Tex-Mex Turkey Rice Bowl with Avocado Dressing Recipe with Giveaway #TryTurkey

The summer is almost upon us and for my family, that means more time outdoors and less time cooking heavy meals. We are pretty active and enjoy hiking, fishing and camping whenever possible. Being a redhead the sun is not always my friend and I find I am sensitive to the heat. However I do my best to stay in the shade, use sunscreen and eat light meals. When I am not using the BBQ I like meals that are quick and easy to prepare and cook. Not fun being stuck in the kitchen when everyone else is enjoying the fresh air and warm summer atmosphere. The summer months are made for light tasty, fresh recipes that give you energy while allowing your taste buds to indulge. Turkey is one of my favourite proteins to add to fresh summer recipes any time of day.

All year long my picky family loves eating turkey and request that I stock up when we see whole turkeys in the store. Sadly the whole options are usually only seasonal, unless you live near a farmer but you can always find other turkey options in your meat aisle at the grocery store. I just picked up some breasts and thighs this week for a few recipes I know the kids will love.

Tex-Mex Turkey Rice Bowl with Avocado Dressing

Serves: 4

Prep time: 15 mins.

Cook time: 35 mins

  • 1.5 lbs boneless Turkey thighs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ tsp each: paprika, cumin, garlic powder and chili powder
  • ½ cup shredded purple cabbage
  • ½ cup diced green pepper
  • 1 cup black beans
  • ½ cup frozen peas
  • ¼ cup pea shoots (optional)
  • ¾ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 cups cooked brown rice
  • 1 lime cut into wedges

Avocado Dressing:

  • ½ cup cilantro
  • ½ cup parsley
  • ¼ cup green onion
  • 1 small or ½ large avocado
  • Juice of ½ lime
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Cut turkey into 1-inch chunks.
  2. Season turkey pieces with salt and pepper.
  3. Combine dry spices together to create a rub. Season turkey generously with spice mix.  Sauté in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes per side.  Set aside to cool.
  4. Cook peas according to package directions.
  5. Make dressing: blend all ingredients with a food processor or hand blender.
  6. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
  7. Drizzle with dressing and serve immediately with fresh lime wedges on the side.

TIP:

Cut down on weeknight prep by cooking your turkey and rice in advance.  With the main ingredients on hand, you can have this meal on the dinner table in less than 20 minutes.

Best thing about this recipe for summer is if you have a garden, you can pretty much grow all of the veggies. If not, you can pick them up at your local farmers market. One of my favourite things about summer is the market. This recipe is my 8 year old’s favourite as she loves the dark meat on the turkey. The darker juicy pieces are great for this colourful dish that will have your family asking for more. Canadian turkey’s low-fat, high-protein content makes it the ideal food to put on your table every day.

Fresh and tasty meals do not need to suck up all of your time! Add turkey to your next meal and feel good about what youa re feeding your family. I bet they will love it as much as you feel good about serving it.

Make turkey the centerpiece of your show-stopping meals for all of your family celebrations. It’s a great way to feed a crowd for occasions like Victoria Day, Father’s Day, and for festive family gatherings like spring communions, confirmations, and graduations. Just by choosing turkey, you will lighten up any meal, without compromising flavour.

Canadian Turkey makes it simple to lighten up your meals with all the recipes and HOW TOs you need. Just visit www.canadianturkey.ca for all your cooking inspiration!

Does you family enjoy turkey all year long? What is your favourite meal to have turkey in?

Giveaway

We have a fabulous prize for one lucky Canadian reader. Canadian turkey is one lucky reader a $75 Hudson’s Bay e-gift card (redeemable at The Bay, Home Outfitters, or thebay.com) Fill out the form below for your chance to win. Good luck!

 

This post has been brought to you by Canadian Turkey, all opinions are my own

Comments

  1. Francine says

    When it’s hot, I like to make a big salad, and add sliced cooked turkey for protein

  2. Lynda Cook says

    I would love to try the GRILLED TURKEY SCALLOPINI WITH KALE WALNUT PESTO, looks so delish and not to heavy of a meal either

  3. Rosanne Robinson says

    I can lighten up my meals by using Canadian turkey in a Spring Veggie, Herb Pesto and Turkey Pasta, turkey sandwiches, turkey in salads and also by replacing beef and using minced turkey in my chili and stews.

