5 Ingredient Easy Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms.

Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms are a perfect appetizer or side dish–and they’re so easy to make!

Mmmm. Mushrooms.
They’re so polarizing.
It seems like people either fanatically love them or absolutely loathe them.
Me?
I’m on Team Mushrooms all the way.
I’m the person who actively seeks out the dish with mushrooms on the menu.
And I’m guilty of taking the mushrooms off my husband’s plate because he won’t eat them.

So, I assume if you’re still reading that you’re on Team Mushrooms as well.
In which case, YOU NEED TO MAKE THESE GARLIC BUTTER MUSHROOMS.
They’re sooooo garlick-y and butter-y and mushroom-y. Yep. I’m making up words over here.
That’s how good they are.

There are five (count ’em!), FIVE simple ingredients to make this dish.
Two of them are salt and pepper.
Do those even count? No? So really just 3 ingredients, then.
Garlic + butter + mushrooms = magic.

The big trick with the mushrooms comes to cleaning them.
You probably already know this, but you can’t rinse them under water.
Instead, you need to use a wet paper towel and gently wipe down each one.
It’s a little time consuming, but it’s worth it in the end!

Two more things to note about the recipe:
#1: Trim the ends of the mushrooms so they’re flat and even with the rest of the mushroom. This will help the garlic stay on top of them instead of falling in between them.
#2: You will want to mince up your garlic as tiny as you possibly can so it’ll stay on the mushrooms.

5 Ingredient Easy Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 16 oz white or baby bella mushrooms, cleaned with a wet paper towel
• 1/4 cup butter (I used KerryGold grass-fed butter, but you can even make them vegan by using Earth Balance!)
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced as finely as you can
• salt
• pepper

1). Place a large cast iron skillet in the oven and preheat it to 400F. If you do not have a cast iron skillet, you can use a pie pan or a casserole dish, but you will not preheat the oven with either of those inside.
2). Using a small knife, trim the ends of the mushrooms so they’re flat and even with the rest of the mushroom. Remove the cast iron skillet from the oven and carefully arrange the mushrooms in it.
3). Place the butter and garlic in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 30 seconds or until melted. Spoon the garlic butter over each mushroom cap. Make sure to try to keep the garlic on top of the mushroom instead of letting it fall in between. Season the tops with salt and pepper.
4). Roast for about 25-30 minutes until tender, basting them about halfway through the cooking time. Serve and enjoy!

Servings: 4. Approximate Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 131 Carbs:5g Fat: 12g Fiber: 1g Protein: 4g Points+:4 Recipe originally from here. 

French Dijon & Basil Potato Salad. (GF/DF)

 A simple French-inspired potato salad perfect for taking to a cookout or picnic this summer! 

Sooooo I have a little-known fact about myself I’m going to share with you on this beautiful spring day.
Are you ready?
I really don’t care for mayonnaise-based salads.
Especially potato salads, but this also applies to pasta salads, tuna salads, etc.
I know, I know. It’s not a popular opinion. But hear me out.
One reason I don’t care for them is because they’re so heavy, but also because they aren’t conducive to al-fresco dining. You have to keep them cold and refrigerated otherwise you run the risk of making yourself or someone else sick.
Having to worry about that adds stress to what is supposed to be a stress-reducing experience!

That’s where this dijon and basil potato salad comes in. I swapped the mayo for a simple vinaigrette, and topped it off with fresh basil. You’re going to love it! I took it to a function recently and everyone went craaaazy over this simple salad.

Bonus: it happens to be gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegetarian and vegan, so hopefully everyone can enjoy it!

Instead of mayonnaise, you’re going to make a simple vinaigrette with all the usual characters (olive oil, vinegar, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper). I add all the ingredients in a mason jar and shake it up, but you can whisk it together in a small bowl.

Quick trick I learned from my mom and grandma: pour the vinaigrette over the potatoes while they’re still warm so they absorb all the flavors. Then, you can finish it off with freshly chopped basil and it’s ready to go!

I used baby red potatoes, but you can use yukon gold or whatever you have on hand! I hope you try this dish for your next picnic or cook out!

