It really bugs me when people thing that eating truly healthy or the Beauty Detox way means that you have to spend lots of time and/or money doing so. It’s simply not true! It’s a big misconception for those that think that, and you end up cheating yourself of eating great foods, because you reason that eating fast food or cheap food is simply easier. Sure there are some recipes that take longer…but you don’t have to make them, and certainly not on a regular basis! In contrast, there are so many easy ways to throw together easy Beauty Detox dishes, and it can end up costing less than even a meal at Subway!
For instance, this entree salad is something I made for a client today for lunch. She was shooting a magazine cover, so I wanted to give her something substantial but not bloating or overly heavy. Such shoots are very long hours, so she needed something for long-burning fuel.
I wanted to share this easy recipe with you because the total cost is $5.22 per person (recipe is for 2) and the time it took me to make was definitely under 10 minutes!
This is a tasty, quick, and super affordable salad I whip up whenever I have a craving for some mexican flavors. If you’ve made the Raw Taco Gorilla Wraps from The Beauty Detox Foods, you already know how simple this “taco meat” is, and how it tastes just like ground beef served in regular tacos! This salad uses the same taco filling atop a bed of delicious, crunchy romaine.
Raw Taco Mexican Salad Meal – $5.22 to make, and Made in Less than 10 Minutes!
Ingredients
- For Salad:
- 1/2 avocado = $0.50
- 2 hearts of romaine organic if you can source it = $2
- 1 to mato chopped = $1
- 1/2 red onion chopped = $0.63
- 1/3 bunch cilantro chopped = $0.50
- 2 Tbs lemon juice = $0.25
- For Taco Filling:
- 2 cups walnuts = $4.00
- 1 Tbs. cumin = $0.87
- 1/2 Tbs. coriander = $0.57
- 2 Tbs. low sodium tamari = $0.03
- 1 tsp. chili powder = $0.09
Instructions
- For the taco filling: Put the walnuts in a food processor with the blade in place, and process until chunky. Scrape the ground nuts into a bowl, and mix in the cumin, coriander, chili powder, and cayenne. Add the tamari and mix again.
- To save time: just chop the walnuts by hand on a cutting board, and then mix the spices in, then toss in the tamari last. That way you won't have to clean up the food processor!
- Make a quick salsa by mixing the chopped tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and lemon juice.
- Arrange the chopped romaine in your favorite serving bowl and spoon the taco filling on top.
- Add the salsa and top off with the avocado slices, fanned out. The avocado is optional, you can leave it out and get the substantial feeling of the salad from the nut meat combined with the veggies.
- Enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was on Instagram!
I bet this is great, I make the Raw Gorilla wraps with the walnuts, and even my kids like them wrapped in the collard leaves. This is a another great way to use the walnut mixture as part of a healthy meal.
This looks delicious, Kimberly! I think even my husband would like it. I pinned it, so I can make it next week. :)
Thank you for the recipe, but it bugs me when I can’t try some things, because of the long list of ingredients, and I’m told that I have to wait a few weeks until I can buy something. I have been trying your recipes, and haven’t made excuses as to why I can’t eat this way: I ate Gorilla Taco wraps two days in a row, made the purple slaw yesterday, and Isaraeli salad over a week ago. I’ve made the smoothies a couple of times this week – BUT my dad then complains that he hardly has any money to get what *he* needs.
I’m having a very bad day. I’m not the only person in this house who needs to eat, and I have no income. I’m trying to grow peppers, tomatoes, onions, basil, parsley, cilantro, collards, etc in my garden, so that I can better and try more of the recipes. They seem to be helping my stomach and I’m very glad that I came across your book in November 2011. It doesn’t change my current circumstances – so I have to eat unhealthy things on occasion.
I’m new to your books, but loving them! Are nuts and avocado okay to combine, or is it breaking your rules?
Your recipes are delicious!! I have tried many recipes that claim to taste good but fail miserably. Yours truly are full of flavor. I have made the gorilla wraps and they taste just like ground beef. My eight year old son loves them so much he has requested them for his lunch at school. I am looking forward to trying the walnut mixture on my salad. Thanks so much!!!
