Tofu and Black Bean Taco Salad

This main-course salad has all the goodness of crunchy hard shell tacos but with healthier proportions - rather than stuffing taco shells with filling...s, you get a large amount of vegetables and plant-proteins, with a sprinkle of baked corn tortillas for that satisfying crunch. We use full-fat Greek yoghurt with a hint of garlic to replace the sour cream and instead of the commonly-used ground beef filling, we pan-fry some crumbled tofu with spices and black beans. The secret to the meat-free but seriously beefy tasting tofu and beans is twofold. 1. A sprinkle of nutritional yeast, which adds richness (and B vitamins). 2. Aquafaba (the liquid that the beans cooked in), which brings just the right amount of moisture and depth of flavour. Read more This main-course salad has all the goodness of crunchy hard shell tacos but with healthier proportions - rather than stuffing taco shells with fillings, you get a large amount of vegetables and plant-proteins, with a sprinkle of baked corn tortillas for that satisfying crunch. We use full-fat Greek yoghurt with a hint of garlic to replace the sour cream and instead of the commonly-used ground beef filling, we pan-fry some crumbled tofu with spices and black beans. The secret to the meat-free but seriously beefy tasting tofu and beans is twofold. 1. A sprinkle of nutritional yeast, which adds richness (and B vitamins). 2. Aquafaba (the liquid that the beans cooked in), which brings just the right amount of moisture and depth of flavour.

Prep time
20 minutes
Cook time
30 minutes
FREEZER FRIENDLY
No
SHELF LIFE
3 days (but best eaten fresh)
Why is this healthy?
Plant
points
High
protein
High
fibre
Probiotics
Prebiotics
Diet
Vegetarian
Contains
Dairy, Soy
Ingredients
Serves 4
For the lime-pickled onions
red onion
Swaps: shallot
very finely sliced or mandolin
lime
juiced
For the tofu and beans
firm tofu
well drained and crumbled
tomato paste
smoked paprika
cumin (ground)
garlic powder
dried onion (granules)
oregano (dried)
nutritional yeast
Swaps: kidney beans (can), pinto beans (can)
and their liquid
For the tortilla strips
corn tortillas
finely sliced
For the garlic yoghurt
Swaps: yoghurt (plantbased)
full fat
garlic cloves
minced
For the salad
halved
romaine lettuce
finely sliced
sweetcorn
from a can is best
coriander
Swaps: parsley
roughly chopped
Why is this healthy?
Plant
points
High
protein
High
fibre
Probiotics
Prebiotics

NUTRITION PER SERVING (Read more)

573kcal
Calories
35g
Protein
23g
Total Fat
61g
Carbs
19g
Fibre
12g
Sugars
400mg
Calcium
31%
 
8mg
Iron
46%
 
189mg
Magnesium
45%
 
569mg
Phosporus
45%
 
1399mg
Potassium
30%
 
107mg
Sodium
5%
 
20mg
Zinc
184%
 
1mg
Copper
71%
 
6mg
Vitamin B1
530%
 
3mg
Vitamin B2
226%
 
63mg
Vitamin B3
392%
 
5mg
Vitamin B6
311%
 
769mcg
Vitamin B9
192%
 
588mcg
Vitamin A
65%
 
6mcg
Vitamin B12
268%
 
33mg
Vitamin C
37%
 
0mcg
Vitamin D
0%
 
5mg
Vitamin E
31%
 
137mcg
Vitamin K
114%
 
Calories: 573kcal; Protein: 35g; Total Fat: 23g; Carbs: 61g; Fibre: 19g; Sugars: 12g; Calcium: 400mg (31%); Iron: 8mg (46%); Magnesium: 189mg (45%); Phosporus: 569mg (45%); Potassium: 1399mg (30%); Sodium: 107mg (5%); Zinc: 20mg (184%); Copper: 1mg (71%); Vitamin B1: 6mg (530%); Vitamin B2: 3mg (226%); Vitamin B3: 63mg (392%); Vitamin B6: 5mg (311%); Vitamin B9: 769mcg (192%); Vitamin A: 588mcg (65%); Vitamin B12: 6mcg (268%); Vitamin C: 33mg (37%); Vitamin D: 0mcg (0%); Vitamin E: 5mg (31%); Vitamin K: 137mcg (114%)
Show more

Notes

Do your best to find corn tortillas rather than using wheat ones - they're crispier and taste better. If you can’t source them locally they are widely available online. They also have the benefit of being gluten free, if you or someone you are cooking for has a gluten intolerance.

Why is this healthy?
Plant
points
High
protein
High
fibre
Probiotics
Prebiotics
Diet
Vegetarian
Contains
Dairy, Soy
Ingredients
Serves 4
For the lime-pickled onions
red onion
Swaps: shallot
very finely sliced or mandolin
lime
juiced
For the tofu and beans
firm tofu
well drained and crumbled
tomato paste
smoked paprika
cumin (ground)
garlic powder
dried onion (granules)
oregano (dried)
nutritional yeast
Swaps: kidney beans (can), pinto beans (can)
and their liquid
For the tortilla strips
corn tortillas
finely sliced
For the garlic yoghurt
Swaps: yoghurt (plantbased)
full fat
garlic cloves
minced
For the salad
halved
romaine lettuce
finely sliced
sweetcorn
from a can is best
coriander
Swaps: parsley
roughly chopped

Ingredients

Serves 4
For the lime-pickled onions
red onion
Swaps: shallot
very finely sliced or mandolin
lime
juiced
For the tofu and beans
firm tofu
well drained and crumbled
tomato paste
smoked paprika
cumin (ground)
garlic powder
dried onion (granules)
oregano (dried)
nutritional yeast
Swaps: kidney beans (can), pinto beans (can)
and their liquid
For the tortilla strips
corn tortillas
finely sliced
For the garlic yoghurt
Swaps: yoghurt (plantbased)
full fat
garlic cloves
minced
For the salad
halved
romaine lettuce
finely sliced
sweetcorn
from a can is best
coriander
Swaps: parsley
roughly chopped

Method

Your notes

1

Gather and prepare your ingredients.

2

Place the red onions and lime juice into a bowl and toss to coat. Set aside to macerate while you make the rest. The longer the onions sit in the acidic lime juice the brighter pink they will turn and the more mellow they will test, so this step can be done up to 3 days in advance.

3

Heat the olive oil for the tofu in a large frying pan. Add the tofu and cook for about 1 minute, stirring to ensure it is evenly coated in oil. Then add the tomato puree, spices, dried onion and garlic, oregano and nutritional yeast. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until darkened and fragrant.

4

Add the black beans and their liquid and cook for 4-5 minutes, until piping hot and slightly darkened. The liquid should largely absorb into the tofu, leaving you with a mixture similar to fried mincemeat. Turn off the heat and allow to cool slightly in the pan. If you add it to the salad while still hot it will wilt the leaves, so you want it to be warm but not hot for serving.

5

Preheat the air-fryer to 175°C. Drizzle the olive oil over the tortilla strips and toss to coat. Place into the air-fryer basket and cook for 7-8, until golden and crispy. Once done, lightly sprinkle with salt immediately. To oven cook, bake at 180°C for 10-12 minutes.

6

Place the yoghurt into a bowl. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.

7

Arrange all of the components in serving bowls. Serve each bowl with a dollop of garlic yoghurt, sprinkled with coriander.

Notes

Do your best to find corn tortillas rather than using wheat ones - they're crispier and taste better. If you can’t source them locally they are widely available online. They also have the benefit of being gluten free, if you or someone you are cooking for has a gluten intolerance.

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