Uncategorized,  Work Life Balance

Balanced Diet: Tasty and Healthy Shrimp Tacos

August 22, 2014 /

One of my big pet peeves is the idea that food from Mexico and Central/South America is the height of unhealthiness.  I have even read articles about doctors shaming patients when they make blanket statements that all that X ethnic-style food is bad.  In reality, there’s so much fresh vegetables and fruits in “Latino” cuisines that you can make healthy dishes or just add a few alternatives and make favorite dishes a little healthier.  This Friday series of a well-lived life is about eating healthy, while still getting to enjoy the comfort food many of us were raised on.

Now, I’m by no means an extensive cook or an expert in clean-eating (ha!), but I have picked up a few things from two of my favorite cooking blogs: Skinny Tastes, which has a lot of fresh versions of Latino dishes; and The Other Side of the Tortilla.  TOSOTO recipes are sometimes too intricate for me, but I like seeing how dishes are made from scratch, and she offers up healthy, tasty options.

But you don’t have to be an expert chef to do some magic in the kitchen! Below is an easy, simple, and healthy  recipe I use to make shrimp tacos.  Proof positive that Mexican food can be healthy.   It’s high in fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin B6.  It rates a B+ on Calorie Count, A if you make it without meat.

healthy shrimp tacos

 

What you need:

 

quick and easy shrimp tacos

 

  1. Dice the potato and sauté on medium heat.  You have to be vigilant because it browns easily.

  2.  Add sliced onion, and half a cup of drained and rinsed black beans.

  3. Once they are sautéed to your liking, set aside in bowl.

  4. Sauté shrimp with extra virgin olive oil and garlic.  I don’t add any salt to any of the ingredients because shrimp has high sodium levels, and my EVOO is infused with chiles.  But can add whatever spice you prefer.

  5. When shrimp is ready, squirt with lime, and then place in separate bowl. Set aside.

  6. Cut avocado in half and place each half on a plate  (yes, I eat it plain).

  7. Heat up 4-6 tortillas–on a comal, please. And make sure your corn tortillas only have three ingredients: lime, water, and corn.

    tortillas in the microwave
    Don’t make Doña Salinas sad.

Once everything is ready, everyone can assemble their own taco with the toppings to their liking.

 Time: 25 minutes

Serves 2
Let me know if you try it!