Tag Archives: tortillas

Beef, Recipes

Delightful Corned Beef Tacos

Photo - corned beef tacos

I apologize for not being around much this month. Since it’s my birthday month, I spent quite a bit of time eating out or eating leftovers, but I did manage to cook a few new things during March.

If you have any corned beef left from St. Patrick’s Day, you can use it in this delicious fusion recipe of Mexican and Irish. Or you can do what I did and buy a pound of cooked corned beef from the grocery store deli. I had them cut it about 1/4 inch thick so that I could slice it into thin strips for the recipe.

Purple cabbage isn’t required and green cabbage will work just as well, but the reddish one is more colorful. The flavor is spicy and a bit sweet, so it makes for a nice tickle on the taste buds. I used La Banderita flour tortillas, which are 4 net carbs per tortilla. You can use one of the wheat ones that will save you a carb on each taco. Ideally, two tacos are a nice serving, but I’ve listed the carb count for each taco.

Corned Beef Tacos

1 pound thick-sliced Corned Beef
1 teaspoon Brown Mustard
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 teaspoon minced Garlic
4 low carb Flour Tortillas
1/2 cup Irish Cheddar Cheese, shredded

Slaw
1 cup shredded purple cabbage
1/4 cup white onion diced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard

Make the slaw first. Put all ingredients into a bowl and stir together until it looks creamy. Refrigerate.

Cut the sliced corned beef into thin strips. In a small bowl, mix the mustard, cayenne pepper, and garlic together and add 1 tablespoon of water. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a skillet, then add the corned beef. Cook for a couple of minutes. Stir in mustard mixture and stir cook the corned beef for about 3 to 5 minutes until it is completely covered and warmed through.

To serve, warm the tortillas over a flame or in the oven, wrapped in foil, for a few minutes. Spread corned beef mixture down the middle of each tortillas, spread the slaw over the meat, and top with shredded cheese.

Mix 2 tablespoons salsa with 2 tablespoons mayonnaise to make a spicy sauce for the tacos.

Mexican/Spanish Recipes, Recipes, Vegetarian

Variations on Enchiladas

The seasons begin to turn, and I have been craving a little Mexican food this past week. It’s a fundamental part of my diet since I grew  up in a Southwest border town. But I also wanted to use a meatless variety choice, so I went for this adapted recipe for enchiladas. Just cheese in these logs of tortillas is common and can be found in most Mexican restaurants, so a little twist or two on the recipe makes it a more interesting and flavorful combination. This version is destined to become one of my favorites for a Meatless Monday or any time you want a light dinner.

For my ingredients, I used Great Value Fiesta Cheese mix, found at Wal-Mart, which includes four varieties of Mexican cheese and is really low in carbohydrates. You can select other cheese mixes or just Monterrey Jack cheese. I also used Jalapeno Cheese, which adds just a little kick. The butternut squash is a delicious, but mild stand-in for meat and adds a little substance to the dish.

Other add-ins could include chopped olives, chopped green chiles, green onions, chopped and cooked tomatillos, and additional seasonings such as cumin, cayenne pepper, and cilantro to adjust it to your preferences. Also, I made this batch with red enchilada sauce, but you can use green chile enchilada sauce or green chile salsa. Each change will affect the overall Carb count though. Anytime you are making Mexican food, you can expect the net carbs in the dish to push toward the 10 net carb mark, so figure any changes into the meal.

Photo: Enchilada cut open.
Enchilada cut open to reveal the cheesy interior. I served mine with a apple, kohlrabi, and cabbage coleslaw

Butternut and Cheese Enchiladas

4 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cups Salsa
1/4 cup Onions, chopped
1/2 cup Jalapeno Jack Cheese, grated or shredded
1 cup Butternut Squash, cubed
1/2 cup shredded Monterrey Jack cheese or Mexican Cheese Mix
6 7-inch Low Carb Tortillas
1 cup Red Enchilada Sauce
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar Jack Cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F.)