I had this for lunch today! It was delicious! But I had two servings and then I was so tired I took a nap!
I make a similar salad with avocado, bell or other mild pepper, shredded zucchini, tomatoes, cucumber, purple onion and hot salsa. Sooooo good. Definitely helped me lose 20 lbs. without feeling like I was deprived. Thank you, Kimberly, for your inspiration!
Thank you so much-this looks devine!
I don’t know where you’re buying your avo’s from
But I haven’t seen one for $1 in a very long time!
Love your site
Kimberly, I am really enjoying your new book I have been learning new things I have been vegan for 5 years have recently given up gluten, corn , soy and can tell the difference it makes your recipes look amazing can’t wait to try them. I just put together the ginger-caraway probiotic enzyme salad because I did buy the raw sauerkraut but the sodium is high. Thanks again for all the info and the great book
Making this for dinner tonight!
how many does this serve?
Brilliant !
how many servings is this recipe?
Yummy! This is a really clever, as well as brilliantly delicious snack… well done, Kimberly!
This salad has nearly 1000 calories per serving. Isn’t that a bit much? Also, while I understand that it nerves you to hear that eating healthy is expensive. It is the truth. Coconut oil is way more expensive than corn oil and walnuts (that you use as taco meat) are more expensive than fatty ground beef. With that said, this meal for a family of four would be over $20 (even though I think you are underestimating the price of walnuts and the lettuce if it were organic) when that same family of four can have spaghetti for about $3 or pizza, salad and ice cream for less than $10. Making a GGS every morning is very expensive which is why I just cut it down to spinach/apple/celery but even when buying the items from Costco it still costs about $3 which is almost the same price as a smoothie from a store and that’s not even including the pears and bananas (not to mention the vitamix purchased to make them). Just a thought. So please don’t judge a fat person until you step into their shoes.
I only added 1/4 cup of the nuts and adjusted the seasonings .. I’m not a vegan or vegetarian so I don’t need 2 cups of nuts for my daily calorie intake.
Monica.
Kimberky, this recipe sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try it out! One thing though- what can you substitute avocado and tomato for? I don’t like avocados and intolerent for tomatoes.
Hi Kimberly! This looks delicious but I’m allergic to walnuts (and pecans). Can you suggest a nut I can substitute for walnuts? Thanks.
I got this quote from a health website and maybe it can help you. “Larger seeds including pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds can be used as direct replacements for whole walnuts or walnut pieces, while smaller seeds such as sesame seeds can replace crushed walnuts in some baking recipes. Pumpkin seeds have a mild flavor and a texture similar to walnuts, so they’re a good choice in most cases”.
I cannot believe it. I have only recently purchased your book and started making changes in my own eating but have to take the family with me (kicking and screaming..). First few nights – I bring a salad out before their meal and they look at me (as if to say “Where’s the REAL Dinner”). Tonight I bring this out – not only was it knock out good looking but it was sensational eating! Hubby, Miss 13, Mr 11 and Twin Fussy Misses 9 all ate THE LOT!
Can’t wait for my vegetarian sister to come for a visit.. This is going into my KEEPERS file. Thanks so much.
Sounds delicious! It says 2 servings. 1 cup of walnuts per serving seems like a bit much. Is that correct?
The salad looks beautiful and sounds delicious, I’ll try it! Thanks.
THANK YOU, BEAUTIFUL LADY!!
This looks so good. Thank you for the recipe and for showing how we can eat healthy on a budget! You are so amazing and I admire all you do for so many. Keep up the good work!
YUMMIE, can’t wait to try this! Great for a warm day or a quick lunch.
I appreciate the recipe and I will try it, although I wish I sometimes lived in America – food is much cheaper!
Avocados are very expensive in Australia – normally about $2.95 each just for a non-organic one. I usually buy only about 2 or maybe 3 a week to have with my oat groats.
I really wanted to make that vegan cheese from your latest book as well but Pine nuts are an absolutely outrageous $72.00 per kilo at the moment, which is utter madness!!