French Dijon and Basil Potato Salad

Ingredients:

• 3lbs baby red potatoes, washed and quartered
• 1 cup of fresh basil, chopped
• sea salt and black pepper, to taste

For the vinaigrette:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp sea salt, to taste
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1). Place the quartered potatoes in a large pot with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from heat and drain the water.

2). While the potatoes are boiling, place all the vinaigrette ingredients in a mason jar and shake until well combined. (You can also whisk them together in a bowl).

3). Let the potatoes cool. You want them warm, but not hot. Place them in a large bowl and season them with salt and pepper. Pour the vinaigrette over them. Add the basil and toss to combine. Taste and re-season with more salt or pepper. Enjoy!
*Note: This dish is best served warm or at room-temperature, but you will need to refrigerate any leftovers.

Servings: about 8. Approximate Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 201 Carbs: 27g Fat: 9g Fiber: 3g Protein: 3g Points+: 5 Recipe adapted from here. Adapted recipe courtesy of Audrey’s Apron.

Roasted Red and Sweet Potatoes with Rosemary. (GF)

Red potatoes and sweet potatoes roasted together with rosemary make a simple, easy side dish perfect for any meal.

I recently fell in love with the flavor combination of rosemary and sweet potatoes. There’s something so earth-y and wonderful about the two that make them go together so well. It’s a simple combination, really, but not one that I made at home before, and this dish lived up to all of my expectations. It’s hard to go wrong with potatoes though, am I right?

Even though I 110% adore sweet potatoes, for whatever reason I equally wanted red potatoes when I made this dish, hence the decision to mix them together. This also made my husband happy since he typically prefers red potatoes over sweet any day. All that to say, every potato lover in your family will be happy when you serve them these! You can also use regular white potatoes if you prefer, or even use only sweet potatoes!

Reason #274 why I love this dish: I love any excuse to gather fresh rosemary from our back yard. If you’ve ever wondered if you should plant a rosemary bush, the answer is a resounding yes! It’s so convenient to never worry about running out.

These potatoes roast low and slow in the oven, leaving you with plenty of time to focus on the main dish while they do their thing in the oven. It’s brutally cold and windy out, and this side dish screams warm and cozy, which is exactly what I want in my life right now! I hope you enjoy it!

Roasted Red and Sweet Potatoes with Rosemary (GF)

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp grass-fed butter (or olive oil for dairy-free/vegan)
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 1/2 lbs red potatoes, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 1/2-2 Tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste

1). Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the butter in a 9×13 pan and put it in the oven for a couple minutes to melt the butter. Remove from oven and add the remaining ingredients, tossing well to ensure even seasoning.

2). Roast for about an hour, stirring 2-3 times, until the potatoes are golden and tender.

Servings: about 8. Approximate Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 159 Carbs: 26g Fat: 5g Protein: 3g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 4g Points+: 4. Recipe adapted from here.

Spinach and Goat Cheese Mashed Sweet Potatoes. (GF)

 5 simple ingredients come together to create a comforting side dish perfect for holidays, guests, or just a weeknight meal!

It’s the week of Thanksgiving!!! The last month has been an absolute WHIRLWIND and I’m so thankful for a week off to catch up on every area of my life. You too? I thought so.

All you need is a scoop of creamy, lusciously savory spinach & goat cheese mashed sweet potatoes to know holiday time is here. Not that you couldn’t make it year-round (guilty!), but it’s the type of dish that looks and tastes fancy. I mean spinach + goat cheese + sweet potatoes? That could definitely be on a restaurant menu.

So, if you’re looking for a really unique side to bring to impress all your foodie friends, or you just want to step up your weeknight dinner game, you’ve got to make this dish.

Also–feel free to swap out the spinach for kale depending on what you have on hand! Enjoy!

Spinach and Goat Cheese Mashed Sweet Potato

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs sweet potatoes (I used 1 large and 2 medium)
• 4 cups chopped spinach
• 3/4-1 cup milk (I used non-fat)
• 4 oz goat cheese
• Freshly cracked pepper and sea salt

1). Bring a large pot of water to a boil Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 1-2 inch cubes. Add the sweet potatoes to the boiling water and cook for about 15 minutes or until softened.

