Mexican Chopped Salad
Another Robin Miller hit!!! This meal took all of 10 minutes to throw together, thanks to morphed chicken and leftover veggies. And it was fantastic! Filling and full of variety. I think the green apples were my favorite part 🙂
I pretty much followed the recipe, but here’s what went in:
- 1/2 cup leftover chopped chicken
- Can of pinto beans, drained
- About 1/2 cup chopped leftover grilled bell peppers and squash
- About 2/3 a cup of frozen corn (heated in skillet)
- 1 cup leftover green beans
- An un-recallable amount of shredded Mexican low-fat cheese. Probably 3/4 a cup?
- 1/4 cup chopped pickled jalapeños
- 2 small tomatoes, de-seeded and chopped
- 1 Granny Smith apple, chopped
Dressing:
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tsp EVOO
- Salt (2 pinches)
- Splash hot sauce
- 1 tsp cumin (untoasted – I wasn’t going to dirty up another skillet!)
I think that’s all of the ingredients!?
Method
- Heat corn in skillet until hot.
- Add chicken, beans, veggies, and tomatoes and cook until hot.
- Toss in a large bowl with jalapeños, cheese and apple.
- Add dressing.
(Some of my ingredients were icy cold and I thought the beans and chicken would be better hot, so I heated the bulk of the salad in a skillet. But it would be great as a room temp. salad.)
We also each had a piece of Spelt toast from the loaf we received from the CSA delivery (see below)
My portion:
The apples in a salad reminded me of all the wonderful potluck suppers I have attended – good memories minus the gloppy mayonnaise!
Reflections
This meal was actually a big step for me. We normally make dinners for two and rarely have leftovers. Mostly because I don’t like leftovers or eating the same meal twice in a row, but also because it’s much easier to measure portions and be accurate with the calories when you’re splitting a meal evenly in half. When I was making this salad I was keeping an eye (brain?) on the total calories to ensure I wasn’t going overboard adding ingredients. I reserved some of the beans for later instead of adding in the whole can and was going to not use all of the cheese, but then I decided to just throw the extras in and make it two to three portions and just take what I wanted. So we served from a bowl and I just had a portion that seemed reasonable – no thought to the calories. While I do know that my portion couldn’t really have been more than 500 calories since I know the total was probably around 1000 – 1200 calories, I am not worried/concerned/dwelling on whether it was 350 or 500 calories. That’s all part of the balance.
Green + Green
We have a half membership to a CSA this summer, which means we get fresh organic produce bi-weekly through the fall. Today was the first pickup (although we have to skip 2 weeks instead of 1 for the next). It’s all so GREEN (in more ways than one!)
Produce:
- Georgia Collards
- Siberian Kale/Red Russian Kale Mix
- Pink Beauty Radishes/Easter Egg Radishes
- Pak Choi
- Oriental Spinach/Red Leaf Lettuce Mix
Herbs
- Flat Leaf Parsley
- Curly Leaf Parsley
- Garlic Chives
- Bronze Fennel
- Chives
- Rosemary
- Cilantro
And a welcome loaf of homemade spelt bread. It’s quite good! The husband has some competition 
Snacktime!
Dentist went well, but I have a “watch on tooth number 19” 😥 Not really sure what that means (guess they’ll just re-check it in November), but I inherited my mom’s teeth so despite the fact that I floss daily and brush up to 3 times a day, I still have troubles.
When I got home I had a wonderful snack of Emmi Swiss Yogurt with fresh raspberries and wheatberries. SO good in yogurt. This was so filing too!
I LOVE this yogurt. It’s actually the opposite of Fage – runny and really sour. But something about it sits well with my palate 🙂 I can only find it at Fresh Market so I don’t get it often, but I had to make a trip there today for chicken sausage for tomorrow’s dinner and couldn’t resist.
Off to read in the hammock!
VeggieGirl says
Such a colorful salad – glad that the portion was just right for you! Robin Miller definitely has some great meal ideas.
LOOOOOOOVE your CSA box contents – I wish we had one near me (the farmer’s market isn’t exactly around the corner, but worth the trip).
Enjoy your reading time in the hammock!
