This is one of our family’s favourite recipes. When the children were younger, we made the Taco Shell Bowls once or twice a week! Turkey Taco Salad in Taco Shell Bowls serves 4-6 as a main course meal. You can vary the ingredients according to family preferences, and also the size of the ‘bowls’ according to family appetites.
2 c shredded iceberg lettuce
1-15 oz can dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained well
2 medium tomatoes, chopped and drained
1 T chopped and seeded green chilies
½ c diced green pepper
½ c sliced black olives
1 large avocado, mashed
½ c sour cream
2 T Italian salad dressing
1 tsp instant minced onion ¾ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp salt
½ c grated sharp natural Cheddar cheese
4-6 Corn Tortillas
2 T vegetable oil
- For the dressing, blend together the avocado and sour cream.
- Add the Italian dressing, onion, chili powder, salt and a dash of pepper, mixing together well.
- Chill in the fridge.
- Prepare the salad bowls, by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Lightly brush the corn tortillas with the 2 T vegetable oil.
- Place the tortillas in tortilla bowl forms, or over inverted oven safe bowls on a baking sheet. (This will form the taco shell bowl for the salad.)
- Place the baking sheet with the tortillas in the oven, for 5-10 minutes, watching carefully so they do not burn.
- Remove from the oven, and allow to cool untouched. When cool, remove from the forms and place on a plate, ready for the salad.
- Into each taco salad bowl, evenly distribute the lettuce, then a layer of beans, a layer of tomatoes, a sprinkling of the chilies, and then a sprinkling of the green peppers and sliced black olives.
- Pour some of the chilled dressing over each salad.
- Garnish with a dollop of sour cream, the shredded cheddar cheese and a half black olive.
If using small tortilla shells, serve as a side dish accompanying Spicy Turkey Enchiladas (recipe available on betweenclosefriends.com blog), or if serving as a main entrée, use larger tortilla shells for the salad and serve with Sweet Potato Crisps on the side.