Fajitas, chili, nachos—these are all cornerstones of Tex-Mex cuisine.
Tex-Mex -- the Americanized version of Mexican cuisine -- has more than a few things going for it, nutritionally speaking. But despite those basically healthy ingredients, Tex-Mex cuisine can easily cross the border into high-calorie, high-fat territory.
Sure, the cuisine is full of spicy flavors, but it's also full of a variety of subtle flavors such as jalapeno, chile quero, pasilla, ancho, guajillo, arbol, and more. Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about Tex Mex cuisine is that it's Mexican cuisine.
Salsa is a variety of sauces used as condiments for tacos and other Mexican and Mexican-American foods, and as dips for tortilla chips. They may be raw or cooked, and are generally served at room temperature.
The 10 Commandments of Eating and Drinking Tex-Mex
- Chili gravy is the Tex-Mex Mother Sauce.
- The cheese is yellow.
- Chips and salsa will arrive before you even order a drink.
- Your plate is overflowing with rice and beans.
- The margaritas should be frozen.
- Your entree plate should be oval-shaped and piping hot.
- Nachos have every ingredient on each chip.
For Tex Mex /Taco Seasoning, you need a short list of pantry staples:
- Chili Powder.
- Ground Cumin.
- Ground Coriander.
- Paprika.
- Garlic Powder – Make sure you use garlic powder and not garlic salt.
- Dried Oregano.
- Salt – It's up to you whether you add salt to the seasoning or not.
Mexican food preparations are similar to French -- they involve a lot of ingredients and time." Tex-Mex, according to Nico, uses a narrower set of base ingredients. Basically, Tex-Mex is a distillation of Northern Mexican and Texan rancher cuisines into one bready, cheesy bundle.
Quesadillas. Tex-Mex quesadillas generally use two flour tortillas on top of one another with a gooey cheese and meat filling, plus lettuce and other vegetables. That's not to say that the definition of a quesadilla is fixed even in Mexico – in Mexico City, they don't even include cheese as standard!
Typical Mexican Breakfasts include many dishes with eggs, like some tasty Huevos Rancheros, eggs in salsa, eggs Mexican Style, and eggs with chorizo. We cannot forget other traditional breakfast items, like chilaquiles and refried beans!
maize-based tortillas, not wheat tortillas. soft tacos, not crisp taco shells. white cheese (like cotija or fresh cheese) instead of yellow (cheddar) cheese. cooked corn grains and complete corn cobs rather than salsas and dishes with sweet corn as an ingredient.
Nachos are a Mexican regional dish from northern Mexico that consists of heated tortilla chips or totopos covered with melted cheese (or a cheese-based sauce), often served as a snack or appetizer.
Taco Bell is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. The restaurants serve a variety of Mexican-inspired foods, that include: tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, novelty and specialty items, along with a variety of "value menu" items.
Nachos were invented in Mexico, for Americans, by a Mexican! They originated in the small Mexican town of Piedras Negras in 1943 and were invented by restaurateur, Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya. One day, when Nacho was without his chef, he needed to rustle up a quick snack for a group of US military wives who were in town.
Taco BellThis the largest and most known of all the Tex-Mex chain restaurants.
American tacos use flour tortillas or crispy, hard-shelled corn tortillas. You'll find that authentic Mexican tacos use soft corn tortillas as the wrapper. You'll find Mexican tacos filled with flavorful, marinated meat like flank steak or skirt steak.
Mexican Food: Making Healthier Choices
- Fish first. Fish (when it's not fried) is often the lowest in fat and saturated fat of the meat choices.
- Stick with soft tortillas.
- Skip the sour cream.
- No cheese, please.
- Guacamole is good for you.
- Go for grilled.
- Add fajita veggies.
- Skip the chips.
Healthier choices include chicken fajitas, bean burritos, grilled chicken dishes with peppers and onions (hold the cheese!), or a soft taco. Choose soft over crunchy. The crunchy dishes on the menu are likely to be fried and full of fat. 1? Ask your waiter not to bring pre-meal chips and salsa.
Dinner: Dinner is typically much lighter than lunch and is eaten at around 8pm. Usually something simple is prepared in the home kitchen such as quesadillas, tortillas filled with lunch leftovers or sweet bread and atole (drinking custard). Often people head out for tacos or tamales.
If you're headed to a Mexican restaurant, one of the top low-calorie choices is tacos made with grilled meat, salsa and corn tortillas. Skip the rice, and ask for vegetables on the side.
Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and queso blanco aren't the only cheeses that you'll ever see on a Tex-Mex plate, but they're definitely the most common. And while queso blanco is an authentic Mexican food, cheddar cheese is English in origin, and Monterey Jack has both Mexican and American roots.
With lots of good soil, Mexico is a highly fertile place. As a result, people can easily harvest delicious fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, avocados, corn, and squash are commonly seen ingredients in Mexican food. With the use of healthy ingredients like these, many Mexican dishes are based and created.