  4. Travelbuds says

    My kids and I love ceasar salads with chucks of turkey on top

  5. I would like to make their meatloaf with ground turkey instead of beef.

  6. I would use Canadian turkey as a light added protein in my salads like the Turkey Cobb & Turkey Club salads!

  7. wendy hutton says

    we love using turkey in pasta and turkey tacos

  8. Donna L. says

    I’d lighten up my meals by using turkey in a nice salad.

  9. Elva Roberts says

    I like to use turkey in sandwiches because of its low fat and good protein. I also like to use chunks of turkey in salads for the same reason. I have also used the carcass to make turkey soup and broths.

  10. Shelley N says

    I could lighten up my meals using the Turkey Spring Carbonara and putting Turkey in main salads

  11. I could lighten up some of summer meals by making turkey burgers instead of beef, the apple cheddar turkey burgers sound good.

  12. shirley p says

    SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA with asparagus and peas is a lovely salad to lighten up a meal

  13. Anu Chopra says

    I could make the SHEET PAN TURKEY DINNER WITH SPRING VEGGIES AND HERBS to lighten my meal.

  14. Dianne G. says

    I could lighten up our meals with a dish like Thai Green Curry Turkey Stir-fry.

  15. ivy pluchinsky says

    I would make turkey tacos!

  16. Jennifer P. says

    I would love to try lightening up our taco nights with turkey, especially since one of my daughters doesn’t like red meat – our weekly taco meal has dwindled to only once a month or so because of this, which makes the rest of us sad since we love taco nights. Would love to try turkey instead and hopefully bring back this weekly meal!

  17. I love the idea of making turkey tacos in lieu of beef!!

  18. edmontonjb says

    The SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA recipe on the Canadian Turkey website looks like the perfect light spring meal.

    ~Jonnie

  19. My family would love the idea of turkey tacos for a change

  20. I love a good turkey stew!

  21. Lots of great turkey recipes on the site! Grilled Turkey Scallopini with Kale Walnut Pesto sounds like a yummy way to lighten up dinner!

  22. Vivian Dionne says

    I would love to try the Spring Veggie, Herb Pesto and Turkey Pasta, for a light meal.

  23. I’d like to try the recipe for Spring Veggie, Herb Pesto and Turkey Pasta, to lighten up my meals.

  24. ginette4 says

    would love to make a lean chill with turkey instead of ground beef

  25. I like the idea of using turkey in salad, like the SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA

  26. Stephanie says

    We would love turkey tacos for dinner!

  27. I often put turkey in salads, and also use it to make turkey salad sandwiches.

  28. Turkey tacos are great for meals

  29. I like to cut the turkey into cubes and add to a fresh salad.

  30. Carole D. says

    I would like to try the Smoky Citrus Turkey Taco Salad to lighten up my meals. Looks and sound delicious!

  31. I use turkey instead of meat for chilis & spaghetti sauce 🙂

  32. I would lighten up by making the sheet pan turkey and vegetables

  33. Debbie White Beattie says

    I’d love to make SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA

  34. Doris Calvert says

    Turkey Taco’s sound good to me.

  35. Marlene J says

    TWICE BAKED TURKEY DIJON BAKED POTATOES – this sounds yummy

  36. Elizabeth Matthiesen says

    You can lighten up practically any meal using turkey rather than for example pork. I rather fancy trying the Peach Glazed Roasted Turkey Breast

  37. Dana Miller says

    I can lighten up my meals by making my family the Grilled Turkey Scallopini with Kale Walnut Pesto recipe for dinner. I can substitute turkey for other heavier, fattier meats like sausage or bacon.

  38. Martin Keating says

    With a salad mmm good

  39. lighten my meals using turkey in place of ground beef in Tacos and Nachos.

