Did you know that capsaicin, the active component in chili peppers, may actually help you lose weight? As a Latina who's always looking for easy ways to keep the weight off, my only complaint about many diet-friendly recipes I see are that they are boring, plain salads.
Well, no more! If you want to lose weight, then why not indulge in a little bit of that diet-loving capsaicin and have one of these 5 spicy Latin salads that are GREAT for weight loss? Plus, they all include fall ingredients (pepitas, pumpkin, and more!) to keep you eating fresh, seasonal ingredients that are very good for your overall health, too. Enjoy! I know I will.
Spiced Pumpkin, Black Bean & Feta Salad
Ingredients: 3/4 cup canned black beans, 6 cups 1-inch pieces peeled seeded sugar pumpkin or butternut squash (from about one 2-pound whole pumpkin), 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided), 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 4 cups baby spinach, 1 cup crumbled feta, 1/4 cup thinly sliced cilantro
Get the full recipe directions from Ode to Goodness.
Spicy Avocado Cucumber-Fennel Salad Recipe
Ingredients: 1 cucumber, 1/2 bell pepper (any color but green), 1/4-1/2 bulb fennel, Fistful parsley leaves (rinsed and dried), 1 avocado, 1 lime (or more to taste), Salt, to taste, Chile pepper flakes or cayenne, to taste
Get the full recipe directions from Gilt Taste.
Ruby Salad with Crumbled Feta and Spicy Pepitas
Ingredients: 1 bunch beets (trimmed and scrubbed), 2-3 fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs or 3 fresh bay leaves, 1/2 tsp. salt, olive oil, 4 cups very thinly sliced red cabbage, 1 medium red onion (very thinly sliced), 4 cups mixed baby greens, 6 oz. feta cheese (crumbled), chopped cilantro, 1 cup spicy pepitas
Get the full recipe directions from Farmhouse Delivery.
Sweet Potato Salad with Caramelized Onions and Guajillo Chile Dressing
Ingredients: 3/4 cup canola oil, 2 dried guajillo chiles (stemmed and seeded), 2 garlic cloves (peeled and quartered), 1/4 cup sherry vinegar, 1 large red onion, chopped, 3 medium sweet potatoes (peeled and cubed), Salt
Get the full recipe directions from Serious Eats.
Spicy Squash Salad with Lentils and Goat Cheese
Ingredients: 3/4 cup black or green lentils, 6 cups peeled, seeded and cubed butternut squash or sugar pumpkin (1-inch cubes, from about a 2-pound squash), 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided), 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon hot smoked Spanish paprika, 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, 4 cups baby arugula, 1 cup soft crumbled goat cheese, 1/4 cup thinly sliced mint leaves (optional), 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, plus additional to taste, Roasted seeds (about 1/2 cup) from your butternut squash (optional)
Get the full recipe directions from Smitten Kitchen.
