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Healthy Mexican Food Recipes

December 5th, 2010 No comments

You can easily add healthy food to your diet by eating Mexican food. By cooking it yourself, you gain control over the ingredients. Others may say that Mexican food is fatty and full of cholesterol, and while it may be true for some Mexican restaurants, when you cook the recipes yourself, you can choose fresh, nutritious ingredients.

Authentic Mexican dishes are made with fresh meats, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. These ingredients are rich in the vitamins and minerals you need to remain healthy. Fresh fruits and vegetables are also low in calories and fat. Stopping by Taco Bell is not authentic Mexican food.

Tomatoes are best when they are in season. You can get delicious heirloom varieties at your farmer’s market. Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C, lycopene and potassium. They are full of flavor, unlike the grocery store tomatoes that were picked while they were still green.

Use dried beans when you cook Mexican food. They are high in protein and fiber. They have antioxidants that protect you from many health issues. Pinto and black beans are low in fat. You do not need to add lard or oil to make refried beans.

Chili peppers are common in Mexican food. They have high levels of capsaicin, which is a compound that can help relieve pain and inflammation in the body. They lower your bad cholesterol (LDL). They contain vitamin A and help keep your heart healthy.

You can get a lot of vitamin K and potassium from avocados. Both of these substances help lower your bad cholesterol. Yes, they are high in fat, but it is a good fat that your body needs. Avocados contain omega-3 fatty acids that is sorely lacking in the modern diet. Avocados supply the kinds of fat you need to keep your joints and brain in working order.

Grilling your meats instead of frying them will remove some of the fats you do not need. You can also leave the cheese and sour cream off your food. Meat and beans will provide you enough protein so you do not need to rely on the cheese for that. If you want more flavor, put a spoonful of salsa on top of your main dish. To make flavorful meats in Mexico, the meat is cooked slowly for hours with the seasonings. This lets the flavor infuse the meat.

Salsas can be made easily by chopping fresh tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Add in a mango if you want. Guacamole is a great all-purpose sauce that can be made simply from avocado, tomatoes, and some spices. Skip the chips and eat these sauces on your main course. Mix them with rice or beans. Dollop some on top of burritos, tacos or enchiladas.

When you do your own cooking, you get to control the ingredients, portions, and flavors. If you do not like an ingredient, substitute another one. Add other ingredients like rice, mushrooms, or spices that you like better. Do not eat American Mexican food. These versions of Mexican food have a lot of added fat and calories. Choose your favorite authentic recipes and cook them occasionally. Your family will enjoy the flavors from south of the border.

Mexican cuisine is the second most vast and varied after Chinese cuisine, so if you thought it was all tacos and burritos, you might be pleasantly surprised by some of the delicious recipes at MexicanFoodRecipes.org. There is plenty to choose from, including warming soups and stews, salads and traditional Mexican fare along with information on the fascinating Mexican food customs.

Wonderful Mexican Salsa

August 13th, 2010 No comments

Salsa is a broad term that represent a variety of dishes all over the world. More often than not though, the term is distinctly linked to a type of Mexican sauce. Although there are many different types of authentic Mexican salsas, most contain tomatoes. Depending on the type of salsa prepared, the tomatoes can be mixed with a variety of ingredients, often onions and chili peppers. There are also a variety of ways to prepare Mexican salsas. They can be cooked or served fresh. The ingredients can also be roasted, grilled, or sautéed first.

Salsa are often used as dips or as a side dish. The mild but flavorful tangy taste of authentic Mexican salsas balances the different flavors in Mexican dishes. Salsas can both enhance the filling effects of plain tortillas and moderate the rich flavors of beans, cheese and ground meat. The original style salsas have also become popular because of their obvious health benefits.

Typical ingredients in salsas like peppers and tomatoes are known to carry nutrients and disease fighting substances such as capsaicin and phytochemicals. Salsas have therefore thought of as healthy flavorful side dishes, appetizers, dips and toppings. Salsas are often served with fish, meat and poultry or with plain rice or tortillas. Due to the enormous popularity of salsas, there are numerous variations to the original salsa recipes. Salsas are now made with various ingredients – various fruits, spices, herbs and even with artificial flavors.

Pestle and Mexican mortar were initially prepared using the main salsa ingredients. This method has now been replaced by blenders and food processors. Although the aroma that the traditional methods bring is much more satisfying than any achieved by modern gadget.

It is a common concept that Mexican salsas are very hot and spicy.  So if you don’t like spicy food be wary of that and make changes accordingly. Real Mexican salsas however are not burning hot. Adding one, maybe two chili peppers, perhaps a Serrano, or jalapeño pepper is enough. Some people use green tomatoes instead of the customary tomatillos, but believe me, the two are different and the latter has a husk around it .

Many of the ingredients used to make salsa are often roasted in an open fire. Lately most roasting is done using an outdoor grill or in the oven. Grilling your substances will also make it quicker for you to peel your ingredients. Do take into account though that you should not wash your tomatoes and peppers while peeling. The water can wash away some of the flavor that has been achieved by way of the grilling process.

For additional infoon some awesome mexican video recipes please go to Mexican Recipe. Also, if you are interested in Salsa then you can visit Mexican Salsa Recipes