2). Drain the sweet potatoes. To the now empty pot, add the spinach, milk, and goat cheese and cook over medium heat for a few minutes, until the spinach has wilted. Turn off the heat and add salt and pepper.

3). Add the sweet potatoes back to the pot. Mash until you reach your preferred consistency. Add more milk if necessary. Enjoy!

Servings: about 4. Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 181 Carbs: 22g Fat: 6g Protein: 10g Fiber: 3g Points+: 5 
Recipe adapted from here. Adapted recipe courtesy of Audrey’s Apron.

Caprese Quinoa Salad.

A healthy, easy side dish filled with bright mediterranean flavors!

Tomatoes + basil = perfection, am I right? I never get tired of that flavor combination.

I know adding mozzarella to the mix is the most traditional option, but I decided to use feta instead. It’s still very mediterranean, but more flavorful in my opinion. Feta is slightly more tangy and salty than mozzarella, and I think it worked great here. If you prefer mozzarella, use it!

If you have a garden, this is the perfect way to use up a lot of fresh tomatoes and basil. It’s amazing how such simple ingredients can be so good, am I right? Complicated recipes have their time and place, but this is not one of them, making it perfect for a weeknight meal. Toss all the ingredients together in a bowl and you’re good to go!

I served this with grilled chicken breast, but this would be great with fish, pork, beef, whatever! And, if you’re vegetarian, this could become a main dish. You can eat it warm, at room temperature, or cold from the fridge. The leftovers were great, too!

Do you like caprese salads? Tell me your opinion in the comments section below!

Caprese Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 10-15 basil leaves cut chiffonade
• 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (or mozzarella)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 3-4 Tbsp lemon juice or rice wine vinegar
• Generous amount of sea salt (about 3/4 tsp) and freshly cracked black pepper (about 1/2 tsp), to taste

1). In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken broth and quinoa to a boil. Cook according to package directions, about 15-18 minutes or until all the broth is absorbed. Move the quinoa to a large bowl to let it cool.

2). Add all the remaining ingredients to the bowl of quinoa, tossing to combine well. Taste and re-season, if necessary. Enjoy immediately or cover and refrigerate.

Servings: about 8 1-cup servings. Approximate Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 157 Carbs: 17g Fat: 7g Protein: 7g Fiber: 2g Sugar: 2g Points+: 4.
Recipe courtesy of Audrey’s Apron.

Grilled Potato Fries.

 Satisfy a craving for french fries with grilled potato fries instead! 

So here’s the deal. French fries = deliciousness, but also a whole lot of extra oil that doesn’t do you, your heart, or your waistline any favors. Would you believe me if I told you that grilling slices of potatoes results in a crispy-on-the-outside-fluffy-on-the-inside-just-like-a-french-fry texture? Well, you should. Because it’s true. And it’s a game-changer for all you fry loving readers looking to eat healthier.

I promise x 1000 that these will satisfy your cravings for a deep fried french fry. The only difference you’ll notice is in the shape (although you could cut them like matchsticks if you wanted to!), and a lack of excess oil on your fingers. They taste indulgent, but won’t leave you feeling super full. My husband loves a good french fry, and he couldn’t get over how good these are! Make sure to add enough salt, to taste, otherwise they won’t have that salty french fry flavor everyone loves. You could also use your favorite seasoning blend if you’d prefer!

Maybe your grilling some chicken and trying to keep it healthy. Don’t ruin it with fries; grill your potatoes instead!

Grilled Potato Fries

Ingredients:

• 4 medium russet potatoes
• 4 tsp olive oil
• Freshly cracked sea salt and black pepper

1). Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Carefully slice the potatoes in about 1/4″ slices. Toss in a medium bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

2). Place the potato slices on the grill and close the lid for about 6-9 minutes. Flip the potatoes and cook again until they’re golden brown and can easily be pierced with a fork.

