I LOVE mexican food…chimi's, burritos, rice, tacos, everything. Does anyone have any healthy recipies, that still taste as good without being deep fried?
Actually, quite a lot of mexican fare is healthy.
Consider the burrito – wrapped in a soft tortilla. Or a quesadilla, grilled.
A quesadilla, grilled, with chicken – actually try lemon chicken, even better – some veggies, grilled on a flatop or in a pan – very yummy, and pretty darn healthy too.
Nacho chips will do you in, but fajitas, burritos, quesadillas – all that stuff is not bad. You want a healthy balance of carbs, fats, and proteins, which you get from a tortilla, cheese, and meat.
Keep away from some of the fast-food junk, but regular mexican food is quite good, health-wise. I like it, but I find it lacking in variety, compared to other ethnicities, but you can have it quite healthy.
Note: a plate of chips with a pint of melted queso (cheese) on it is NOT healthy.
But if you look, there's a lot of stuff that is.
November 16th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Actually, quite a lot of mexican fare is healthy.
Consider the burrito – wrapped in a soft tortilla. Or a quesadilla, grilled.
A quesadilla, grilled, with chicken – actually try lemon chicken, even better – some veggies, grilled on a flatop or in a pan – very yummy, and pretty darn healthy too.
Nacho chips will do you in, but fajitas, burritos, quesadillas – all that stuff is not bad. You want a healthy balance of carbs, fats, and proteins, which you get from a tortilla, cheese, and meat.
Keep away from some of the fast-food junk, but regular mexican food is quite good, health-wise. I like it, but I find it lacking in variety, compared to other ethnicities, but you can have it quite healthy.
Note: a plate of chips with a pint of melted queso (cheese) on it is NOT healthy.
But if you look, there's a lot of stuff that is.
References :
November 16th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Have you ever tried "sincronizadas"?? It is really simple, easy and healthy.
You just need to warm up a couple of flour (white) tortillas, put a slice of ham and a slice of cheese between the 2 of them so that you have a sort of sandwich but made with tortillas. Then you put this on the pan (without any oil, butter or anything of the like, just to warm them and make them crunchy if you like them that way) and warm it for a few seconds on each side until the cheese inside melts. You can top this with some guacamole, it tastes just great and it almost has no fat. Enjoy!
TJ: you think mexican cuisine lacks variety?????? That shows me you've never been in Mexico and maybe that's the only stuff you're familiar with (tacos – quesadillas – nachos-burritos — these 2 last ones by the way NOT being mexican, but tex-mex instead), but we have different kinds of food in each of our 31 states (I'm not counting Mex City of course) and most of it is delicious. You should come and try it some time…..
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November 16th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
yes,take some floured tortaias add beans ,rice, olive oil and bake for 10 to 20 min on 350
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November 16th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Chicken and Shrimp Tortilla Soup
6 ounces fresh or frozen medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
Crisp Tortilla Shreds (recipe follows)
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
4 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
3 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 2/3 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
Thaw shrimp, if frozen. Prepare Crisp Tortilla Shreds. Set aside.
Heat oil in a large saucepan. Cook onion and cumin seeds about 5 minutes, or until onion is tender. Carefully add chicken broth, undrained tomatoes, cilantro and lime juice.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 8 minutes. Stir in shrimp and chicken. Cook about 3 minutes more or until shrimp turn pink, stirring occasionally. Top each serving with tortilla shreds.
Makes 6 servings (7 3/4 cups).
Crisp Tortilla Shreds
Brush 4 corn tortillas (5 1/2-inch diameter) with 1 tablespoon cooking oil. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; sprinkle mixture on tortillas. Cut tortillas into thin strips. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350-degree oven about 8 minutes or until crisp.
Approximate values per serving: 240 calories, 7 g fat, 76 mg cholesterol, 23 g protein, 21 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 1,356 mg sodium, 26 percent calories from fat.
References :
http://www.azcentral.com/home/food/mexico/articles/0112soup12rec.html
November 16th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
I am in agreement with the TJ.
Just make sure of what you are choosing.
We all need one meat, one vegetable which includes onions cooked or raw, one starch such as rice/potatoes/beans/corn.
Cheese is a protein, just don't eat too much of it.
Here are three things you can make for yourself or buy at a Mexican food establishment:
1. Taco salad (use a taco shell only if you wish, a bowl works just as well):
Warm pinto beans on the bottom (I like Bush's pinto beans and I mash them up like masked potatoes),
Cooked ground beef on top of the beans,
Tossed salad on top of the meat,
Top with cheese if you wish.
2. Nachos:
Tostadas (fried corn tortillas) with melted cheese on top of them.
OR dip the tostadas into the melted cheese sort of like a dip.
You can buy jars of melted cheeses next to the tostadas in the chips section of the grocery store.
3. Buy a package of corn tortillas (remember corn is a starch),
place a cheese slice in the middle,
microwave for about 30 seconds or so,
roll up and eat. Yummm good.
#3 is quick and easy if you are on the run. You can add a piece of cooked chicken or beef, or veggie if you wish.
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November 16th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Mexican food can actually be very healthy. You can do so many things with some grilled chicken or beef. Shredded chicken, pork or beef is great as well. Also, remember beans are a perfect food. A bowl of beans with cheese withsalsa on them, heated so cheese melts and mix! This is perfect as a dip or just as your meal.
Using grilled or shredded meat you can make fresh tacos, burritos, quesedillas or even nachos. Buy the baked tortilla chips, add meat, beans, cheese and heat then add veggies like tomatoes, onions, lettuce, avacado
. Just remember that cheese calories and fat can add up so try to keep an eye on the amounts.
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