NOTE #1: Today on Serious Eats, it’s Zucchini Crostini. As much fun to eat as it is to say.
NOTE #2: Wanna help out a good cause? Yay! The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation is asking CHG readers to fill out this Healthy Eating poll for research. They don't want any personal information – just a few answers to some very worthwhile questions. Head on over!
In my humble, meek, somewhat self-effacing (yes, I used the Thesaurus tool) opinion, one of the best recipes we’ve ever featured on CHG is the unfortunately named Cheesy Eggplant Bake. A tornado of vegetables and frommage, it’s most excellent for those days you just want to pack your face with large quantities of delectable healthiness.
Jeez, though. That name.
Today’s recipe has a similar problem. It’s a limey, fresh, summer-appropriate mixture of chicken and various guacamole-associated ingredients. And ideally, it goes in a wrap, on top of a few leaves of lettuce.
So, do we call our creations Deconstructed Guacamole Wraps? On one hand, the name sounds like the classy-like results of a Top Chef quickfire challenge. On the other hand, what everyday cook ever deconstructs anything? Besides his blender, I mean.
Or, do we go with Lime Chicken Salad with Avocado and Tomato? It lacks the upscale panache of the first name, but it IS much more picnic-ready. Like you can just throw it together and be off. Still, there’s the slight mayo-association that comes whenever you use the word “Salad.” And nobody wants that.
Sweet readers, what to call this thing? Would you go with either of the proposed titles? Would you call it something else entirely? How do we convey that it requires leftover chicken? Am I overthinking this?
(My answers: dunno, maybe, yes, beats me, yes.)
Before you get to brainstorming, though, know this: these wraps, while scrumptious, are much richer than our usual entries, due to a lot of avocado and a not-modest amount of olive oil. However, you can drop a significant amount of fat by reducing each ingredient by half. Not that you have to. This is all pretty healthy, fat-wise.
With that said, how about that name? I'm stymied.
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If you dig this recipe, these might also float your boat:
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Deconstructed Guacamole Wraps
OR Lime Chicken Salad with Avocado and Tomato
Serves 4.
8 ounces grilled chicken, chopped into bite-sized pieces
1 avocado, diced
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup red onion, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
3 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 large leaves green lettuce
4 tortilla wraps
NOTE: I used grilled chicken thighs for this, due to their moistness and general tastiness. There were three of ‘em and I took each apart with my fingers.
1) In a medium bowl, combine chicken, avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro. Stir, gently if you have very-ripe avocado.
2) In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste. Pour on to chicken mixture and stir to combine.
3) Place a few leaves of lettuce on each wrap. Split chicken evenly among wraps. Roll them up. Serve!
Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price
368 calories, 23 g fat, 5.7 g fiber, 18 g protein, $1.30
NOTE: Your numbers will be slightly different depending on what cut of chicken and what kind of wraps you use. My calculations are for chicken thighs and Tropical brand tortillas.
Calculations
8 ounces grilled chicken, chopped into bite-sized pieces: 435 calories, 22.7 g fat, 0 g fiber, 54 g protein, $1.27
1 avocado, diced: 322 calories, 29.5 g fat, 13.5 g fiber, 4 g protein, $1.00
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes: 27 calories, 0.3 g fat, 1.8 g fiber, 1.3 g protein, $0.99
1/4 cup red onion, minced: 17 calories, 0 g fat, 0.6 g fiber, 0.4 g protein, $0.12
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped: 1 calories, 0 g fat, 0.1 g fiber, 0.1 g protein, $0.25
3 tablespoons lime juice: 12 calories, 0 g fat, 0.2 g fiber, 0.2 g protein, $0.50
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil: 239 calories, 27 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.24
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.01
Freshly ground black pepper: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.01
4 large leaves green lettuce: 19 calories, 0.3 g fat, 2.4 g fiber, 1.4 g protein, $0.10
4 wraps: 400 calories, 12 g fat, 4 g fiber, 12 g protein, $0.72
TOTAL: 1472 calories, 91.8 g fat, 22.6 g fiber, 73.4 g protein, $5.21
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 368 calories, 23 g fat, 5.7 g fiber, 18 g protein, $1.30
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