Taco salad bowls have become a popular way to serve taco salads. They provide a convenient edible vessel to hold all the tasty taco ingredients. But what exactly are these bowls made of? There are a few different options when it comes to taco salad bowl materials. Keep reading to find out what the most common taco salad bowls are made from.
Fried Tortilla Bowls
One of the most popular options for taco salad bowls are fried tortilla bowls. These are made by taking corn or flour tortillas and shaping them into a bowl form. The tortillas are then fried until they become crispy, yet still maintain their bowl shape.
Fried tortilla bowls are often made fresh in restaurants. But you can also find mass-produced ones that are pre-fried and packaged for convenience. The pre-made fried tortilla bowls are seasoned and come in different sizes for individual servings or for multiple servings.
Pros
There are a few benefits to using fried tortilla taco salad bowls:
- They have an authentic taco flavor and crispy texture
- Customizable size for one serving or larger gatherings
- Edible bowl minimizes dishes
- Can be made fresh or purchased pre-made
Cons
Some potential downsides to fried tortilla taco salad bowls include:
- Less healthy than non-fried options
- Can get soggy if filled too far in advance
- Pre-made ones can have preservatives
- Need to be made carefully to avoid breaking
Baked Tortilla Bowls
For a healthier alternative, some choose to bake their tortilla taco salad bowls instead of frying them. The process is similar, shaping corn or flour tortillas into a bowl form. But instead of deep frying, the tortillas are brushed or sprayed with oil and baked until crispy.
The baked tortilla bowls maintain their shape while becoming crispy in the oven. Since they aren’t fried, they are lower in fat and calories compared to their fried counterpart. They make a lighter and healthier vessel for taco salads.
Pros
Baked tortilla taco salad bowls offer a few advantages:
- Much lower in fat and calories than fried
- Still crispy and full of taco flavor
- Easy to make at home
- Customizable with different oil, seasonings, etc.
Cons
Some possible cons of baked tortilla taco salad bowls include:
- Can lose their shape if baked improperly
- Not as crispy as fried tortilla bowls
- Need to watch closely while baking
- Don’t have the same rich flavor as fried
Tostada Bowls
In Mexican cuisine, tostadas are toasted or fried corn tortillas that are flat and crisp. These crisp tortilla discs can also double as the shell for taco salads. When served upright like a bowl, they create an edible vessel for taco salad ingredients.
Tostada shells offer a different look and feel than shaped tortilla taco salad bowls. They have a casual vibe for serve-yourself style taco salads. The tostada shell stays ultra crispy, even when loaded up with taco fixings.
Pros
Some pros for using tostada shells for taco salads include:
- Tostadas have an iconic Mexican cuisine vibe
- They stay crispy when loaded with ingredients
- Easy to serve yourself style
- Lower fat than deep fried tortilla bowls
- Can be found pre-made or made from scratch
Cons
A few potential downsides of tostada taco salad shells:
- Can crack more easily than shaped bowls
- Ingredients can more easily fall off
- Less customization options
- Pre-made ones can have preservatives
- Not as sturdy of an edible vessel
Wonton Wrappers
For an unconventional take, some make taco salad bowls out of wonton wrappers. Wonton wrappers are thin squares of dough that can be baked into cup shapes. They are more commonly used for making wontons and egg rolls.
But their ability to hold a cup shape when baked also lends itself well to taco salad bowls. The baked wonton cups provide a crispy edible container to load up with taco fillings.
Pros
Some benefits of using wonton wrappers for taco salad bowls:
- Unique look compared to traditional tortilla bowls
- Crispy and crunchy texture
- Versatile to use with Asian inspired tacos
- Easy to shape the wrappers into bowl cups
- Low fat option
Cons
Some drawbacks to wonton wrapper taco salad bowls:
- Not as authentically Mexican
- More time consuming to make
- Can become soggy if over-filled
- Not as sturdy as tortilla bowls
- Need to be careful not to burn while baking
Lettuce Bowls
For a lower carb option, some opt to use lettuce cups or leaves in place of tortilla bowls. Iceberg or romaine lettuce leaves can be used as edible vessels for taco salad ingredients. This allows you to skip the starch from the tortillas or wontons.
Lettuce bowls are also very low in calories and rich in nutrients like vitamins A and C. The crisp lettuce provides enough structure to contain the taco salad mixture. And the leaves can help keep the fillings from getting soggy.
Pros
Some benefits to using lettuce wraps for taco salads:
- Low carb alternative
- Packed with nutrients
- Adds a fresh crunch and flavor
- Helps reduce sogginess
- Naturally low calorie
Cons
Some possible downsides of lettuce taco salad bowls:
- Not as sturdy or custom to shape
- Can tear more easily
- Not as filling without the carbs/starch
- Not as fun to eat for some
- Need to eat carefully to avoid ingredients falling out
Radish Bowls
For another low carb taco salad bowl option, try using radish halves. Small radishes can be sliced in half and hollowed out a bit to create little bowls. The radish bowls can then be filled with all the taco ingredients.