However,celery, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and other “standard” veggies are usually reasonably-priced. I sometimes make myself a nice, big, brown-rice & veggie stir fry and that can last for a few days in the fridge as leftovers :)
Thanks kimberly for the great recipe’s! Keep up the good
work!
Love the raw tacos I’m so having this for lunch tomorrow :)
I thought fats and proteins shouldn’t be eaten at the same time? ((Avocado and walnuts)
You don’t have to convince me Kimberly!!!!
You don’t have to convince me Kimberly!!!!
I LOVE this dish! I made it for lunch and used the hearts of romaine like a lettuce wrap- didn’t have the cilantro but it still tasted great. I never would have thought of using walnuts for the meat and it was delish.
I am not the best cook in the world but I love tacos. While your taco recipe seems great, I am allergic to all tree nuts. Is their something simple I can use to substitute?
I’m eating this right now, it’s so good!
I am eating this salad as I look at your blog picture – I had to make sure that my salad looked as beautiful as yours :) and it does! But the best part is, is that it is absolutely delicious!! I know I will make this salad again and again. I can’t wait to share the recipe!
Andrea
I made this salad for lunch today and it was fantastic! I loved the flavors all mixed together and it was really quick and easy to make. Unfortunately I can’t eat walnuts too often because they make me break out but I’ll definitely make this again and maybe next time try it with other nuts. This is going in my favorites pile.
Thank you so much for this blog post. I agree 100% and is also bugs me when people think that eating healthy has to cost a lot. It was nice to hear you express this. When it comes down to it though I am willing to cut spending in other areas in my life and spend a LITTLE bit more time in the kitchen so that I can eat healthy. My body is most important.
I agree. When people tell me it’s too expensive I ask how much money are you spending on junk food, soda, ice cream and cigarettes. Salads are very inexpensive to make and even the pre-cut veggies are not too bad either. I don’t drink pop or buy any junk food any more so I feel even if do spend a little more on fruits and veggies, it’s well worth it specially when I go to the doctors and all my blood work comes back great, it’s a good feeling.
I may give this a try as I really like the walnut ‘meat’ idea .. :-)
Monica.
The salad was wonderful. I absolutely loved it. Thanks for the recipe. :)
I wish you would post the nutritional value of your food you are posting as well!
I’m sure the nutritional value is left off since Kimberly doen not count calories or fat grams. I used to count everyting until I started to follow her program a few months ago and have never counted anything since. I have lost 25 pounds, I’m at my goal weight, with having 2 smoothies a day, eating light to heavy, elimating dairy, having more veggies for dinner and I have cut down on animal protein. It seems really different not counting calories but Kimberly’s plan really works and I have never felt better.
Misconceptions and misconceptions.. Sure, healthy doesn’t mean hard or time consuming – probably that’s with everything once you get a hang of it. At first I had some serious trouble to do smoothies, so many dishes, so much trouble. I was clumsy and avoided whole blender, but now I couldn’t live without it. But healthy diet does need some planing ahead – you simply can’t decide that you’re going to make a nut paté for lunch if you haven’t soaked the nuts first. However, soaking chia seeds and sprouting mung beans and buckwheat is such an everyday routine for me, it takes literally a couple of seconds. If you remember to buy milk or see all the trouble to make coffee, you’ll certainly survive some soaking and sprouting.
But when it comes organic food I’m not so sure about the affordable part. Of course you can sprout things, pick berries and mushrooms, grow herbs, buy big amounts of grains etc., but in Finland you can’t get an organic avocado with one dollar. You’ll be lucky even if you FIND an organic avocado. It really frustrates me, from our point of view US is like a wonderland where you can get anything fresh and not feel ripped off. In here you must do a lot of planing where to shop if you want to eat organic (like I do): I’ve joined organic food circle and volunteered to work there so I can get somewhat reasonably priced fresh veggies once a week. I go one store to buy greens, 2 other stores to buy dry goods and 4th to buy nuts, tea and superfoods. Actually, I order a lot of stuff from the States – it’s not ecological but a lot cheaper to pay for shipping and customs than buy from your local marker. It’s tiring, but what can you do? I’ve never had organic kale – kale in general simply isn’t sold almost anywhere. Last week I got lucky and paid sabout $5 for a small bag (3,5-5 ounces) for non-organic kale. Organic tomatoes are about $9,50 for a kilo (about 2 pounds) and organic celery maybe a dollar cheaper, walnuts.. at least $30 for kilo.