3). Sprinkle with additional sea salt after grilling and enjoy!

Servings: 4. Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 172 Fat: 4.8g Protein: 3.5g Fiber: 3.1g Points+: 4
Recipe courtesy of Audrey’s Apron.

 

Thai-Inspired Hydrating Cucumber Salad with Roasted Chickpeas

This crisp, cool cucumber salad is sure to help you cool off during the hot summer months! Topped with crunchy roasted chickpeas and peanuts, this dish can be a meal in itself.

Summer heat is in full-swing here in Georgia! I love everything about summer: the long days, the time we spend outside, the fresh veggies from our garden, and even the heat! Having said that, it’s soooo important to stay hydrated when it’s this hot outside. Drinking lots of water is key, but did you know the food you eat can help keep you hydrated as well? That’s where this cucumber salad comes in! It’s refreshing, crisp, cool, and hydrating. The flavors are (you guessed it!) thai-inspired, but you’ll like this even if you don’t like thai food. Remember–it’s not thai food, it just has some common ingredient combinations you would find in that type of cuisine. Cilantro, red bell peppers, peanuts, etc. Quick confession: thai food is not my absolute favorite, but I loved this salad!

If you’ve got cucumbers growing in your garden, this is a great way to use a couple of them. In my opinion, they’re the focal point of the salad. To get the salad going, the cucumbers, red onion, red bell pepper, and cilantro all take a nice swim in a rice wine vinegar marinade. They need about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to come together, which is the perfect amount of time to finish making the roasted chickpeas, if you want them. The chickpeas are totally optional here. They add a big crunch factor and an extra 7g of protein per serving, but my husband actually preferred it without them. It’s up to you!

If you want to make the chickpeas, you’ll need 1 can of them. Rinse, drain, and dry them before tossing them with olive oil and spices. Lay them on parchment paper and roast for about 30 minutes, depending on your oven. These actually make a great little snack on their own!

Thai-Inspired Hydrating Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:
For the marinade:

• 1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar
• 1.5-2 tbsp sugar (this is a must to offset the strong tang from the vinegar)
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

For the salad:

• 2 cucumbers
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 cup diced red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts for garnish
• Roasted spiced chickpeas (optional)

For the roasted chickpeas:

• 1 can (15 oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/8 tsp turmeric (I omitted)

1). Preheat the oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Rinse and drain the chickpeas. Roll them in-between two paper towels to make sure they are completely dry before proceeding, otherwise they will not get crispy.

2). In a medium bowl, combine the chickpeas with the olive oil and spices. Toss well to ensure even distribution of the spices. Roast for 20 minutes before stirring them around. Roast for another 10-15 minutes or until the they’re golden brown and lightly charred on the bottom.

3). While the chickpeas roast, whisk together the seasoned rice vinegar, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.

4). Peel the cucumbers, chop off the ends, and slice them in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, carefully scoop out the seeds from each half of the cucumbers and discard the seeds. Slice the cucumbers thinly into half-moon shapes.

5). Toss the cucumbers, red onion, bell pepper, and cilantro in the dressing. Let them sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to marinade while the chickpeas finish cooking. Let the chickpeas rest about 5 minutes before adding to the salad. Top with roasted peanuts. Enjoy!

Servings: about 3 as a main dish, or 6 as a side dish. Approximate nutritional information for 1 main dish serving: Calories: 275 Carbs: 40.5g Fat: 6.9g Protein: 12.7 g Fiber: 9.5g Points+: 7

Recipe adapted from: http://ohsheglows.com/2013/06/05/thai-inspired-hydrating-cucumber-salad-with-roasted-spiced-chickpeas/

 

 

 

Crispy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes.

These potatoes are a perfect side dish to accompany any meal! They’re tossed in olive oil, grated parmesan, and spices, then roasted until crispy. Sure to be a family favorite!

Everyone loves potatoes, am I right? Kids love ’em, adults love ’em, and they’re usually the first to go at pot-lucks (or the dinner table). Potatoes + parmesan cheese = awesomeness. It’s no wonder my parmesan upside down potatoes and roasted parmesan sweet potatoes are always the most viewed posts on the blog! So, I combined some of the things I absolutely love from those two recipes into one to create these crispy parmesan roasted potatoes.

