A super-quick blend of reduced-fat sour cream and salsa serves double duty as salad dressing and seasoning for the meat in our updated version of Tex-Mex taco salad. Depending on the type of salsa you use, the salad will vary in heat. We keep this version light with lean turkey, but lean ground beef (about 95%-lean) would also keep the nutrition marks reasonable. Just hold the deep-fried tortilla bowl and instead serve this salad with baked tortilla chips and wedges of fresh lime.

Makes 4 servings (1 cup filling & 2 cups salad each)

ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes

EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy

1/2 cup prepared salsa
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound 93%-lean ground turkey
2 large plum tomatoes, diced
1 14-ounce can kidney beans, rinsed
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
8 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1. Combine salsa and sour cream in a large bowl.
2. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add turkey and cook, stirring often and crumbling with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, beans, cumin and chili powder; cook, stirring, until the tomatoes begin to break down, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in cilantro and 1/4 cup of the salsa mixture.
3. Add lettuce to the remaining salsa mixture in the bowl; toss to coat. To serve, divide the lettuce among 4 plates, top with the turkey mixture and sprinkle with cheese.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 361 calories; 16 g fat (6 g sat, 1 g mono); 86 mg cholesterol; 25 g carbohydrate; 33 g protein; 10 g fiber; 583 mg sodium; 718 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (150% daily value), Vitamin C (60% dv), Folate (53% dv), Iron (25% dv), Potassium (22% dv).
1 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 vegetable, 4 lean meat

Are red beans in a can antioxidant-rich or has that property been mostly destroyed by storage and age?

Anonymous, Orlando, FL

Excellent and fast.

Anonymous, Campinas,S.P., SA

Almost a "typical" taco salad, but all the ingredients are good. I substituted olive oil for canola oil with no drastically poor results.

Anonymous, Kansas City, MO

It was terrible. I wouldn't attempt to even make it. There were 14 grams of fat (way too much) and lot of hot spices, which are bad for your skin, your stomach and who knows what else. I'd like a red bean salad that has very little fat especially saturated fat. This one had five grams of saturated fat. Polysorbate 60 and 80 are carcinogens according to one of my college professors. 360 calories for a salad. Forget it.

Anonymous, New York, NY

This looks like a good recipe but it is very high in calories. Is there a way to make it less high in calories? Thanks

Anonymous, Cincinnati, OH

This was okay, but mine is better! I use lots of greens, not romaine, but healthier baby spring mixes, more cilantro, chopped red onion, a little jicama (julienned), fresh tomatoes (chopped), jalepenos or serranos thrown in for spice, some avocado, a few black olives thown in and use reduced fat cheddar (Trader Joe's has an excellant one) and a vegetarian could even substitute some tofu burger for the turkey, although I used shredded chicken breast instead. Just add all the veggies you like and it's much healthier. My husband, who normally likes taco salad swimming in grease and tons of cheese really liked it due to the added flavor of the peppers and onions I used- I left the salsa on the side the whole time and made my own, maybe not as easy, but definitely tastier and healthier.

Anonymous, Big Bear City, CA

Please clarify the fat grams per serving in the nutritional information. It says 14 grams per serving, this seems high. Yet in the breakdown it only accounts for 6 grams between saturated and mono-unsaturated. Thanks.

Anonymous, chicago, IL

This was excellent. I forgot to use the cheddar cheese but didn't miss it. To anyone who thought it was too high in calories, remember that this is a full meal salad!

Anonymous, Sterling, IL

My husband and I thought this salad was great. Very tasty. You could easily add more veggies to it as another review said, maybe some corn, or even avocado. And any sort of beans would work if you did not have kidney beans on hand. However, I agree with another poster...the fat content must be way off. 14g seems high considering the ingredients listed.

, Westland, MI

This has become a staple in our house: It's easy and fast, it tastes much better than high-sodium taco mixes, I like the fact that it's a salad, and my kids eat it all.

Anonymous, Arlington, VA

I love this salad i have made it now about 5 times. my husband who "wont eat rabbit food" actually has requested that i make this salad again. it is filling, yummy and ONLY 7 weight watcher points! its great! what i do is make the whole receipe then save the meat and have it again at lunch the next day.

, irvine, ca

As someone mentioned it is a full meal salad so you have to take that in account when looking at the fat content ...I always will add & change things to my family's tastes. I have started using plain yogurt in place of sour cream which will cut down on the fat & that doesn't change the flavour.

nancy , canada

Absolutely delicious meal. Best taco salad I've ever had and best yet, it's good for you !!!

, Oak Lawn, Il

You can always use fat free sour cream and low fat cheese to bring the fat grams down. I think you're missing the big picture though about what's so great about this recipe, it's a meal in itself, and look...10 grams of fiber!!!

, Devine, TX

Made this last night and really enjoyed it! It's nice to find flavorful healthy recipes that don't take a lot of time. I did without the chips and used fat free sour cream - it was delicious!

Elle, Cincinnati, OH

This has become our families favorite taco salad... favorite taco period. Very fast to make and full of flavor.

John, Oak Lawn, IL

This is excellent!! And fits great into my Weight Watchers plan as its only 7 points and is VERY filling!! I have made this a few times and have yet to be able to finish a serving. My husband and kids love it and request it. Nice summer dinner. Try it and ENJOY!!!! You wont be disappointed!

Michelle, Port Orchard, WA

This recipe looks very good but the weird part is the directions say: "Add lettuce to the remaining salsa mixture in the bowl; toss to coat. " Why would you mix the lettuce into the salsa and make it all mushy? The photo shows a bed of plain crispy lettuce with the salsa topping. Just curious.

Iris Cohn, Commack, NY

This main dish salad is easy and delicious. You have to look at the whole picture as far as fat and calories are concerned. Ground turkey has a certain amount of fat in its composition. To the person who thought this recipe was "terrible" you might like a can of red beans on plain lettuce.

holly, Nashville, TN

To the "foodie whiners", please keep it to yourself. This is a great recipe. Eating Well is a godsend for all of us. Follwing any of the suggestions/recipe increases our Country's health dramatically.

RD, Sacramento, CA

Slimy, but good filling for a burrito. Where is the taco or tortilla that is suppose to be in a taco salad?

Robert Patton, Cathedral City, CA

Whoever was critical with this recipe... they're not invited for dinner. It was fabulous!

Anonymous, Rockville, MD

This was really good and I will definitely be making again. It wasn't very spicy so I added some hot sauce when we ate. Next time I'll add more of the spices too. And I think the suggestions to add black olives and corn would be a great addition. Also would be good with some additional chopped tomatoes when served. To Anonymous in NY and any others who "rate" this recipe when you haven't made it, please stop. The point is to see a rating from others who have tried the recipe. If you rate it based on what you think of the recipe you are distorting the concept. Those of us who will actually try the recipe really don't need to know your personal opinion of the overall recipe. And spices are bad for you??? If you don't like the ingredients, don't make it. But spare us your uneducated opinions.

Anne, Wilmington, DE

This was pretty simple to put together. Liked the salad. My daughter did too and she tends to be very picky with her food. Definitely a keeper.

Nelida Baker, Harker Heights, TX

to the commenter who wrote this had "a lot of hot spices which are bad for you"? Seriously? 1) since when is cumin "hot" and 2) if you know ANYTHING about nutrition, which you clearly don't, spices and garlic are very good for you! This was excellent, and could be even less fat if you used a low fat cheese (or better yet left it out)

Sam888, Philadelphia, PA