Spicy Avocado Crunch Salad

Spicy Avocado Crunch Salad

This light and crisp spicy avocado crunch salad is packed full of nutrients that will keep you feeling full and satisfy your taste buds. I love to eat this alone and use it as a topper for taco bowls, tostadas and quesadillas or with chips as an awesome party appetizer. You really can’t go wrong with it.

Let the salad sit in the fridge for 20-30 minutes before serving. It will bring everything to the same temperature and allow the flavors to mingle. If you do this WAIT to add the avocado until after it has been chilled.

While I include measurements for fresh and dried garlic, I highly suggest you use fresh garlic. If you don’t have fresh cilantro, the salad is still good without!

INGREDIENTS + DIRECTIONS

My love for even easy measurements is pretty clear in this orzo salad recipe as well. 1 cup measurement guides the ingredients and the dressing is made of tablespoons. Hope it makes the dish as easy for you as it is delicious!

summer salad recipe

  • Can of Corn (rinsed)
  • Can of Black Beans (rinsed)
  • Whole Bell Pepper (chopped)
  • 1 Package of Cherry Tomatoes (chopped)
  • Red Onion (1/2 cup diced)
  • 2 Medium Avocados Diced
  • 3 Limes (juiced)
  • Cilantro (3 TBSP diced)
  • 3 Garlic Cloves (or 1 tsp dried)
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • Olive Oil (1 tsp)
  • 1 Jalapeño (diced – or Trader Joe’s Crispy Jalapeño pieces)
  • Sea salt

NUTRITION FACTS

These are estimates. I am not a food scientist, nutritionist or dietician. This information should not be used as medical or nutritional advice. 

361 Calories and 10 grams of protein per serving (4 servings)

summer salad recipe

DIRECTIONS

Chop up all the vegetables into comparable sizes, except the avocado. Drain and rinse the black beans and corn and toss everything in the same bowl. I tend to chop my vegetables up smaller, but do what feels right to you.

Dice up your fresh garlic, jalapeño cilantro and mix in with the veggies. If you are using the Trader Joe’s Jalapeño Crisps, put that on just before eating. Let individuals add how much they want.

Toss in olive oil, fresh squeezed lime juice, cumin and top with sea salt. Mix it all up making sure everything is covered well.

If you have time pop the salad in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes to bring everything to the same temperature, then add avocado. But if you are ready to serve gently mix in the diced avocado and enjoy your spicy avocado crunch salad!

summer salad recipe

COMPANION DISHES

Mike and I both ate this as our main dish, but it was a little too spicy for Freddy since we did both fresh jalapeño and topped it with the crisps.

This spicy avocado crunch salad would go well as a side or a topper, as I mentioned above, to any Mexican style dinner you are making. We used the leftovers as a topping on our burrito bowls two nights later.

It would be great with this Tostada recipe I shared before!

I hope you enjoy!

-Chellie

 

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Warm Orzo Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Feta

Warm Orzo Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Feta

I am quite honestly obsessed with this salad. Bold flavor and an ideal ratio of grain to roasted vegetables is what this orzo salad is built on. I stress to you, do not skimp on the vegetable portions even if you think it seems like a lot.

I’d say the serving size is 2-4 people depending on if you are serving it as a main dish or a side.

A few important things to note:

  • The flavor is the best when this dish is warm. Yes, it is still good cold, but only as leftovers and because you don’t have access to reheat it.
  • You can vary the vegetables based on what you have on hand, but these were some of my favorite to roast.

INGREDIENTS + DIRECTIONS

My love for even easy measurements is pretty clear in this orzo salad recipe as well. 1 cup measurement guides the ingredients and the dressing is made of tablespoons. Hope it makes the dish as easy for you as it is delicious!

  • Orzo (1 cup dry)
  • Feta (1 cup crumbles)
  • Zucchini (1 cup chopped)
  • Bell Pepper (1 cup chopped)
  • Broccoli (1 cup chopped with stems)
  • Cauliflower (1 cup chopped with stems)
  • Red Onion (1/2 cup diced)
  • Olive Oil (for roasting)
  • Fresh Ground Black Pepper (for roasting and dressing)
  • Sea salt (for dressing)
  • Plain Hummus (2 TBSP)
  • Dijon Mustard (1 TBSP)
  • Large Lemon (1/2)
  • Red Wine Vinegar (1 TBSP)

NUTRITION FACTS

These are estimates. I am not a food scientist, nutritionist or dietician. This information should not be used as medical or nutritional advice. 

358 Calories and 14 grams of protein per serving (4 servings) 

DIRECTIONS

Chop up all the vegetables into comparable sizes. I choose to go on the smaller side, which speeds up the roasting and allows for a little bit of everything in each bite. Toss in olive oil and fresh ground black pepper before spreading on a baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Be careful to not roast to mush!