This recipe is quite simple. You’ll need some spices, olive oil, grated parmesan, and, of course, potatoes. I used baby red potatoes (with the skin on), but yukon gold would be perfect here too. Chop the potatoes in about 1 inch cubes, and do your best to ensure they’re uniform for even cooking. The smaller the pieces, the quicker they’ll cook through and crispen up for you.

Mix all the ingredients together in a big bowl and spread them on parchment paper. I typically cover my baking sheets with foil, but I do not recommend it here. Even if you spray the foil with cooking spray before baking, you will likely have some potatoes stick, which is less than ideal. Parchment paper eliminates that worry and still makes for super easy clean-up like foil does. Trust me–use parchment paper!

Every 10-15 minutes while the potatoes are cooking, give them a quick stir to make sure they’re roasting evenly. This will prevent them from getting crispy on the bottom alone. You’re cooking at a fairly high temperature (425F), so stirring them regularly is important. For me, it took about 35 minutes for my potatoes to cook through and attain that crispy exterior we all love. It was the perfect amount of time to get the rest of the meal together while the potatoes finished up!

When the potatoes are golden brown and crispy, pull them out of the oven and season them with an extra hit of salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. Yum!

Crispy Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 4 cups baby red potatoes, skin on, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 3 tbsp EVOO
• 1/2 tsp garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp freshly cracked pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 4 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided

1). Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

2). In a large bowl, combine the chopped potatoes with olive oil, garlic salt, sea salt, pepper, paprika, and only 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese. Mix well to ensure each potato is evenly coated. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, moving the potatoes around until they are in one even layer.

3). Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and mix. Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes, mixing every 10 minutes, until the potatoes are soft in the middle but crispy on the outside. Every oven is different so watch them carefully. Remove from oven and sprinkle the last 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese on them before serving.

Servings: about 8 servings of 1/2 cup each. Approximate Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 114 Carbs: 12g Fat: 6g Protein: 3 Fiber: 1 Points+: 3
Recipe courtesy of Audrey’s Apron.

Grilled Asparagus and Zucchini Salad with a Lemon and Basil Vinaigrette.

Fresh asparagus and zucchini are grilled to perfection, then tossed in a lemon and basil sauce with tangy garlic, scallions, and red pepper flakes. 

I love this salad because it is a great way to use extra zucchini and basil, which are both in season right now and growing like crazy in my garden. If you follow me on Instagram (audreysapron) or Twitter (@AudreysApron), you’ve seen my excitement over the success of my first-ever veggie garden. Whether you’re growing zucchini or not, it’s a great time to cook with it because, as I said before, it’s in season, which makes it more affordable to purchase in store.

This side dish comes together fast, making it perfect for a weeknight meal. In fact, I made this while we were on vacation. As much as I love cooking, I didn’t want to spend hours in the kitchen on our trip, so I paired this with some grilled chicken. Gotta love summer eats!

Have you ever grilled asparagus? I love asparagus roasted, but (sadly) I had never thought to grill it until now. If you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out! This is definitely my new favorite way to prepare it. Just as easy as roasting, and just as flavorful (if not more so!).

On to the recipe! Fire up the grill and toss the zucchini and asparagus in a little oil, salt, and pepper. The zucchini takes longer to cook, so put it on first, followed by the asparagus a few minutes later. While the veggies are cooking, whisk together some lemon juice & zest, olive oil, garlic, fresh basil, scallions, and red pepper flakes. Don’t worry–this dish is not spicy. The red pepper flakes add a tiiiiiny bit of heat, but it’s only 1/4 tsp for the entire bowl, and it’s not very noticeable. In fact, next time I may double that amount. I recommend you taste it and add more if you want it.

