Weight-Loss Turkey Cottage Cheese Taco Bowl

Serves 4 · 10 min prep · 12 min cook

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground turkey
• 1.5 cups low-fat cottage cheese
• 2 tbsp taco seasoning
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 bell pepper
• 1/2 red onion
• 4 cups romaine or shredded lettuce
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• to taste hot sauce
• optional sliced jalapeño

Instructions

1. 1Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Mince the garlic and dice the bell pepper and red onion.
2. 2Add the ground turkey to the hot skillet and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook 6 to 8 minutes until no pink remains and the edges start to brown.
3. 3Stir in the minced garlic, diced pepper, onion, taco seasoning, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Continue cooking 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables soften and the spices bloom into a fragrant taco aroma.
4. 4Remove the skillet from heat and let the turkey mixture cool slightly for 2 minutes so it will not melt the cottage cheese later.
5. 5In a medium bowl, stir the cottage cheese with lime juice and salt until creamy and slightly loosened. This becomes the high-protein creamy base that replaces sour cream and cheese.
6. 6Chop the lettuce, halve the tomatoes, and roughly chop the cilantro. Set up four bowls or meal-prep containers with a bed of lettuce.
7. 7Spoon the seasoned turkey mixture over the lettuce, then add a generous dollop of the lime cottage cheese. Scatter tomatoes and cilantro on top.
8. 8Finish with a few dashes of hot sauce and optional jalapeño slices. Serve right away or refrigerate up to 3 days; the cottage cheese stays creamy and the bowl stays light yet filling for weight-loss lunches.