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired
Keywords: kale salad, taco salad, chipotle avocado dressing, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, Mexican salad