But hey, it’s OK because this is the way I’ve chosen to live! I’m happy to spend and extra hour to shop groceries, I’m happy even if I can’t afford anything else than food (and rent maybe..). Of course I’m daydreaming of moving to US and my pennies, but eating clean is the best thing you can do for your health, your tastebuds, overall beauty and wellbeing, and the planet. Thank you Kim for the inspiring blog, recipes and amazing books. <3 Sorry for the rant and my poor English.
I did the stuffed pepper recipes and it was delicious. Great recipe
I saw you today on Dr Oz and I was quite impressed and agree with your philosophy.
I would love to know how old you are
I advise breast cancer survivors, that is my specialty and aging women.
I am turning 71 this summer and my photos on my site are current.
I plan to start your diet and to share it with the women I know.
Thank you Dear Kimberly.
Alice
I love your work and I will be following your brilliant diet discipline! I am of South Indian heritage so ayurvedic & natural food as health solutions are thousands of years old in my culture. Unfortunately, even a natural beauty saying eat this to feel and look like me has nothing on the evil food industry’s advertising! The reason I am writing is for some constructive criticism of the typo I noticed at the top of this page: “It really bugs me when people thing that eating truly healthy or the Beauty Detox” I’m pretty sure you meant think instead of thing…. I hope this helps and thank you for being a walking billboard for healthy dieting and spreading the good news of natural dieting.
Jacob
This salad was unbelievably good! I thought why not give it a shot? And I loved it! Will definitely be having the leftovers for dinner tonight :)
What are the ingredients in the raw taco salad?
And I’ll add that I could have easily made 4 salads with the walnut meat.
is this one serving?
I think this is 2 servings.
Made this last night for my husband and I and we really enjoyed it! So easy too. I had canned peach salsa from last fall so it took me all of 5 minutes to make. We will be eating this lots!
hi Im so excited to be able to get great information from you. I,m a 54 yr old trying to eat right, excercise and just be healthy! thank you for your support and guidance! may I ask what exactly is tamari and where can I purchase it?
This is delicious! I Made it today, substituting cooked quinoa for the nuts as I’m allergic. Great, easy recipe, and with new season tomatoes super cheap here in the UK right now, well under the $5.22 !
I just made this yesterday! Pure genius with seasoning the walnuts! My head is spinning with all the possibilities!
How long will the walnuts last in the refrigerator?
Hi there! I made this with cooked quinoa instead of the walnuts, and it worked really well.
Hope this helps! X Nicola
Hi I am allergic to walnuts. Is there something else I can replace it with?
I’ve made this one with chopped + roasted (and then cooled) shiitake mushrooms when I didn’t have any nuts on hand and it really hit the spot. You probably don’t need to cook them but I like the texture more. Finely chopped portobellos taste great in this recipe too without being cooked if you have those instead.
I saw you give this recipe on Dr Oz. It made me buy your book. My husband and I LOVE the taco mixture. I also tried the tuna from the book with sunflower seeds. Although my husband expected more of a tuna taste, we really liked it too. Only one problem. Seeds and nuts are high in fat and it is hard for me to control the portions, so I am working on that. Thanks for the recipes. Can’t wait to try more.
I made this last night for me and my husband. I was concerned that he might not like it because it didn’t have meat but we both really enjoyed it! Thank you!
This is amazing!!! I LOVE the walnuts and avocado in this delicious salad! I was shocked with the taste and it filled me up so fast!! However I did not have tamari and so I used soy sauce, as well as bottled salsa. Is this ok..? THANKS KIMBERLY!
