Dishes, Ordering Tips, and Recipes

1. Fajitas

Fajitas are a preferred sizzling-hot dish that often contains bell pepper and onion, together with a protein like hen, beef, or shrimp. They’re served with tortillas, however you possibly can skip these and simply eat the fajita filling to maintain it low carb.

Nonetheless, as a result of the carbs from onions add up pretty shortly, it’s finest to prepare dinner a small portion or break up your order into two meals (1).

2. Carne asada

Carne asada is a marinated, grilled steak dish. The steak itself has no carbs, however the marinade could present a hint quantity (2).

This dish is accessible at many Mexican eating places. You should purchase raw, ready-to-grill carne asada from many Mexican markets as nicely.

3. Ceviche

Ceviche originated in Peru, however yow will discover it on many Mexican restaurant menus.

This chilly dish is constructed from uncooked or precooked seafood — often fish or shrimp — brined in citrus juice and blended with veggies and herbs comparable to tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro. All these substances are low in carbs.

When you make it at house, you possibly can minimize the quantity of tomatoes and onion in half to scale back the carb depend (1, 3).

4. Guacamole

Guacamole is a dip constructed from smashed avocado, which is of course excessive in fats and fiber and low in web carbs — complete carbs minus fiber, which your physique doesn’t digest.

As well as, guacamole could include small quantities of lime juice, onion, jalapeño, tomato, or cilantro. Though you must keep away from the chips it’s usually served with, guacamole is completely keto-friendly (4).

5. Carnitas

Carnitas is a dish of shredded slow-cooked pork. It’s often constructed from a fatty minimize like pork shoulder, and a few of this fats melts throughout cooking to coat and taste the meat.

The meat itself accommodates no carbs, so it’s a superb keto-friendly selection at Mexican eating places or to make at house (5).

6. Camarones a la diabla

This spicy shrimp dish — a staple at many Mexican eating places — makes use of a sauce constructed from numerous kinds of chiles (and probably tomatoes).

It’s low in carbs, but when it’s served with rice and beans, chances are you’ll need to select a salad or a facet of guacamole as a substitute — each are keto-friendly and will assist mood the warmth.

7. Al pastor pork

Tacos al pastor are constructed from al pastor pork, which is thinly sliced, marinated pork shoulder. You possibly can forego the tortillas and eat the pork by itself or with a facet salad for a keto-friendly meal.

8. Chorizo

Chorizo is a Mexican sausage constructed from beef or pork. It’s obtainable both fresh (uncooked and floor) or dried (cured, able to eat, and sliceable).

All kinds of chorizo are low in carbs, high in fat, and flavorful (6).

9. Queso

“Queso” is Spanish for “cheese,” however in america, this time period typically refers to cheese dip.

In lots of instances, these dips are very low in carbs, though some could include carbs from milk or starch-based thickeners. You should definitely test the label, ask about substances, or make your personal low carb model at house.

My favourite keto-friendly solution to get pleasure from dips like queso is with pork rinds or selfmade tortilla chips constructed from low carb tortillas (7).

10. Salsa

This dip is constructed from tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, and cilantro, or numerous mixtures of those substances.

Salsa accommodates small quantities of carbs from the tomatoes and onion, however small parts — comparable to 1–2 tablespoons (16–32 grams) — will taste your meal with out sabotaging your keto food plan (8).

11. Birria

Birria is goat meat seasoned with numerous herbs, spices, and chiles. Some variations can also be made with beef. It’s used to make birria tacos or a standard Mexican soup that’s additionally known as birria, which accommodates broth and added salsa, onions, or cilantro.

Each the soup and the meat by itself are good keto-friendly choices.

12. Tacos with corn tortillas

When you’re versatile together with your carb consumption, contemplate conventional tacos made with corn tortillas, which include fewer carbs than ones made with flour — about 7 grams of web carbs per small, 18-gram tortilla (9).

With cautious planning, you might be able to eat just a few common tacos inside your daily carb limit.

13. Taco salad

Taco salads include lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, a meat comparable to seasoned floor beef or hen, and generally different substances.

Some could also be served in fried taco shells or over tortilla chips, with or and not using a layer of refried beans on the backside. You need to forego each the shell and the refried beans to maintain it keto-friendly.

14. Huevos a la Mexicana

This breakfast dish is constructed from scrambled eggs cooked with onions, diced tomatoes, and sauteed peppers comparable to jalapeño.

As a result of it doesn’t include tortillas or tortilla chips, it’s a lot lower in carbs than different Mexican breakfast dishes like huevos rancheros and chilaquiles.

15. Pico de gallo

Pico de gallo is a dip and condiment constructed from diced tomato, chopped onion, and cilantro. In small portions, it’s low in carbs and provides a vivid taste to wealthy or excessive fats dishes. It’s additionally simple to make at house.