Simple BLT Salad

A great vegan BLT sandwich is one of the simplest kinds of satisfying sandwiches there are. Once in a while, though, the sandwich idea sounds good, but a little change-up is in order. This salad has all the flavors of a good BLT, but the “B” is not vegan bacon. It's for the black beans in the recipe. This salad is complete with homemade croutons and a mayo-based dressing.

SIMPLE BLT SALAD [VEGAN]

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tablespoons neutral oil, divided
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
• 1 tablespoon tamari
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 4 to 5 cups cubed day-old bread
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar
• 6 cups shredded lettuce
• 1 cup sliced grape or cherry tomatoes

PREPARATION

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and beans and cook until the beans are heated through, about 2 minutes. Stir in the nutritional yeast and cook for 1 minutes. Stir in the tamari and smoke and cook until the liquid evaporates. Set aside.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the cubed bread and cook until the bread is turning golden brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in the thyme, garlic powder and season with salt and black pepper. Stir and cook until the bread is crunchy, about 5 more minutes. Stir in the paprika and set aside.
3. Combine the mayo and vinegar in a small bowl, mixing well with a whisk. Toss the mayo mixture with the lettuce, tomatoes and beans in a large bowl. Top with the croutons and serve immediately.

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/simple-vegan-blt-salad/