Serena says
Hey Kath, Dinner looks great – I have a question for you about the cumin. Did you just put in cumin seeds untoasted, or cumin powder? I just learned recently (from a Food Network program – maybe it was AB?) that whole spices are for toasting but ground ones aren’t. I guess that makes sense but I never realized that until I heard it. So I’m wondering if you used untoasted whole spices and if so, if they had the same flavor profile, or if you normally toast ground spices and whether you think that does anything. Thanks!
Kath says
Serena ,
Yes, I just put the cumin powder in my recipe. I didn’t think it would toast well anyways. Maybe she did mean cumin seeds?!
K
Kate says
I love that first CSA pick-up! It’s a sign that summer is truly right around the corner.
Both your salads today look great–healthy, filling, fresh…yumm!
I just set my hammock up and every time I read about you hanging out in yours I head out to do the same! So relaxing.
Have a great night!
Marisa says
Hi Kath, I’m a new reader to your blog, i stumbled upon it while looking for some recipes online. I just wanted to tell you that so far i love it! Already you have given me so many ideas for healthy eating. Your photos are great and i find myself checking your blog a few times a day. Thanks!
P.S i love oatmeal too!
KatieMoo says
Your food always looks so yummy!
Sidi says
So many ingredients, so healthy, too. Love it!
hk says
Love this dinner, looks great! I’m jealous of your CSA pick-up too, the homemade bread is such a fun addition, I’m hoping I stumble across a few fresh loaves in mine 🙂 Happy reading, I’m dreaming of your hammock in exchange for my boring desk chair. Good night 🙂
Becky in MD says
I’m also jealous of the CSA…the one in my area has a waiting list year after year….I guess its to the Farmers market I go! I also have a hilarious story about our hammock….My boyfriend has been obsessed with getting one recently, so he got it and hung it in our teeny tiny backyard. We were trying it out this afternoon, and the dogs were very curious. One of them lept onto the hammock and the whole thing(including my boyfriend, the dog and I) fell to the ground! It actually broke the fence post that it was screwed into!….so much for that idea!
Jessica says
There’s so much yum in this post… but I really cringe whenever I see salt in a recipe. There’s nooo reason to add salt to anything! I’m sure it was fine in this meal Kath (seriously, not judging) because everything was fresh anyway. It’s just my initial gut reaction that goes EEEEEEEEKKKK SODIUMMMM. haha.
And for someone who asked about losing weight in another post, one way I did that recently was by cutting out salt for 2 weeks. It was hard because basically everything has to be freshed or otherwise carefully chosen, but I learned a lot and lost a lot of water weight for an event. I might do it again to sorta “cheat” for my graduation 😉
Jessica says
Oops, I meant to say losing weight *quickly*.
Nick says
You are just throwin wheatberries in everything there aren’t yea. The salad looks awesome, but I’m confused as to why there are no wheatberries in that! I always mean to make a chopped salad but I never get around to it. Something about a chopped and tossed salad is so much more appealing than a unchopped salad with dressing over the top. Perhaps it’s because you can just shovel it in with a spoon if you wish, sorta like yours and my morning oatmeal/bowl of delicious mush.
– The Peanut Butter Boy
Amandamoo says
Hey Kath,
I wanted to let you know that I made the goat cheese pistachio encrusted chicken tonight… well, I used garlic laughing cow wedges instead of goat cheese because it was all I had on hand. Anyway, it was a hit with me and the boyfriend! Thanks for passing along the delicious recipes you find!
BethT says
I have to disagree about the no salt comment. If you have low blood pressure, there is no reason not to enjoy salt in your food. (This is straight from an RD not just my opinion.) I think a bit of kosher salt, especially goes a long way in adding flavor to food, provided you watch salt that is added to other ingredients. For example, if I use a dish that calls for canned tomatoes I always get the no salt added variety.
Vive le salt! 🙂
Erika says
I rarely comment.. but I just wanted to say YAY for joining a CSA!! They’re fabulous.. plus you’re supporting local growers. Good move =]
Betsy says
i’m LOVING your CSA box. i meant to join one for this year but totally forgot. more trips to the farmers market for me!