Hi Lali, the primary difference between tamari and soy sauce is that tamari is gluten-free. If you follow the gluten-free philosophy (or if you have a gluten allergy like me), make sure to use the tamari instead. The only place I have been able to find it is Whole Foods in the Asian foods section.
probably the best Mexican salad I ever tasted!!!! Thank you so much Kim for yet another amazing recipe!
Thank you for adding new recipes to your blog! But, i am confused about where this one fits within your philosophy. According to your books concentrated proteins should be eaten for dinner, not lunch unless lunch will be your last meal of the day. Also, you suggest not combining proteins with fat. Therefore I am (pleasantly) surprised that this meal combination was suggested for lunch.
Could you briefly explain how this and meals like it in your nee book (eg vegan cream cheese on gluten free bread or beans and corn tortillas) fit in with your previously written food pairing and light to heavy rules? Is it because the nut meat is a vegetarian protein that is paired with vegetables and we would ideally wait 4+ hours before eating anything else? As well as the amount of avocado is small it can pair with nut meat? But what about seeds and starches in the aforementioned vegan cream cheese?
what is Kimberley’s reply to this question – I would like to know also, thanks, Karen
OMG! Made this today and it was amazing. I love Mexican food and thought I might have to give it up but now I know I don’t have too. You do not even miss the meat – so flavorful and filling.
i cant make this mexico salad somebody help me
This salad looks amazing but according to this recipe, there are over 100 grams of fat PER SERVING. Is there a typo??!! This cannot be intentional, I don’t understand?! It has over 1000 calories per serving too. Can someone pls double check the math that this recipe is a serving for two? I cannot imagine this to be the intended impact.
I made this today and it was FANTASTIC! I did not know what to expect in regards to taste since there were so many different spices to add. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was. My husband said it tasted and looked like a restaurant style quality salad. You have made a believer out of me that healthy eating should not sacrifice delicious taste. Thank you so much for sharing this!
I made this salad tonight and it was delicious. I will be recommending it to all my friends and family.
Just had this for supper and it was wonderful! I enjoy you GGS’s every morning. I’m going on a week long mission trip in a few weeks and I’m concerned about how my body is going to handle not getting a GGS’S each morning. Any ideas? I don’t know how much access I’ll have to a kitchen or even refridgeration.
I made this last night for dinner and it was GOOD! I did dress the lettuce with a bit of olive oil, lemon juice and sea salt, but other than that .. the salad with the “taco walnuts” was delicious!
Monica.
So glad you liked it!
I just like the valuable information you supply in your articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again right here regularly. I am relatively sure I will be informed a lot of new stuff proper here! Good luck for the following!
Hi Kimberly,
I have a soy allergy and cannot eat Tamari.
Can you suggest and alternative to soy?
I was told that coconut enzymes might be a good alternative. Do you have any insights?
BTW, you have changed my life!
Thank you,
Laura
Laura try Coconut Aminos its great!
I enjoyed eating the salad. however, I was wondering about the fat and nut pairing here, because it is known that the raw fat properties of the avocado have an inhibiting effect of the digestion of the protein in nuts. Kimberly, what is your advice? Thanks.
Halfway through the recipe, I realized that I didn’t have tomatoes :( Regardless, the recipe was still amazing. The faux taco meat was so much better than any meat substitute I have ever had. Period. I will be making this again soon.
It is so interesting that Kimberly does not reply when questioned about how this recipe goes against her philosophy of not combining fats (avocado) with proteins (walnuts) and also to eat fruit (tomatoes) on an empty stomach. I would very much appreciate some clarification on this. Peace and love make the world a better place!
First of all, walnuts don’t count as a protein… they are a fat, that just so hapens to have some grams of protein. so combined 2 fats is proper food combining. Also, tomatoes are a different type of fruit, therefore combine different than high water sweet fruits. technically avocado and tomato are fruits but they dont pair the same. Its just like how beans are combined as a carb, even though they have a large amount of protein, they are still labeled a carb.
I have a few questions, but no answers. How can i get in contact with you?