This is a go-to dinner around here lately.
It seriously comes together SO FAST and is a crowd pleaser all around.
One of the best things about this “recipe” is that you can satisfy a whole range of eaters by adding in cheese, sour cream, beans and/or tortillas!
Not every husband or kiddo is interested in giving up grains and dairy, so this dish allows you to cater to everyone without much extra effort :)
Let me just say that this home-made taco seasoning is THE BOMB. It’s super easy to make, has NO SALT, and can be stored for a long long time in a mason jar or tupperware-type container.
Forget those taco seasoning packs at the grocery…they are packed with salt and often contain MSG too. I like to quadruple or quintuple this batch to get a bulk of seasoning to be used again and again.
The creaminess of the avocados combined with the tang and liquid of the salsa create a nice “dressing” for the salad without having to add any bottled dressing or oil.
This meal is seriously so quick and easy that it hardly seems like a recipe, but we love it so I had to share!
- FOR THE SALAD
- 1lb ground turkey
- Several tablespoons homemade taco seasoning (recipe below)
- 3 hearts of Romaine Lettuce
- 1 large cucumber
- 2 ripe avocados
- 2-3 roma tomatoes
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 4 scallions (green onions)
- approx 1 cup salsa (or more depending on how "wet" you like your salad)
- FOR THE TACO SEASONING
- 4 tbsp. chili powder
- 3 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. paprika
- 3 tbsp. ground cumin
- 1 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1⁄4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- TO ASSEMBLE TACO SEASONING
- Combine all spices in an airtight container and shake well to mix.
- TO ASSEMBLE SALAD
- Set a pan over medium high heat and cook ground turkey until it is no longer pink, stirring frequently.
- While you're cooking the turkey, chop romaine hearts and divide among 4 large salad plates.
- Stir turkey to make sure it is cooking evenly.
- Chop cucumber, avocado, tomatoes, bell pepper, and scallions and add evenly to each plate of lettuce.
- When turkey is no longer pink, add several tablespoons (I usually use 3-4) of the homemade taco seasoning and stir to fully incorporate. If the meat is somewhat dry, splash a little water into the pan to loosen everything up and help the seasoning coat the meat crumbles evenly.
- When the meat is fully cooked and seasoned, top each salad with approximately ¼ the total amount.
- Top with salsa and a few crushed tortilla chips (optional - not paleo) and enjoy!
- Any extra cooked & seasoned meat can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week!
