Name: Quick ’n Healthy Taco Salad
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: Dressing; 1/3 cup light sour cream; 1/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt; 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, loosely packed; 2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime); 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt; Salad; Cooking spray; 1 medium red bell pepper, diced; 3/4 pound lean ground beef; 1/2 teaspoon chili powder; 3/4 cup salsa; 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce; 2 green onions, sliced; 3/4 cup reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese; 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges; Reduced-fat tortilla strips, optional

Quick ’n Healthy Taco Salad

Toss those dull lettuce bowls and try a delicious Quick ’n Healthy Taco Salad. This recipe is courtesy of Eat More of What You Love: Over 200 Brand-New Recipes Low in Sugar, Fat, and Calories, by award-winning registered dietitian and New York Times best-selling cookbook author Marlene Koch.

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Ingredients

Dressing
1/3 cup light sour cream
1/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, loosely packed
2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime)
1/8 teaspoon garlic salt
Salad
Cooking spray
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 cup salsa
6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
2 green onions, sliced
3/4 cup reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese
2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
Reduced-fat tortilla strips, optional

Directions

Yield:
4 servings

Serving size:
1 salad (1/4 of recipe)

1. Combine all ingredients for dressing in a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Spray a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Add diced pepper and sauté 3 to 4 minutes, or until slightly softened. Add the beef and chili powder to the pan and sauté 5 to 6 minutes, or until meat is well-browned. Stir in the salsa and cook for one minute to combine.

3. Place 1 1/2 cups chopped lettuce onto each of four plates. Top each salad with 3/4 cup of the meat mixture. Sprinkle on 1/4 of the green onions, 3 tablespoons cheese and 3 tablespoons of dressing. Garnish with tomato wedges and optional tortilla strips, if desired.

Calories: 280 calories, Carbohydrates: 11 g Sugars: 6 g, Protein: 27 g, Fat: 14 g, Saturated Fat: 7 g, Cholesterol: 45 mg, Sodium: 460 mg, Fiber: 3 g