Rosalie says
Also have to disagree with the no-salt comment…
Runners, and people who exercises often, need salt in their diets. When my boyfriend comes back from long runs, his face is encrusted with dried salt that he loses as he sweats, and he has to make sure he eats plenty of salt or else his electrolytes become imbalanced. If one doesn’t eat enough salt, one will get dehydrated, because our bodies need salt in order to hold onto water. Sounds counter-intuitive, but most of the anti-salt dietary advice is aimed at people with blood pressure problems and are less active…
This is not meant as an attack on anybody at all… just a reminder, something to consider!
PS. Kath, I’m an undergrad at duke university, so I love reading your blog and about your adventures in north carolina :]
Serena says
I agree about salt not being the enemy too. Especially for people like Kath, who eat mostly fresh and hardly any processed food and exercise a lot, some amount of salt is fine for the body. I do think that limiting salt is great way to temporarily get rid of extra water weight before an event or something like that, but that’s definitely temporary.
brownies... says
I’m still signed in as “brownies…” so I’ll leave it:) But Kath, when/why did you decide to quit counting calories or measuring…I read daily but I think I missed something, and I went back to look and still can’t find it.
Also, those raspberries look AMAZING. Glad I’m going to the store tomorrow:)
emily says
Not to beat the whole “salt vs. no salt” thing into the ground but in addition to the fact that a Little salt can be a healthy diet addition (if you are adding your own iodized salt, canned food saltiness has nada health benefits), salt is necessary to enhance the flavor profiles of many dishes. That’s why so many (all?) dessert recipes with chocolate call for salt, and where the new salty carmal trend came from.
…..I think I watch too much Food Network.
…..I also feel I should defend myself that I am Not up this late due to my Food Network addiction, but rather due to my status as a first year teacher in nyc!
Mom says
Rosalie,
Kath is the daughter of two Blue Devils and the granddaughter of another one. In fact one of her first bibs said, “I’m a little Blue Devil.” Sent by the alumni office.
Katie says
That salad looks amazing! And I’m way jealous you got in a CSA. I’ve been on the waiting list at a local one for a few years now. 🙁
Jessica says
Hey Beth and everyone,
Yeah, I agree – I’m not on a low salt diet or anything and my BP is low, and again, I definitely didn’t mean to criticize Kath’s use of it. It’s just an initial reaction when I see salt in most recipes where everything else is already loaded with sodium. It was definitely a wake up call to see how much salt is in everything, even once I started cooking even tons of stuff I considered healthy. So yeah, it’s fine to add salt when you eat mostly fresh. But it’s also something I see a ton of those nutrition and diet magazines overlook, and cutting it out is an easy way to lose water weight quickly. That’s all.
oatmeal says
I love your colorful salads! I can’t believe that took 10 minutes to prepare!
And you’ve gotten me interested in wheatberries..now if only I can find a place that sells them!
Melissa (the other one) says
Okay……Sorry to seem naive or uncultured 🙂 but what the heck is a CSA? It sounds wonderful….although I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t have one in my tiny little town in WI, but I’ve never heard of it.
Kath says
Marisa ,
Welcome to KERF! Glad you’re liking some of the recipes 🙂
Becky in MD,
Since ours is the Mexican woven kind, we don’t have a flipping risk. More of a “get tangled” risk.
Hilarious hammock story
Jessica ,
I rarely salt my food and eat low-sodium this and that, so I do add kosher salt to vegetables and salad dressings – I think it really enhances the flavor. But I hear ya on this sodium-ized society.
Amandamoo ,
Awesome the chicken was good! I meant to say you could use any soft cheese – like cream cheese – but I didn’t think of Laughing Cow. Great idea!!
Brownies,
Here’s the announcement post:
https://www.katheats.com/?p=3643
Melissa (the other one),
CSA = Community Support Agriculture. You basically purchase a share of a farm and get a share of the produce each week (or every other week in our case). Check out http://www.localharvest.org for more info!
Kath
Chelsea says
I got my weekly box delivered yesterday. I got sunchokes in it and can’t wait to experiment with those!!!!