Burritos for the Perfect Dinner

My favorite type of food, hands down, would have to be mexican.

I’m aware Mexican food is often covered in cheese, deep fried and includes all sorts of fat and carbs. But I can’t help it.

In my world, a perfect night includes tortilla chips and a margarita. I might take it to the extreme, however, as some of my friends have recently pointed out, I make a bigger deal of Cinco de Mayo then I do Christmas!

For this reason, some kind of mexican food always makes it into our weekly dinner menu. Whether it's my taco salad, mexican pizza or these burritos, we are sure to get our mexican flavor fix.

Health Benefits

Black Beans- contain both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vegetable protein and are high in fiber.
Ground turkey-excellent source of protein, contains cancer protective selenium, good source of niacin and vitamin B6, and contains only half the amount of saturated fat found in beef.

I created this burrito recipe as a healthier spin on my husband’s favorite mexican entree. I swap out the traditional white flour tortilla for whole wheat, black beans for refried, and use my own blend of spices for extra flavor.

Add these Burritos into your weekly dinner menu. I think you’ll like them.

Lightened Up Burritos

Ingredients
(makes 4)
1 pound ground turkey or lean ground beef
1 can black beans, heated in a saucepan
1/2 diced onion
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red peppers
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon sea salt
Whole wheat tortillas
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 cups diced tomatoes
Salsa if desired
Olive oil

Directions
Begin by making the taco seasoning, combine seasonings in a small bowl and set aside. Heat large skillet and 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat, saute onions until tender, then add ground turkey While cooking, season with salt and pepper. Once cooked through, drain and place back in skillet. Sprinkle taco seasoning over ground turkey, and add 1/4 cup of water, mix thoroughly and let simmer for 7-10 minutes.
Place a tortilla on a flat surface. Spoon some of the beef mixture on the bottom one-third of the tortilla. Next, add beans, cheese, tomatoes, salsa, and lettuce. Begin wrapping the burrito by folding the left and the right sides of the tortilla inward and then, roll up the tortilla until the seam is down. Repeat to make 3 more burritos. Enjoy!