Cook your orzo per the package directions. Try to time roasting and orzo to finish around the same time.

While everything is cooking make the dressing by combining the hummus, dijon mustard, lemon and red wine vinegar in a small dish. Add fresh ground black pepper to taste, I love black pepper so I always go heavier. Add some sea salt to taste, mix well and you are done.

Note – I elected to go lighter on the salt because feta has a nice salt taste that I didn’t think needed to be contended with.

Combine the orzo, roasted veggies and feta in a serving bowl, then pour on the dressing. Mix and enjoy your freshly prepared orzo salad immediately.

COMPANION DISHES

I ate this as my main dish for dinner and Freddy even had some of the peppers. For a toddler he loves bold flavors. If I were to serve it as a side I think it would go well with lemon herbed chicken breasts, lamb chops roasted with olives and tomatoes or grilled salmon.

I hope you enjoy!

As far as the Mike stamp of approval goes, he loved it. Now he only had it cold, which to me means he didn’t get to experience it in all its glory. But, it still passed the Mike test and got a ton of veggies in for the day.

-Chellie

 

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Fit Finds: The Ultimate 2023 Fitness Gift Guide

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The Power of Social Proof In Personal Training

In the world of personal training, where trust and credibility play pivotal roles, the concept of social proof functions as an authentic way to connect with your audience. Social proof, the influence created when individuals see others engaging in a particular...

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Quinoa Salad with Olives, Feta and Cucumber

Quinoa Salad with Olives, Feta and Cucumber

This is my go to quinoa salad 100% because of the feta and olives. I love the simplicity and flexibility of the recipe that allows you to make adjustments to your personal preference.

I know I can’t be alone it this approach… do you have grocery list staples? Things you buy every week no matter what? Well, I do. And that is how this salad was made. These veggies are every week buys. And the olives and feta we get at Costco, because we use them so often.

INGREDIENTS + DIRECTIONS

One of the easiest things about this recipe is the measurements. When in doubt add 1 cup of the ingredient. Take a look below you’ll see!

  • Quinoa (1 cup dry)
  • Feta (1/2 – 1 cup crumbles)
  • Kalamata olives or Mixed Greek olives (1 cup pitted and chopped)
  • Cucumber (1 cup chopped)
  • Cherry Tomatoes (1 cup chopped)
  • Bell Pepper (1 cup chopped)
  • Red Onion (1/4 – 1/2 cup diced)
  • Garlic Olive Oil (1 TBSP)
  • Balsamic Vinegar (2-3 TBSP)
  • Cracked Black Pepper
  • Red Pepper Flake (optional)

ingredients for quinoa salad

DIRECTIONS

Cook your quinoa per the package directions. I am personally, not into the pre-rinse step of quinoa. I know that may be controversial, but mine turns out just fine without it.

Chop up all the veggies and olives and toss them into whatever you will serve the quinoa salad in, less dishes is always a good thing. Toss the veggies and olives in the garlic olive oil, balsamic vinegar and cracked black pepper.

After the quinoa has cooled down put that in the bowl with your dressed veggies and combine. Add your feta and give it a taste test, you may want to add a bit more oil or vinegar because the quinoa will really soak it up. Top it off with some red pepper flakes if you like a little kick and you are done.

Chill the dish in the fridge before eating or serving!

On my life it really is that easy. And I find it gets better day 2. So easy for weekday dinners, weekend dinner parties and your packed lunches.

COMPANION DISHES

In all honesty I could eat just this quinoa salad for any meal, but when I’m feeding a room I like to include this salad with any Mediterranean theme dish like a spinach stuffed chicken breast or garlic shrimp kabobs on the grill. I also think it pairs well with lemon and pine nut roasted asparagus.

I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer – Mike did not eat this. He will turn and run from quinoa. There is no cheese or olive game strong enough to make Mike eat quinoa. 

Fit Finds: The Ultimate 2023 Fitness Gift Guide

Fit Finds: The Ultimate 2023 Fitness Gift Guide

Welcome to the world of fitness and wellness gifting! As we gear up for 2023, it's time to start setting goals and looking for resources to help us succeed. Whether you're a fitness fanatic or seeking the perfect gift for one, our Ultimate 2023 Fitness Gift Guide is...

read more
The Power of Social Proof In Personal Training

The Power of Social Proof In Personal Training

In the world of personal training, where trust and credibility play pivotal roles, the concept of social proof functions as an authentic way to connect with your audience. Social proof, the influence created when individuals see others engaging in a particular...

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