Mexican cuisine is a style of food that began in Mexico, and is widely known for its vibrant flavor and amazing decoration. Rice, beans, tortillas, and a wide variety of spices are commonly used in many Mexican dishes, along with beef, pork, chicken, and a range of different peppers. Mexican recipes vary from region to region, but many of the same original ideas are still seen all over the globe today. Mexican cuisine is typically cooked in large amounts of grease and fat, making it one of the most fattening styles of food in the world.
Although authentic Mexican food can be unhealthy, there are many great recipes available for healthy Mexican meals. One ingredient that can easily be replaced is grease, which is usually a staple when making dishes prepared with tortillas. Many Mexican recipes involve frying tortillas, such as taquitos, tacos, and even tostadas. While the fried tortillas are usually the main portion of the dish, using oil to prepare them adds unhealthy fat and caloric intake. One alternative would be using soft tortillas, such as making soft tacos rather than frying the tortillas. There are also several recipes that involve tortillas without being fried, such as quesadillas or baked tortilla chips.
Another problem that can make Mexican food unhealthy is the amount of sodium in the dishes, which gives the food the strong flavor many love. The excessive use of salt and salt-based spices can be eliminated, but the flavor can still remain with the use of hot chili peppers and fresh vegetables such as onions and bell peppers. Rice can be prepared with low sodium chicken broth rather than using salt, and bean dishes can be prepared with the use of fresh ingredients as well.
Milk is another popular ingredient used in Mexican cooking, along with other high fat dairy products such as cheese and sour cream. While these are key ingredients in many popular recipes, the dairy products can be replaced with low-fat or fat-free versions in order to lower the fat intake. Using low-fat milk in a recipes rather than whole milk can reduce the caloric intake by almost half, depending on the amount of milk and other dairy products used in the dish.
Eggs are a main ingredient found in various breakfast dishes, and although they are healthy, many egg recipes are packed full of fat and calories. Huevos rancheros, a popular dish around the world, are typically prepared using whole eggs, oil, various salsas, and fried tortillas. Egg whites can be used rather than whole eggs, and tortillas can be prepared in the oven rather than in a frying pan with oil. Fresh salsas and peppers can be added in place of salt and seasonings, and the dish will still come out tasting amazing.
With the rising incidence of obesity occurring, it is best to find healthier alternatives for many popular dishes. Because Mexican food is well known for its high fat and calorie total, it is important to try low-fat and fat-free alternatives since they still contain the bold flavor most Mexican cuisine is known for. A delicious meal doesn’t have to be full of fat, and healthy Mexican food can still taste amazing with the help of low-fat ingredients and fresh vegetables and spices.
To find more cooking ideas and information on Mexican food visit Healthy Mexican Food and Exotic Mexican Food.