Basil is one of my favorite herbs, and I think it pairs nicely with the veggies and lemon. If you prefer to use parsley, oregano, mint, whatever… you can do it. You might even want to get adventurous and try a combination. The important thing to remember is to use fresh herbs. Everything about this salad is fresh and light, and I just don’t think dried herbs would have the same effect. If you’re in a bind, you can actually leave the herbs out completely–it’s still very flavorful on its own!

I hope you make it and enjoy!

Grilled Asparagus and Zucchini Salad with a Lemon and Basil Vinaigrette. 

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of asparagus
• 3 medium zucchini
• 1 tbsp EVOO
• Freshly cracked sea salt and pepper

For the vinaigrette:

• Zest and juice from 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp EVOO
• 1 garlic clove, grated or minced
• 1/4 cup  chopped fresh basil (or herb of choice)
• 3 minced scallions
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• Freshly cracked sea salt and pepper

1). Heat the grill to medium-high heat. Prepare the asparagus by trimming the ends. Cut the ends off the zucchini and slice in half. Toss in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add the zucchini to the grill, flipping after about 6-7 minutes. Add the asparagus and cook for about 5 minutes per side. The zucchini and asparagus are ready when they are easily pierced with a fork.

2). Meanwhile, prepare the vinaigrette. In a bowl, whisk together the lemon zest/juice, olive oil, basil, garlic, scallions, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

3). When the zucchini and asparagus are fork-tender, remove them from the grill and chop into about 1 inch pieces. Add the chopped veggies to the bowl with the vinaigrette and lightly toss to combine. Taste and re-season, if necessary.

Servings: about 6. Nutritional Information per serving: Calories: 82 Carbs: 9g Fat: 5g Fiber: 3g Protein: 4g Points+: 2
Recipe adapted from: http://cookblog.org/grilled-veggies-lemon-herb-vinaigrette/ 

Servings:

Southwestern Grilled Sweet Potato Salad

Last week we went on vacation, and it was glorious! After spending all day in the pool, I wanted to make something light, healthy, nutritious, and colorful. This southwestern grilled sweet potato salad was just the ticket. There are a LOT of textures and flavors going on in this one, folks. It’s a definite winner!

Let’s deconstruct this giant rainbow bowl, shall we?

The focal point of this salad is the grilled sweet potatoes. Yum. I cut them in big rounds to make them easy to grill, and then quartered them after grilling. Do you have to grill them? Absolutely not. It’s hot here in the south, so grilling means the heat stays outside the kitchen, which is important when it’s in the 90’s! I actually think roasting the potatoes would be equally good (if not better), so if you don’t have a grill I would recommend trying that option. If you do that, you can go ahead and quarter the sweet potatoes before baking.
Bright yellow corn, tasty black beans, and a crisp red bell pepper provide a nice contrast in texture to the grilled sweet potatoes. Top all that off with vibrantly green onions, creamy avocado, and fresh cilantro, and you have a bowl full of color. The last step is to toss it all together with fresh lime juice, salt, and pepper, and you’re ready to eat!

Simply put, this is an awesome side dish (or main dish for the non-meat eaters!) that will definitely make another appearance in our home. My husband, who does not like avocados, loved this dish. When it all comes together, it’s just that good!! Take this to your next cookout or picnic!

Southwestern Grilled Sweet Potato Salad
Ingredients:

• 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4 inch slices
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 can corn, rinsed and drained
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 avocados, pit and skin removed, chopped
• Juice of 2 limes
• Salt and pepper, to taste

1). Pre-heat the grill. Toss the cut sweet potatoes in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Grill them over medium-high heat until they can easily be pierced with a fork (about 8 minutes each side).

2). In a large bowl, combine the corn, black beans, red pepper, green onions, cilantro, and avocados. Once the sweet potatoes are cooked through, quarter the rounds and add them to the bowl. Add the lime juice, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. Taste and re-season, if necessary.

Servings: 4 as a main dish, 6-8 as a side. Approximate nutritional information for 8 servings: Calories: 234 Carbs: 34g Fat: 9g Protein: 8g Fiber: 10g Points+: 6 

Recipe adapted from: http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/southwestern-grilled-sweet-potato-salad/