Taco Rice Salad

This is a super quick and easy recipe for those nights when you just don't feel like cooking. Using ground turkey instead of ground beef will help reduce saturated fats and red meats from your diet.

Oh and for those vegetarians out there this can be easily adapted just warm the beans with the rice and spices instead of ground turkey :)

If you don't find enough flavor with just the salad you can add a simple sour cream dressing.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 garlic clove
• 3 cups cooked brown rice
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin (I add a about a half tablespoon seeds for crunch)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 6 cups spinach
• 3 cups chopped tomato
• 1/2 red onion (I found it to be a bit overpowering and may leave it out next time)
• 1 can black beans rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese (full fat for those who like to indulge)
  

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in pan over medium high heat. Add ground turkey and cook until browned.
2. Add rice and next four ingredients and mix.
3. Combine spinach, tomato, red onion and black beans in a bowl and toss.
4. Place 1 1/3 lettuce mixture in bowls and top is 3/4 cup of rice mixture and about 1 1/2 tablespoon cheese.

Quick Sour Cream Dressing

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup fat free sour cream
• 2/3 cup picante sauce
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients and mix well.