If you can think of your favorite go-to meal that is healthy and full of flavor, what would it be??

I have had a favorite go-to healthy dinner I discovered back in 2013 and I cannot count the many times I have made this amazing meal over these last few years. It is so full of healthy ingredients and is incredibly flavorful. It is truly like a party in your mouth! Take a look at this…

How amazing does that look, right? It is called Healthy Mexican Haystacks. You’ve got your bottom layer which is cilantro rice, followed by a layer of ground turkey cooked with onions and salsa, then you’ve got your layer of toppings which is cut up red bell peppers, avocado, and mango with a sprinkling of fresh cilantro to garnish. It is absolute heaven. You have got all sorts of textures going on from the smooth avocado to the crunchy red bell peppers that just take it to the next level. And it just tastes so incredibly fresh with all those fresh fruits and veggies on top, I can just feel my body feels happy when I eat this meal, if that makes sense. Ha!

My favorite star ingredient in this is cilantro. You have cilantro rice as the base and then you garnish the top with cilantro as well. I absolutely LOVE cilantro. My guacamole recipe is basically like cilantro with a side of avocado and lime juice mixed in ha!

I never knew until recently that cilantro is absolutely one of these things that people either absolutely love or despise. So much so that there is tons of cilantro-based merchandise for which ever category you fall into.

Anything from key chains and t-shirts to shopping bags and teddy bears, apparently. Haha!

People are funny. Next time you’re in the market for some sort of gag gift, you’ve got the perfect idea now! :) Anyway, if you don’t care for cilantro, it can be avoided. Just make regular brown rice and skip it as a topping.

This is really great for a family meal because you can just set out all the ingredients and people can get exactly what they want in what portions they’d like and everyone is happy. It makes kids feel like they “made” their dinner. I hope you try this recipe out sometime and who knows—you might have just found your new favorite healthy meal too! :)

Feel free to express your true feelings for cilantro in the comments below. We won’t judge ;) I might not be able to understand those of you who really despise it—but I won’t judge!

Mexican Haystacks

RICE
2 cups uncooked brown rice
1 bunch fresh cilantro

MEAT
1 1/2 lbs ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon garlic powder
salt & pepper to taste
4 cups salsa (I used Kirkland organic salsa from Costco)

TOPPINGS
1-2 avocados, chopped
1-2 red peppers, chopped
1-2 ripe mangoes, chopped
fresh cilantro for garnish

Start your brown rice in a pot on the stove, or in a rice maker. Next, add ground turkey and chopped onion to a large saute pan. Add garlic powder and salt and pepper. When the turkey is browned, add 4 cups of salsa. Bring the salsa to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. In the meantime, chop the cilantro, pepper, avocado, and mango. When the rice is done, simply stir in almost all of the fresh cilantro, leaving just enough to garnish each dish.

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