Southwest Tempeh Chorizo Salad
Crisp lettuce holds a taco's worth of flavor in this substantial salad. The tempeh chorizo brings the spice, while cool avocado and crunchy tortilla strips keep each bite lively.

Recipe link
Prep time20 min
Cook time0 min
Total time20 MINUTES
- Course
- Salads
- Cuisine
- Mexican, Vegetarian
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Est. calories / serving
- 485
Ingredients
Chipotle Ranch Dressing
- ½ cup Vegan Ranch Dressing
- 2 tablespoons Chipotle Aioli
Salad
- 8 cups green leaf lettuce (chopped)
- 1 cup black beans (drained and rinsed)
- 1 cup Vegetarian Chorizo
- 1 cup Pico de Gallo
- 1 avocado (medium dice)
- ½ cup fresh asadero cheese (shredded or crumbled)
- 1 cup Crispy Tortilla Strips
Instructions
Instructions
- Make the Chipotle Ranch: In a small bowl stir together the Vegan Ranch Dressing and Chipotle Aioli until smooth and fully combined.½ cup Vegan Ranch Dressing, 2 tbsp Chipotle Aioli
- Prepare the Salad Base: Wash, dry, and chop the green leaf lettuce. Add it to a large mixing bowl.8 cups green leaf lettuce
- Prepare the Toppings: Drain and rinse the black beans. Warm the Vegetarian Chorizo slightly if desired, then let it cool for a few minutes so it does not wilt the lettuce.1 cup black beans, 1 cup Vegetarian Chorizo
- Build the Salad: Add the black beans, Vegetarian Chorizo, Pico de Gallo, avocado, and asadero cheese to the lettuce.prepared black beans, prepared chorizo, 1 cup Pico de Gallo, 1 avocado, ½ cup asadero cheese
- Dress the Salad: Drizzle the chipotle ranch over the salad and toss gently until everything is lightly coated.prepared chipotle ranch
Notes
- Don’t Overdress: Start with less dressing and add more as needed. The pico de gallo and avocado already bring moisture to the salad.
- Chorizo Temperature: Warm tempeh chorizo tastes great here, but let it cool slightly before adding it to the lettuce.
- Tortilla Strips: Add the tortilla strips at the very end so they stay crisp.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve as a full entrée salad or alongside Vegetarian Green Chili, Creamy Pinto Beans, or a cup of soup.
Nutrition (Approximate Per Serving)
Yield
4 entrée salads — Serving size: 1 salad
- Calories
- 485
- Carbohydrates
- 35 g
- Protein
- 16 g
- Fat
- 33 g
- Saturated Fat
- 7 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat
- 6 g
- Monounsaturated Fat
- 17 g
- Cholesterol
- 15 mg
- Sodium
- 930 mg
- Potassium
- 840 mg
- Fiber
- 9 g
- Total Sugars
- 6 g
- Vitamin A
- 2850 IU
- Vitamin C
- 28 mg
- Calcium
- 185 mg
- Iron
- 4 mg
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Small mixing bowl
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Salad tongs