  40. Carol Denny says

    I would like to try the SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA

  41. I would use ground turkey in place of ground beef for meatballs!

  42. Mary Boudreau says

    Have a nice fessh veggie salad with turkey chopped up in the salad

  43. I would love to use turkey in my salads especially during summer months

  44. Turkey salad wraps are a healthy addition to our summer picnics!

  45. I would like to try the SHEET PAN TURKEY DINNER WITH SPRING VEGGIES AND HERBS.

  46. Tara Betterley says

    There are a lot of great recipes that I wouldn’t mine trying. This one would be so easy to make at the trailer and would be great as a side! SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA

  47. Marin Hue says

    Chunked turkey, sweet potato, beet, creamy cilantro, lime salad!

  48. I would lighten my meatballs by using Turkey instead of beef.

  49. I would love to try the recipe for SHEET PAN TURKEY DINNER WITH SPRING VEGGIES AND HERBS – looks yummy!

  50. I often replace ground beef and pork with ground turkey in my recipes.

  51. Heather Ritz says

    I add turkey to salads and love turkey and cranberry ssandwiches

  52. tjbugnet says

    I love to lighten up my meals by replacing ground beef with ground turkey. You get just as much, it just doesn’t feel so heavy.

  53. jessica s says

    Who doesn’t love a one pan meal? I would love to try Sheet Pan Turkey Dinner with Spring Veggies and Herbs . Sounds healthy and yummy!

  54. I’d love to try the SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA. Looks delicious!

  55. would make turkey tacos

  56. I want to try the Turkey Tacos!!!

  57. Jenness M says

    I would lighten my meals by grilling a turkey breast instead of steak.

  58. Oh my gosh! I think I have died and gone to heaven! I was craving something and this is exactly what I want to eat! YUM!!

  59. I love turkey but never think about buying it in place of chicken when out shopping. I will have to pick some up and try your recipe.

  60. Claudia Krusch says

    This is a great giveaway. I use ground turkey all the time instead of hamburger. I find it a lot lighter for me to digest. This recipe looks so delicious and easy to make. I will have to give it a try.

  61. we use turkey often in our tacos and burgers

  62. That sounds SO GOOD! I love turkey. I use it in all sorts of dishes from burgers to tetrazzini.

  63. Andrea Williams says

    I would love to try the Spicy Turkey Corn Chowder on a cold winter’s day!

  64. Shirley S says

    I can lighten up my meals by using ground turkey instead of ground beef. I’d love to try the Apple–Cheddar Turkey Burgers.

  65. Oh my gosh! I rarely use turkey, but would love to find ways to eat more of it, and this sounds AMAZING! thank you!

  66. Jenny Major says

    I love ceasar salads with chucks of turkey

  67. Yum! I love anything with avocados so I’m excited to try the avocado dressing. That sounds amazing.

  68. Robyn Bellefleur says

    I would like to try shredded turkey tacos.

  69. This all sounds so yummy, but I need to make that dressing ASAP! Can’t wait to try it!

  70. daytodaymoments says

    This looks amazing, and sounds like it tastes amazing too!! Going to have to make something similar soon.

  71. I would try the Sheet Pan Turkey Dinner with Spring Veggies and Herbs. It looks light and simple and doesnt have heavy sauces, and only 2 tbsp of oil in the entire dish

  72. I would use the ground version in my spaghetti sauce also when making lettuce wraps.

  73. I use turkey to lighten up soft tacos.

  74. Sunshine G says

    I use ground turkey in slow cooker chili – you can’t even tell!

  75. my villa says

    I’d use turkey for my pasta like the Spring Veggie, Herb Pesto & Turkey Pasta

  76. Stephanie LaPlante says

    I would love to try the Grilled Turkey Scallopini with Kale Walnut Pesto

  77. I substitute turkey for meat in recipes and I enjoy turkey in lunch time salads.

  78. What a nice recipe for summer. I love to use turkey for sub in recipes.

  79. I would use turkey instead of beef for spaghetti and meatballs

  80. I can lighten up my meals with the Spring Chopped Salad with Grilled Turkey Breast

  81. christine w says

    I would love to try using turkey in my salad instead of beef.

  82. tammy ta says

    I would like to try turkey in spaghetti instead of beef.