Cook the butternut squash cubes for 1 to 2 minutes in a microwave until they are just tender. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add the cream cheese and salsa and beat it to mix together. (I used a wooden spoon to work it together, but you can also use a hand mixer.) Add the onions and 1/2 cup Monterrey Jack or Fiesta Cheese and mix together well, then stir in the butternut squash. This is the filling for your enchiladas.

In a baking pan or a oven-safe skillet, add 1/2 cup of the enchilada sauce to the bottom of the pan. Spread 1/6th of the filling down the middle of a tortilla and roll it into a log over the filling. Place seam down in the pan. Repeat with the next 5 tortillas, fitting them snugly into the pan or skillet. Spread the remaining enchilada sauce over the top and sprinkle with 1/2 cup Cheddar Jack or more Mexican Cheese Mix.

Photo: Enchiladas in a pan.
Six enchiladas just out of the oven in a square copper skillet.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until the cheese is melted. Let sit for a few minutes, then use a spatula to remove each enchilada to the plate. Serve with a salad or Spanish riced cauliflower.

Makes 6 servings.

You might also like Chicken Enchiladas with Zucchini,  Cast Iron Skillet Enchiladas, and Apple, Kohlrabi and Carrot Slaw.

Photo: Info for Enchiladas

Mexican/Spanish Recipes, Poultry

A Twist on the Taco

I made tacos a few days ago and had quite a bit of leftover meat since I had planned to do tacos a second time. Instead, I decided to do something similar that I called a Taco Lasagna.  Easy to make and it tastes delicious. If you have leftover taco meat, it’s a great way to use it. If you want, you could add in a layer of red beans or pinto beans, but that adds a few more carbs to the count.

Taco Lasagna

6 oz. Salsa Taquera
3 Whole Wheat Low Carb Tortillas
10 oz. Ground beef, lean
6 oz Chorizo
1 tablespoon Taco Seasoning
1 cup Mexican Style Cheddar Jack, shredded
1 cup shredded Iceberg Lettuce
1 medium Red Ripe Tomato, chopped
1/4 cup Ricotta Cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (F.).

In a skillet, cook the ground beef and chorizo until lightly browned. Drain off an excess oil, then add 1/4 cup water and the taco seasoning. Stir together and cook until the meat is almost done. Remove from heat.

In a pie pan or a cake pan, put two tablespoons of salsa on the bottom. Warm the tortillas, one at a time, over the stove in a pan with a little oil. Place one tortilla on top of the salsa, then spread two tablespoons of the ricotta cheese over the top. Spread 1/2 of the meat over the top of the ricotta, add two more tablespoon of salsa over the top and sprinkle 1/3 of the cheese on top. Place the next tortilla on top and repeat with the ricotta, meat, salsa and cheese. Place the last tortilla on top and pour the rest of the salsa over it and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top.

Bake in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes until the cheese is melted and getting browned. Remove and let cool for about 10 minutes while you get the lettuce out and chop the tomatoes. Cut into quarters and serve one quarter with lettuce and tomatoes. Add optional sour cream and avocado if you wish.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional information per serving:
Calories: 568.2 Fat: 43.5 g Net Carbs: 7.8 g Protein: 34.7 g

Atkins Diet Tips, Healthy Life, Recipes

Super low carb mock tortillas

Sausage and egg tacos made with low carb mock tortillas.

As I was considering alternatives for corn tortillas, I ran across a few options on low carb and paleo websites with various variations, from a mix of almond flour and cornmeal, which are still too high in carbs, to cauliflower tortillas. Cauliflower is amazing and I’ve used it to make pizza crust, but I can’t really advocate for it as a tortilla.

