I love Taco Tuesday and I have ‘Mediterraneanized’ my favorite Mexicali dishes even the Sangria!
Just saying the word taco makes me hungry. Add the word Tuesday as in Taco Tuesday and my mind drifts to my favorite local taco place and laughter with friends. It is my escape from the weekday grind. A core principle of the Mediterranean Diet is to share meals with others. Taco Tuesday is the perfect meal to share with friends. Tacos can be Mediterranean Diet friendly.
Going out for Taco Tuesday is an excuse to expand my menu choices beyond tacos. Burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, chips, salsa and guacamole are all included. Taco Tuesday is an excuse to enjoy the entire Mexicali experience. ‘Mediterraneanized’ Taco Tuesday is the perfect night to invite friends and family over for dinner. You can eat your chips and be fully Mediterranean Diet compliant!
Olive Sunshine shares tips to make your favorite Mexicali recipes Mediterranean Diet friendly!
Mexicali versus Tex-Mex
Mexicali is authentic Mexican cuisine. The cuisine we often think of as Mexican is really Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex cuisine often includes beef and heavy amounts of cheese. Mexicali cuisine tends to be more aligned to the Mediterranean Diet. It focuses on corn, beans and vegetables. Chicken is used more frequently than beef. In locales by the sea, whitefish and shrimp are common proteins. Authentic Mexican cuisine is often Mediterranean Diet friendly.
Tortillas
Corn tortillas are authentic Mexicali fare. Burritos are native to the United States along with flour tortillas. If enjoying a burrito, it is best to avoid white flour tortillas. Whole wheat tortillas would make it Mediterranean Diet friendly. Are crunchy tacos are a must have for you? Baking soft corn shells is a tasty method. Chips and salsa complete Taco Tuesday in my house.
Taco Tuesday is only complete with Toasted Corn Chips and salsa in my house.
Spices versus Salt
Minimizing salt is a goal on the Mediterranean Diet. Salt is hidden in sauces and spice blends; therefore, try to avoid spices and blends that list salt in the ingredients. Sauces like Tabasco or Cholula are often high in sodium. I usually add sea salt to my crispy and hot chips fresh, which I enjoy fresh from the oven. Similarly, making your own sauces and adding your own salt allows for sodium control. Using a blend makes sodium control challenging. I used to be a salt fiend. I found reducing salt in your diet can be a challenge. It is easier when you use spices to add flavor.
Spices add flavor and is a healthy substitute for salt. Cumin is one of my go-do spices to use in Taco Tuesday dishes. First introduced to Mexican cuisine as a Tex-Mex spice cumin provides a warm, smoky flavor. The flavor is so popular with Mexican dishes that it made its way back across the border. Cumin is common in the Mediterranean Diet. In addition, I like to use chili powder, garlic and cilantro.
Toppings
My Sweetheart is great at ordering Mediterranean Diet compliant dishes. When he orders fresh fish or shrimp burrito, he always tries to make it healthy. They know his order at our favorite taco joint, hold the cheese. Where my Sweetheart get into trouble is when he adds the word “wet” to the order! “Wet” means loaded with heavy sauces and cheese. Better choices are warmed avocado, salsa, black olives, and jalapenos. I top mine with a dollop of Strained Almond Yogurt. I like to blend the yogurt with chili powder. Chili powder is a tasty accent to the dish.
Portion Control
In my college years, I used to work in a chain Tex-Mex restaurant, Chi Chi’s. I used to relate Mexicali/Tex-Mex food with over-eating. Most meals at Chi Chi’s were huge – a large main portion with a heaping side of rice and beans. Food spilled off the sides of the plates. I know exactly where my ‘Freshman 15’ came from. Certainly, the Mediterranean Diet plate portions should be followed. There can be too much of a good thing.
Select a smaller plate and fill half of the plate with vegetables, such as a big leafy salad. I love to have lettuce with my Mexicali foods. There is something so perfect to the crunch of crisp romaine lettuce on top of a spicy warm burrito or a guilt-free tostadas to food provides a delicious crunch. Using fresh salsa is a spicy dressing for salad. Beans are protein not veggies. This plate image is helpful.
I love Mexicali food; therefore, I have ‘Mediterraneanized’ my favorite Mexicali dishes. Click here to see all of my favorite Taco Tuesday recipes. Join the Olive Sunshine family and receive emails with new recipes!
