By special request from our Latin Recipes page on Facebook, we've decided to provide you with some great and, most importantly, healthy alternatives to your favorite Latin dishes.
I know that hearing the words "healthy", "low-fat" and "low-cal" alongside "Latin food" is pretty much the craziest thing you may have heard all day, but trust me when I say these recipes are winners. It's not always easy to do but these 6 traditional Latin dishes are definitely made healthier–and you absolutely HAVE to try them! If you haven't yet tried the slow cooker low-calorie pernil, you can start there and then quickly move on to these other recipes that are sure to be your family's next favorites. Yum!
Read more ¿Qué más? 5 Latin Fall salads with quinoa to help you lose weight (RECIPES)
Brazilian Vegetable Feijoada
Ingredients:
1/2 cup brown rice
1 cup water
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion
2 clove garlic
1 medium sweet potato
1 cup black beans
1 medium green pepper
1 small hot pepper (like fresno)
1 large tomato
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon thyme
1/4 cup cilantro
1 cup veggie broth
1 tablespoon lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
Get the full recipe directions from Naturally Ella.
Grilled Fish Tacos
__Ingredients:
__4 teaspoons chili powder, preferably made with New Mexico or ancho chiles (see Note)
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2 pounds mahi-mahi or Pacific halibut (see Note), 1/2-3/4 inch thick, skinned and cut into 4 portions
Get the full recipe directions from Eating Well.
Baked Chiles Rellenos with Smoky Tomato Sauce
__Ingredients:
__6 large poblano chiles
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1/2 medium onion, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium zucchini, chopped (1 cup)
1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 cup shredded low-fat Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese
1 large egg
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 lime, cut into 6 wedges
1/4 cup low-fat sour cream or plain yogurt
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 28-oz. can whole tomatoes
1 canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, drained
Get the full recipe directions from Vegetarian Times.
Healthy Pupusas Revueltas
Ingredients:
1 lb. chicken breast, ground
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 lb. lowfat mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 small onion, finely diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium green pepper, seeded, minced
1 small tomato, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 cups instant corn flour (masa harina)
6 cups water
Get the full recipe directions from Momswhothink.com.
Colombian Ajiaco Bogotano
Ingredients:
3 Chicken breast, skin removed
12 cups water
3 ears fresh corn, cuted into 2 pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
2 chicken bouillon cubes
3 scallions
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoon chopped cilantro
2 cups papa criolla
3 medium white potatoes, peeled and sliced
3 medium red potatoes, peeled and sliced
1/3 cup guacas
1 cup heavy cream for serving
1 cup capers for serving
Get the full recipe instructions from Vida Vibrante.
Mexican Slow Cooked Pork Carnitas
__Ingredients:
__2.5 lb pork shoulder blade roast, lean, all fat removed (I used Smithfield)
6 cloves garlic, cut into sliver
cumin
dry adobo seasoning
garlic powder
3/4 cup 99% fat free chicken broth
2-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (to taste)
2 bay leaves
Get the full recipe directions from Skinnytaste.
