Tag Archives: mexican

Mexican Kabobs

Retread #2 – Oh so yummy ! I served them with roasted tomatoes and zucchini fritters for a super tasty, healthy and balanced meal 🙂

I usually skip right by kabob recipes – threading the skewers is a pain and a lot of time, the food falls off into the grill. Now I use a grill basket instead and gather up as many kabob recipes as I can 🙂 Just be sure not to stir or shake the basket too often. You want the food to get the nice little charred ends just as you would if you were cooking on skewers. Add some extra veggies and a bit more spice to bulk up the meal without adding too many more calories – grape tomatoes, button mushrooms, different color peppers….they all work well.

Mexican Kabobs
Mexican Kabobs

4 servings
145 calories per serving

1 lb boneless pork cut into 1 inch cubes
1 T taco seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 large onion in thin slices
1/2 medium green bell pepper in thin slices
Pam

Combine all ingredients and toss to coat well. Grill 10-15 minutes in a grill basket sprayed with Pam or on skewers that you have thread with the pieces. Here’s a link to the grill basket that I use:

You can also put all the ingredients in a bowl to mix, and then place on a baking sheet sprayed with Pam under a heated broiler for 10-12 minutes.

Chicken Cheese Burritos

These took just 10 minutes to throw together and were so very good – the onion was just enough, the beans leant a great flavor as well as making the texture really nice, and the cumin and lime made for a great overall flavor. You can make these ahead and freeze them – then you have a quick nutritious microwave lunch ready in 3 minutes !

Chicken Cheese Burritos
Chicken Cheese Burritos

6 servings
367 calories per serving

2 t oil
1 c diced onion
1 T minced garlic
1 15 oz. can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 c cooked and diced chicken breast (Perdue Shortcuts work great here!)
1 T cumin
2 plum tomatoes, diced
2 jalapeno peppers, diced
1 T minced lime zest
2 T fresh lime juice
2 t oregano flakes
¼ t salt
¼ t pepper
6 8 inch whole wheat tortillas (Smart Delicious 80 calorie version)
1 ½ c shredded low fat cheddar cheese

Heat oil in skillet and cook onion and garlic about 2 minutes then add beans. Mix chicken with cumin and add to onion mix. Stir in tomatoes, jalapeno, zest, juice, oregano, salt and pepper and cook until jalapenos are slightly softened, about 5 minutes then let filling cool slightly. Place tortillas on a flat surface and fill with ¾ c filling and ¼ c cheese. Fold and eat ! Here is a video that will help you learn how to roll the burrito so it does not leak.

If you are making these to freeze and eat later, make sure you let the mix cool completely before putting them together and then fold in all 4 sides and roll, securing the filling inside. Wrap each in plastic wrap and then place all the burritos in a zip loc freezer bag.

Black Bean Burgers

These are not are not a replacement for burgers – if you think of it that way, you are going to be disappointed. Take these for what they are – an amazing savory, tasty pressed veggie patty that is only 120 calories. Topped with avocado and salsa, and placed on a bun, it makes a great meal.

Black Bean Burgers
Black Bean Burgers

4 servings
380 calories per serving

4 Morningstar black bean burgers
4 Arnold Thins 100 calorie flat buns
1 avocado, sliced (or 3 T Wholly Guacamole per burger)
1 c salsa

Cook black bean burgers according to package instructions. Place on buns and top with 1/4 the sliced avocado and 1/4 c salsa. Although not shown on the package, I often heat the oven to 375 degrees and place the burgers on a baking sheet sprayed with Pam and then cook for 15 minutes – they come out perfect !

Chicken and Bean Quesadillas

This is one of those really filling quesadillas. Between the whole wheat wrap, the beans, chicken, AND cheese, it really makes for a great lunch. The salsa verde is a nice twist, but if you don’t like the taste, feel free to substitute regular salsa 🙂

Chicken and Bean Quesadillas
Chicken and Bean Quesadillas

2 servings
358 calories per serving

1 c cooked shredded or diced chicken breast (Perdue Shortcuts are a great time saver!)
1/3 c salsa verde, divided
1/2 c black beans
1/2 c kidney beans
2 9 inch whole wheat tortillas (80 calorie version)
1/2 c shredded low fat Mexican blend or cheddar cheese
Pam
Extra salsa verde for dipping (at only 10 calories for 2 tablespoons, don’t be shy !)

Combine cooked chicken and half the salsa verde in a skillet and heat through . Combine beans and the other half of the salsa, lightly mashing some of the beans with a fork. Microwave for 30 seconds to heat. Spread the bean mix over each tortilla and then the chicken mix and then sprinkle with 1/4 c cheese. Fold in half. Spray skillet with Pam and heat to medium high. Add quesadillas and cook 2-3 minutes each side or until lightly browned. Serve with additional salsa.

