Monday, March 26, 2012

Recipe Recap: Guacamole Greens Salad

With winter’s chill now a thing of the past and my graduation fast approaching, I’m constantly feeling motivated to get back in shape and focus on eating healthily again. Along with setting a goal to try out new healthy recipes, Stephen and I have also been going meatless at dinner several times each week and incorporating a wider variety of fresh fruits and veggies into our diet. 

When it comes to fresh and tasty meals, one of my all-time favorite lunch or dinnertime treats is a "guacamole greens" salad from Sweetgreen, a DC chain that offers local and organically grown products. This salad, in which I combine mesclun lettuce, roasted chicken or shrimp, avocado, black beans, corn, crushed tortilla chips, cilantro jalapeno dressing and a fresh lime squeeze, is not only delicious, but keeps me full for hours, even when I don't finish the entire thing.

However, since each Sweetgreen salad costs close to $10, I'm also planning to experiment in the coming weeks with replicating the "guacamole greens" and a couple other standouts at home. I'll be sure to let you know whether I succeed or strike out!


What's your favorite kind of salad? Have you ever tried to recreate a favorite "dining out" meal at home to save money or make it healthier? 

16 comments:

  1. That salad sounds amazing!!! I've never really tried to re-create a restaurant dish, but we really want to make pad thai with tofu one of these days - we have all the ingredients, but haven't quite gotten around to it!

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  2. I made taco "salad" yesterday, but it's hardly healthy since the recipe calls for Doritos...but it was so good!

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  3. that looks so tasty! But I agree, $10 is way too much. Can't wait to see your recipe.

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  4. I love Chopped salads but can never seem to make mine as good. Not only are restaurant salads expensive but usually they have even more calories than burgers. I had a taco salad from Baja Fresh last week and looked up the calories after the fact and it's like 1200 calories!!! I'm not getting that again, hell a Big Mac is less calories than that salad.

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  5. Last week I tried a Endive & Avocado Salad from my new Barefoot Contessa book, it was so delicious and super easy to make.
    I was thinking of posting about it soon but if you would like the recipe, let me know!

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  6. YUM! that looks so GOOD! My ultimate favorite salad is Greek salad....now I am hungry!

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  7. My fave salad is (seriously unhealthy) a homemade cobb. Instead of breaded fried chicken, I use grilled chicken and put as much corn and avocado as possible!

    ♥ laura
    the blog of worldly delights
    the shop of worldly delights

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  8. YUM, girl!!! I am so proud of you and Steven trying meatless nights! It's kinda fun!

    Your salad looks SO GOOD. We like to recreate chimichangas at home.

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  9. This salad sounds really delicious Heather! I love avacadoes but never buy it from the grocery because the whole thing is too much for just myself to eat, and once it turns brown it loses its appeal. I should pay attention to what is in the salads I eat to try to recreate it at home :)

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  10. I'm all for new salad ideas. Thanks

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  11. This sounds so good! I love a good salad!! Let us know how the experimenting goes and maybe I will have a new recipe to try!

    Jayme @ Her Late Night Cravings

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  12. Looks like a great salad...esp one that has avocado and tortilla chips in it! I love big salads, but Im sure they are loaded with things that dont make it that healthy. I was doing well and working out but then my birthday came and I kind of hit a wall...but Im ready to get back on the workout horse!

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  13. Heather,

    That looks so delicious! I need to make this salad!

    Have a great night!

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  14. This sounds so yummy! Put avocado or guacamole on about anything and it's going to be delish!

    And yes, I've recreated restaurant foods at home, although most don't turn out quite as good. It's a great opportunity to make things more healthy though!

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  15. I'm obsessssed with salad, I love salad..mostly with walnuts, craisins, feta or goat cheese and beets. YUM!

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