My philosophy of life has long been: Can I do something about it? If I can, I do; if I can’t I try to forget it and live with it. In this new section of my website, I plan to debunk the myth that all Mexican food is heavy, highly caloric, and not good for you. This misconception is fostered by the Tex-Mex style of cooking that can in fact be all of those things.

The proliferation of taco trucks and stands where people can get a bite for a buck has introduced a generation to the flavors of true Mexican food. In Zarela Cooks at Home, I will feature Delitefully Mexican food, some of it inspired by street food, that you can cook, enjoy and be guilt free. I have not fiddled with the ingredients or the recipes to make them so.

Even tacos, soft shell tacos that is, can be very light yet infinitely satisfying. Tacos al pastor are the perfect example: Marinated slabs of thinly sliced pork are stacked tightly and slowly cooked on a rotating spit, a pineapple impaled on the top drips juices onto the meat as it turns. Sliced thinly and encased in freshly made corn tortillas with a squirt of spicy table sauce, the combination can be thrilling. Vegetarians will be happy with cactus salad (tacos de ensalada de nopalitos) like the ones I used to eat as a child at the Juarez market on our Saturday shopping trips. One of my favorite tacos is stuffed with smoky roasted Anaheim chile strips, grilled onions or scallions, and a thin slice of queso blanco.

Photo by Alex Uballez

Spicy Pineapple Salad (Ensalada de pina con jalapeño)

There are hundreds of Mexican dishes that are naturally light, healthy, and easy to make. They are often ideal for vegetarians or vegans and there are many that raw food aficionados can easily and deliciously incorporate into their diets. Like me, many people simply prefer to eat this way — spicy, refreshing, tangy dishes that satisfy your craving for the taste of Mexico. You will not be sacrificing flavor and you will be able to add to your repertoire when cooking at home.

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Course Appetizer, Salad

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 4

Calories 244 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 pineapple
• ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
• 2 fresh jalapeño chiles seeds and veins removed, and cut into thin slivers
• Juice of one lime
• ¼ cup olive oil
• Kosher or sea salt
• 12 sprigs cilantro leaves only

Instructions

 

• Remove the top and bottom of the pineapple. Cut into 4 vertical pieces, core, and cut into ¼-inch slices. Combine with the red onion and jalapeño chiles.
• Combine the lime juice, olive oil, and salt to taste; add to the pineapple mixture.
• Add the cilantro leaves at the last minute and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 244kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 2gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 7mgPotassium: 328mgFiber: 4gSugar: 23gVitamin A: 657IUVitamin C: 120mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 1mg

Keyword Delitefully Mexican, pineapple

NOTE: Nutrition values are approximate and for informational purposes only. Values do not include optional or alternate ingredients, nor do they include the nutritional values for any secondary recipes that may be listed in the ingredients.