This makes for a fun and pretty presentation. The spicy radish flavor also complements the taco seasonings nicely. Plus you get an extra serving of veggies by using the edible radish bowls.
Pros
Some potential advantages of radish taco salad bowls include:
- Low carb alternative
- Fun, unique presentation
- Brings a tasty radish kick
- Adds extra vegetable nutrition
- Naturally low calories
Cons
Some possible drawbacks to radish taco salad bowls:
- More time consuming to make
- Not as sturdy as tortilla bowls
- Can’t customize size as easily
- Radish flavor isn’t for everyone
- Ingredients may more easily fall out
Jicama Bowls
Jicama is a starchy vegetable that can also stand in for tortillas as taco salad bowls. Jicama has a mildly sweet and crunchy flesh. When sliced into rounds and hollowed out, it can form edible cups for taco salads.
The jicama bowls serve as a lower carb option while adding fiber, potassium and vitamin C. And the crisp jicama offers a nice juxtaposition of texture against the other taco fillings.
Pros
Some potential benefits of using jicama for taco salad bowls:
- Lower carb alternative
- Adds crunch and a sweet accent
- Packed with fiber and nutrients
- Interesting substitute to tortilla bowls
- Sturdy vessel for holding ingredients
Cons
Some possible downsides to jicama taco salad bowls include:
- More time consuming to hollow out
- Jicama flavor not appealing to some
- Can’t customize size/shape as easily
- Not a traditional Mexican ingredient
- May be prone to breaking if too thin
Bell Pepper Bowls
For another fun veggie-based taco salad bowl, use bell pepper halves. Bell peppers naturally form little bowls when sliced in half and hollowed out a bit. The colorful peppers add a dose of extra nutrition to your taco salad.
Red, yellow, orange or green peppers all make excellent edible vessels for taco salad ingredients. The peppers add a bit of sweetness while also being low cal and crisp.
Pros
Some possible benefits of bell pepper taco salad bowls:
- Brighten up the look of the salad
- Packed with vitamin C and other nutrients
- Sweet and crunchy texture
- Fun way to add more veggies
- Naturally low calorie
Cons
Some potential downsides to bell pepper taco salad bowls:
- More time consuming to prepare
- Can’t customize size or shape
- Pepper flavors may clash with some fillings
- Not as sturdy as tortilla bowls
- Ingredients may fall out easier
Corn Chip Bowls
For a quick and simple option, you can mold corn chips into taco salad bowls. Corn chips lend lots of crispy texture and corny flavor. Their bowl shape helps contain taco salad toppings.
Sturdier corn chips work best, so they don’t break when molded into a bowl form. While not as tidy, broken corn chip pieces can also function as an edible base for taco salad fixings.
Pros
Some pros of using corn chips as taco salad containers:
- Quick and easy to make
- Chips add crunchy texture
- Fun way to repurpose corn chips
- Good use for broken chips
- Corn flavor complements tacos
Cons
Some potential cons to corn chip taco salad bowls include:
- Can easily break apart
- Not as tidy or uniform as tortilla bowls
- Salty flavor may not appeal to some
- Often made with unhealthy oils
- Less sturdy than other vessels
Comparison of Pros and Cons
To summarize the key benefits and disadvantages of the different taco salad bowl options:
| Bowl Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Fried Tortilla | Authentic flavor, customizable, edible | High fat/calories, gets soggy |
| Baked Tortilla | Lower fat, still crispy, easy to make | Can lose shape, not as crispy |
| Tostada | Iconic, stays crispy, self-serve style | Prone to cracking, ingredients fall off |
| Wonton Wrapper | Unique, crunchy, versatile, low fat | Not authentic, gets soggy, delicate |
| Lettuce Leaf | Low carb/calorie, fresh, nutritious | Not as sturdy, ingredients fall out |
| Radish | Fun presentation, radish flavor, low carb | Time consuming, not sturdy, strong flavor |
| Jicama | Low carb, crunchy, sturdy, nutritious | Time consuming, non-traditional, can break |
| Bell Pepper | Colorful, sweet crunch, low cal, nutritious | Time consuming, not sturdy, ingredients fall out |
| Corn Chips | Quick, crunchy texture, uses broken chips | Easily breaks, unhealthy oils, less tidy |
Conclusion
Taco salad bowls come in many varieties, each with their own pros and cons. Fried and baked tortilla bowls reign supreme for their authentic taco flavor and ability to customize size and shape. But creative alternatives like lettuce, radishes, or peppers can add nutrients and bright flavors while keeping calories down.
No matter which edible bowl you choose, the true star of the dish is the zesty taco salad fillings. The bowl is just a convenient, crunchy vessel to transport all those tasty taco toppings into your mouth. So don’t be afraid to think outside the (taco salad) bowl and try inventive ways to serve this Tex-Mex favorite.