  83. I’d like to lighten up my meal by trying Rustic Colombian Turkey Soup.

  84. I would use ground turkey for our tacos instead of ground hamburger.

  85. We have switched out a lot of our recipes that contain beef and use lean turkey instead.

  86. ground turkey tacosd

  87. caroline m. says

    I would love to try the sheet pan turkey with herbs

  88. erin mcsweeney says

    I WOULD LOVE TO USE THE CANADIAN TURKEY IN A GREAT SUMMER SALAD WITH ONTARIO VEGGIES

  89. Wendy Jensen says

    I can lighten up my meals with Canadian Turkey by adding turkey to salads.

  90. Karry Knisley says

    I lighten up my meals by using ground turkey to make meatloaf.

  91. Maritess S says

    I would use Canadian turkey on a spring/summer vegetable salad.

  92. krisha4444 says

    I would love to use turkey in salads or wraps! the smoked turkey wraps look delicious

  93. I use ground turkey in my pasta dishes.

  94. WE DONT have a/c so I’d prob try this salad http://www.canadianturkey.ca/recipes/cajun-turkey-with-caesar-salad/

  95. I would like to try the SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA

  96. Lee-Ann S says

    I’d like to try the sheet pan turkey dinner with veggies and herbs.

  97. Tricia Hope says

    I would love to make GROUND TURKEY BLACK BEAN ENCHILADAS

  98. i’d use it in salad

  99. beewbedard says

    I think we would love the turkey tacos

  100. crystal porter says

    I would love the SHEET PAN TURKEY DINNER WITH SPRING VEGGIES AND HERBS

  101. Isabel M says

    I always love to use my leftover turkey in a turkey salad wrap!! It’s even better if you ditch the gluten and use a lettuce leaf 🙂

  102. Canadian Turkey would lighten up most soups. RUSTIC COLOMBIAN TURKEY SOUP takes the best of summer veggies and, by adding turkey, increases the nutritional value without adding large numbers of calories. thanks

  103. Juliee Fitze says

    In the summer we eat alot of salads with turkey as our protein.

  104. We liven up our BBQing with turkey burgers and grilled turkey fajitas.

  105. Victoria Ess says

    I would love using turkey in my chili!

  106. Samantha H says

    Turkey replacing chicken in a Cesar chicken salad!

  107. I would lighten my dinner by making the spring veggie, herb pesto and turkey pasta.

  108. I could make some easy turkey burgers and bbq them for a quick no fuss delicious meal!

  109. I’m going to use ground turkey instead of beef for some of our burgers this year.

  110. I like to use turkey in my salads!

  111. I would love to try the GRILLED TURKEY SCALLOPINI WITH KALE WALNUT PESTO!

    It looks sublime and I love to try these amazing dishes made with turkey.I find them so

    refreshing from the norm.

  112. Kristy R says

    I would like to try the Healthy Turkey Bowl with Cashew Lemon Dressing. Looks so good!

    I lighten up my family’s meals by using ground turkey instead of ground beef in recipes that I already love – like lasagne!

  113. Erica Seaman says

    I would like to try the SPAGHETTI AND TURKEY MEATBALLS, I think that would be a healthier version for my family.

  114. I’d lighten up my meals by using turkey in a my salad!

  115. BlessedTA says

    Try Chimichurri Turkey Breast on the Grill

  116. Michelle L says

    All these sounds delicious.

  117. joanne darrell says

    I can lighten up my meals by adding leftover turkey to my salad.

  118. Laurie P says

    Turkey wraps are a current family favorite….We’ll have to do some Turkey salad too!

  119. Caryn Coates says

    Turkey Tacos are a fav in our household. We also love Turkey wraps

  120. LILLIAN BROWN says

    TURKEY APPLE & KALE GRAIN SALAD is healthy and a lighter recipe

  121. Sandra F says

    I make soup.

  122. Using ground turkey in place of ground beef

  123. nicolthepickle says

    I can use turkey instead of ground beef in Chili and they have a recipe for me to try.

  124. Cassandra Edwards says

    I’m actually a vegetarian so I would have to find an interesting switch to the turkey, but that sounds delicious.

  125. SweetPanda says

    I can use it to make SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA

  126. By adding it to soups!

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