Then last week I was finishing up my two week induction period on phase 1 of Atkins where you should be avoiding anything with grains. But flax meal is permitted and I got to thinking that flax has a texture similar to ground corn so it could substitute for the masa. I made waffles with flax meal and they have good flavor that isn’t exactly like corn, but still a taste in the same ballpark. I decided to try making a thin pancake batter like a crepe and cooking in the skillet. The result was a thin cake that is similar to a tortilla and can be used for tacos or enchiladas or wrapping meat, eggs, or even vegetables in. They can be frozen, with a sheet of wax paper between each layer to prevent sticking, and heated on a griddle or skillet or microwaved. They do NOT fry well. In some ways these also resemble the flat Indian bread paratha.

These tortilla substitutes are flavorful, super low carb’d, and easy to make. If you have a problem with flax meal, then don’t try them. Golden flax meal tastes better and looks prettier, than the regular flax meal. This recipe works for the Induction phase of Atkins and for any other level.

Mock Tortillas

These are a cross between tortillas and crepes. They use egg to hold the flax meal together. Make them very thin. You can roll a scrambled egg with bacon or sausage and cheese inside these or fold them over like tacos. They can be reheated in the oven or on top of a griddle like a tortilla.

2 tablespoons Golden Flax Meal
1 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese, grated
1 Egg
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 tablespoon Oil
1/2 tablespoon Water

Mix ingredients in a bowl until they are well blended. Batter should be thin. If not, add enough water to get it thin and easily spreadable. Heat a large skillet over high heat and spray with cooking spray or lightly oil using a paper towel. Reduce the heat to medium high.

Pour 1/2 of the mixture in the center of the skillet and use a rubber spatula to spread it into a 5 to 6″ circle. It should be very thin. Put a lid over it and cook for about 2 minutes. Check to see if the center is set up. If so, then use a pancake spatula to flip the cake to the other side and cook about 2 minutes on that side.

The resulting bread should be lightly browned and firm.

Makes 2 tortillas.

Nutrition Information per crepe:
Calories: 97.3 Fat: 7.7 g Net Carbs: 0.4 g Protein: 5.7 g

Tip: To make a batch of four, double the ingredients except the egg. One egg is enough for a double batch. Add a little more water to get the thin batter.

Breakfast & Brunch, Recipes

Easy Chorizo and Eggs Brunch

Here’s my second Cinco de Mayo recipe suggestion. This is a great breakfast or brunch meal and it’s easy to make.

A simple dish, but delicious and satisfying. This used the Mexican-style chili sauce chorizo that is very moist and cooks into the egg well. If you buy the chorizo in a long tube, it is usually 12 oz. folded in half in the grocery. Use 1/4 of the tube for the recipe. The secret ingredient in this is ricotta cheese , which adds a little more substance to the scramble.

Pork Chorizo image
This is the pork chorizo type that I used in this recipe. You can also get it in beef or a combination.

Chorizo and Eggs Deluxe

2 Eggs
3 oz. Chorizo
2 tablespoon Ricotta Cheese
1 teaspoon dried Onion Flakes or 1 tablespoon chopped Green Onions
1/4 cup Cheddar Jack Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 low carb Tortilla, cut in half

Heat a small skillet and add the chorizo to cook down over medium high heat, stir until it melts. Beat the eggs in a small bowl and add dried onions to soften. (If you’re using green onions, do not add them at this time.)

Tear one half of the tortilla into small pieces and set aside. Cut the other half into two pieces, butter, and place under the broiler to lightly toast. This won’t take long, about a minute, so watch closely so it doesn’t burn.

When the chorizo is melted, add the eggs and ricotta cheese. Stir with a wooden spoon so the dish is blended as the eggs begin to cook. Add the cheese and seasonings and cook until the egg is cooked to your preference and the cheese is melted. (If you are using green onions, add with the cheese or use them as topping.)

Put the toasted tortilla on the plate and serve the eggs on top.

Makes two servings

Nutrition Information per serving:
Calories: 306 Fat: 23.1 g Net Carbs: 3.5 g Protein: 20.4 g