Grilled Bread with Sofrito

The recipe below calls for a small piece of whole wheat bread. Often I double up the calories using a piece of thinly sliced Italian bread instead, especially if the rest of the meal is relatively low in calories.

Grilled Bread with Sofrito
Grilled Bread with Sofrito

6 servings
80 calories per serving

6 slices 45 calorie wheat bread
6 T sofrito (available in most supermarkets with all the Goya products, it is a condiment of richly condensed tomatoes, peppers and spices).

Spread 1 T sofrito on each slice of bread and place the bread sofrito side up in a toaster oven. Heat until bread edges or toasty brown. Serve immediately.

Taco Bell Fresco Menu

Taco Bell has a new menu section called their FRESCO menu – several items 400 Calories or Less !!

Taco Bell Fresco Menu
Taco Bell Fresco Menu

I finally had to give it a try – some days you just don’t have time to cook lunch and there are few places to get a decent meal that is under 400 calories. My expectations were high because I.LOVE.TACO BELL. I know, I know … but I can’t help it – their tacos are just so good 🙂

So here’s what my husband and I got for lunch:

Me:

1 Fresco Crunchy Taco – 150 calories
1 Fresco Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco – 170 calories

Him:

1 Fresco Crunchy Taco – 150 calories
1 Fresco Burrito Supreme Steak – 330 calories

Taco Bell
Taco Bell

And the consensus is…….

2 thumbs up 🙂 The tacos are minus some cheese, but other than that, they are pretty much the normal Taco Bell fare. These will definitely stay on the list for a quick meal that fits into the 400 calorie plan !

Bean Burritos

This is another one of those very versatile lunches – swap out the black beans for refried beans, the red peppers for green peppers, the cumin for chili powder – and you have a whole different beast ! Just be sure to microwave the wraps for 15 seconds so that they are nice and pliable and don’t break when you are wrapping the contents.

Bean Burrito
Bean Burrito

4 servings
207 calories per serving

15 oz black beans, drained and rinsed, then mashed
1/2 t ground cumin
4 whole wheat tortillas (80 calorie version)
1 c chopped tomato
1 c chopped red bell pepper
1 c salsa
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix beans with cumin, salt, pepper and chopped red peppers. Microwave 1 minute to heat. Spread over tortillas. Sprinkle with salsa and tomato. Roll up and enjoy. Take a look at my instructional video to learn how to fold a wrap so the contents won’t fall out the end 🙂

Potato with Mexican Topping

Serve this super filling potato with 2 T low fat sour cream for just another 40 calories. Leave out the layer of beans and this one is kid friendly.

Potato with Mexican Topping
Potato with Mexican Topping

1 serving
226 calories per serving

6 oz. potato
2 T shredded fat free cheddar cheese
10 sprays ICBINB
1/4 c black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 t taco seasoning
2 T chopped tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional – sour cream

Pierce the potato several times and microwave 8 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Cut oval hole in the top (like you would in a pumpkin) taking care not to cut through the whole shell. Scoop out the meat of the potato and place in a bowl. Add butter spray, cheese, salt and pepper, and taco seasoning and stir to mix.

Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds and stir. Fill the potato shell with a layer of black beans, then the potato mix and microwave another 30 seconds. Sprinkle top with a few reserved beans and the chopped tomatoes. Microwave 2 minutes to heat through or stick in the oven for 5-7 minutes.

Cheesy Nacho Bites

Get your microwaved snack in 30 seconds – there’s no shorter countdown to cheesy nachos !

Cheesy Nacho Bites
Cheesy Nacho Bites

4 servings
290 calories per serving

24 baked tortilla chips
1 c shredded pepper jack cheese
24 t salsa

Place 6 chips on a paper plate. Sprinkle with 1/4 c cheese. Microwave 20 seconds or until cheese is melted. Top with 1 t salsa per chip. Repeat for 3 other servings.

Mushroom and Cheese Quesadilla

So easy, so simple. Mexican grilled cheese ! 🙂

Mushroom and Cheese Quesadilla
Mushroom and Cheese Quesadilla

1 serving
202 calories per serving

1 whole wheat tortilla (80 calorie version)
1/4 c salsa
1/2 c chopped mushrooms
1/4 c fat free shredded cheddar cheese
2 T low fat sour cream

Sprinkle the mushrooms and cheese on half the tortilla. Fold over and place in a heated skillet. Cook 2 min. Flip and cook another 2 minutes. Serve with sour cream and salsa.

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