Clean Lean Taco Salad

Taco Salad anyone?!

Taco salad usually means a heapin' helpin' of extra calories disguised as a salad ( and that doesn't include the edible corn n' oil made bowl!).

Why disguise all the fresh deliciousness that Mexican cuisine has to offer with fakeness ad fat?!Plus for me, I suffer from I.B.S. so I try to avoid dairy and excess fat as often as possible since those too things seem to be a big trigger for me.

This is my version of a CLEAN'ed up Taco Salad. My man loved it, so I figure that means it's share worthy. He likes fresh, but he sure doesn't like flavorless! Which this recipe is NOT.

To make the meat mixture:

Extra lean ground turkey (about 1 kg) 

TACO SEASONING

- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1.5 tsp smoked sweet paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- .5 tsp himilayan sea salt
- sprinkle of cayenne ( I would use more but my kids would not eat it!)
- 1 tsp epicure chili lime sansel (optional) 
If you don't use the chili lime Sansell then I would just make sure that you squeeze the juice of at least half a fresh lime into it
- 1 red pepper diced

Start cooking turkey in a skillet on med to high heat, when partially cooked I add the spice mixture, and diced red pepper,  and continue cooking till done. Remove from heat when cooked. You can put the warm meat on the top,or let it cool and serve it cold. I like it both ways personally!

SPINACH (for salad base)

Sure I like fresh organic spinach from our local farmers market. Thats ALWAYS my first choice. But in the winter in a pinch, Costco has organic spinach in their fridge! 
Cilantro (optional)

GUACAMOLE- YUM!

- 1 avocado
- garlic powder
- chilli powder
- sea salt
- squeeze of fresh lemon juice

My version is not traditional. But it is simple and tasty!

I just take 1 ripe avocado, peel it and remove the pit. Then I place it in a bowl and add a generous squeeze of fresh lemon juice (I said not traditional, so yes lemon, not lime). Then I add a pinch of garlic powder, chilli powder, and sea salt. (sorry I don't measure, I do it to taste). I would avise you use the chilli powder sparingly however! If I had to guess, I'd say start with 1/2 tsp of sea salt, 1/2 tsp of garlic powder and 1/8 tsp of chilli powder. Then adjust from there.

I serve up plates individually, so I put my spinach on the plate first. Then I wash and dice some cilantro and then add about 1-2 tbls on top of the spinach. Then I glob on the guacamole. I usually just kinda plop it on around the salad like 6 globs or so, lol (Ya ok, maybe not fancy but it tastes awesome and i just mash it all up anyways!). Then I place the meat on the top, pour some salsa on the top, and thn add one more sprinkle of cilantro. Done!

This is one of the simplest meals and if my kids are eating with us, I usually add cheese and put it in an ezekiel wrap for them with some diced tomato, and a bit of diced spinach. They are still little and not too big on salads yet. Easy peasy!

*21 Day Fix Portions - 2 Green, 1 red,1 blue  Measure out your spinach first. Then measure your meat, and of course your guac. So simple and fast!