Healthy Tacos : What to put in tacos

Are tacos your favourite food? Do you love the crunchy shell, juicy meat, and fresh salsa dripping with flavour? There are so many options when it comes to taco seasonings, sauces and toppings.

Tacos are a simple meal, but they're also incredibly versatile. They're perfect for parties, picnics, potlucks, tailgates, and celebrations of all kinds. And did we mention they're delicious?!

But what about when you're looking for a healthier alternative to all the meat and cheese? 

We've compiled some tips to help you make the best taco possible!

Healthy Tacos

Whether you're looking to make mighty meat tacos with your favourite pulled beef brisket, or your looking to up the game with some healthy fish tacos, your favourite Mexican dishes can be made on a low-cal, low-carb diet. 

Firstly, let's look at what to include in your typical taco shells. 

1. Choose Fresh Ingredients

Fresh ingredients are essential when making the best tacos. Start with high-quality meats like beef, chicken, pork, and shrimp. These tend to cook quickly so they're easier to handle. 

You'll notice a big difference between using fresh ingredients and frozen when eating tacos, it's all about the crunch of the veg, complimenting the spiced taco meat, with a bit of lime juice to top.

Our favourite fresh ingredients to include in tacos are:

• Meats & Fish ( Chicken, Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket, Cod or Prawns) 
• Salads (Red Peppers, Lettuce, Pineapple, Onion, Avocado, Pico De Gallo)
• Sauces (Sour Cream, Fresh Tomato Salsa, Refried Beans, Hot Sauce, Mango Salsa, Pineapple Salsa)
• Cheese- Mexican Cheese, Pre-shredded cheese or classic authentic cheese like cheddar or mozzarella (Either way, all cheese is good cheese!)

2. Avoid Overcooking

Overcooked foods lose their crispiness and become mushy. If you're using crunchy taco shells, you may want a softer filling, however, for our recipes we choose to use vegetables & toppings that have a bit of a bite. 

3. Use Spices Wisely

Spice is one of the key ingredients to any delicious tacos  - Whether it's soft tacos or crisp taco shells, you expect spice. Traditional Mexican spice includes a large number of cloves of garlic or garlic powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, cacao, chilli powder, coriander and cinnamon. 

But the spices and seasonings aren't just used to flavour meats when it comes to tacos, most Mexican foods get their spice from the sauces - you can choose to flavour your sauce with the following for the best results. 

• Salt - Salt is essential for seasoning. Add salt to taste.

• Pepper -  Black Pepper adds flavour to dishes. Add pepper liberally.

• Chili Powder - Chili powder contains chiles and spices that give chilli its distinctive flavour. Add chilli powder to taste.

• Garlic - Garlic adds flavour and aroma to dishes. Crush garlic cloves and add to recipes.

• Onion - Onions add flavour and texture to dishes. Chop onion finely and add to dishes.

• Salsa - Salsas contain chopped tomatoes or a general tomato sauce, fresh cilantro, jalapeños, lime juice, and seasonings. No taco would be complete without a delicious topping of homemade chunky salsa.

Types of Tacos

Beef Tacos 

Beef tacos are probably one of the most popular choices for taco fillings, you can choose to use steak or ground beef. 

For ground beef tacos we recommend using lean ground beef with a teaspoon of ground cumin, tomato puree and a tablespoon of chilli powder. 

Pair your seasoned ground beef with some classic cheddar cheese and soured cream for a milder taste. 

Vegan Tacos 

Looking to give Veganuary a go? meatless tacos are just as good as the real thing, whether you choose to pack your tacos with veggies or a meat alternative like jackfruit. 

Our favourite vegan taco recipe is the jackfruit taco, with pulled jackfruit in a BBQ glaze sauce, you can pair jackfruit with some spiced black beans and your favourite vegan cheese for a vegan-friendly take on a classic Mexican staple. 

If you're interested in a vegetarian alternative, red our spicy veggie taco recipe here.

Fried Fish Tacos

Unlike meats, pairing your fish tacos may take a little more attention to detail, we've broken down the best flavours to accompany the variety of fish options when having tacos. 

Salmon Tacos 

For salmon tacos, we opt for a sweet chilli sauce, with some pickled red cabbage, chunky sweet tomato sauce & sour cream and chive topping, you won't need sprinkled cheese for this healthy dish. 

Prawn Tacos 

Grilled shrimp tacos can be made as spicy as you want, whether you're opting for a soft red pepper spice, or you're looking for hot chili peppers, we love prawn tacos in a soft tortilla paired with some pineapple salsa, crunchy lettuce and some pico de gallo.

Cod Tacos 

Cod tacos can be one of the easiest taco recipes to perfect, pairing them with some fresh green onions and some classic crunchy taco shells, sprinkle on your favourite creamy sauces like tikka mayo, or fresh tomato salsa.

Serve with Guacamole, Fresh Lime & Coriander

Guacamole adds flavour and texture to tacos but also contains lots of calories. To save some fat and calories, serve guacamole alongside tacos instead of on top, and use sparingly.