Food & Cooking Recipes Salad Recipes Taco Salad With Sweet Potatoes 5.0 (1) 1 Review Roasted sweet potatoes bulk up this zesty, taco-inspired salad. By Lindsay Strand Updated on June 28, 2024 Rate PRINT Share Prep Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Total Time: 45 mins Servings: 4 Jump to recipe This vegetarian taco salad recipe is a hearty, meatless main that leans on roasted sweet potatoes and black beans for substance and features a tangy lime-cilantro vinaigrette. The salad also calls for tortilla chips, pickled jalapeños, sliced radishes, and crumbled goat cheese, which add plenty of crunch, creaminess, and a subtle bite—making this easy entrée anything but ordinary. We recommend that you prep the sweet potatoes and get them in the oven before anything else; that way, you can make the dressing and prepare the other ingredients while they roast. To make this recipe vegan, simply omit the goat cheese. Are Yams & Sweet Potatoes The Same? Here's How to Tell Them Apart Ingredients for Vegetarian Taco Salad Sweet potatoes: Chili-powder-dusted and roasted sweet potatoes replace the usual ground beef or chicken in this taco salad. You can often find peeled and chopped sweet potatoes in the produce section, which can help cut down on prep time. Romaine lettuce: Crunchy romaine lettuce is our pick for this hearty salad, but you can certainly swap in iceberg, kale, or another leafy green of your choosing. Avoid using anything too delicate like tender mixed greens, however, as they will not hold up as well under the weight of the other ingredients. Black beans: We look to canned black beans for a convenient dose of protein. Be sure to rinse them well after draining to remove excess sodium. You can swap in pinto beans instead. Pickled jalapeños: For a spicy kick, we toss in a handful of chopped pickled jalapeños. Leave them out if you prefer, or swap in thinly sliced fresh chiles instead. For a similar tangy note without the heat, try pickled red onions. Goat cheese: Crumbled goat cheese adds some welcome creaminess to this produce-packed salad. Cotija cheese or queso fresco would work just as well, as would a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream. This recipe works great for meal prep as you can store the roasted sweet potatoes, chopped lettuce, toppings, and dressing separately, and then make individual salads throughout the week. Lennart Weibull Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 2 sweet potatoes (1 ½ pounds), peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces (4 cups) ⅓ cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ¾ teaspoon chili powder Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest, plus 3 tablespoons fresh juice ¼ cup packed cilantro leaves, chopped, plus more for serving 2 romaine hearts, chopped (10 cups) 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed ¼ cup chopped pickled jalapenos Sliced radishes, lightly crushed tortilla chips, and crumbled goat cheese, for serving Directions Season and roast sweet potatoes: Preheat oven to 450°F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons oil and chili powder; season with salt and pepper. Roast, stirring once, until browned and tender, 20 to 22 minutes. Let cool slightly. Make dressing: Meanwhile, whisk together lime zest and juice, chopped cilantro, and remaining 1/3 cup oil. Season with salt and pepper. Assemble salads: Toss romaine hearts with half of dressing (about 1/4 cup); season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls; top with beans, jalapeños, radishes, chips, cheese, and sweet potatoes. Drizzle with remaining dressing and sprinkle with cilantro leaves; serve. Other Hearty Vegetarian Salad Recipes: Warm Lentil Salad With Poached Eggs Greek-Taverna Salad Grilled Asparagus and Farro Salad Kale-and-Apple Salad Greek Mezze Salad Rice-and-Bean Salad Bowl With Tahini Sauce Originally appeared: Martha Stewart Living, March 2019 Rate It PRINT Updated by Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds is an experienced recipe developer, recipe tester, food editor, and writer with over a decade of experience in the food and media industries.