In the past, we’ve shared a lot of great Mexican recipes. But they’ve all been for main dishes. Today we’re focusing on side dishes and desserts. Thursday is Cinco de Mayo, the yearly celebration commemorating Mexico’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
Cinco de Mayo is more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico and has morphed into a celebration of Mexican-American culture. It has been annually celebrated here in California since 1863 and became popular nationally in the ‘80s. It’s a great day to learn more about Mexico, history, Mexican-American culture and make Mexican food. So, break out your favorite low-carb Mexican main course recipe we’ve shared in the past. And pair it with these sides and desserts to celebrate!
We’re starting with everyone’s favorite fried Mexican treat. Churros are soft on the inside, crispy on the outside and downright delectable covered in sweet cinnamon. You can buy these in the frozen aisle at the grocery store. But the problem is they are packed with sugar. This version uses almond flour and an allulose-based sweetener to get the right mouthfeel without the carbs. A serving has 144 calories, 2.2 grams of carbs and 1.1 grams of fiber. Get the recipe.
We love elote, or Mexican street corn. Here in San Diego, you can always get it at street fairs, and it is delicious. However, it is high in carbs. If you want to enjoy the delightful flavor profile without the carbs, this is for you. With cilantro, lime juice, sour cream, chili powder, cotija cheese, jalapeños and garlic, you are getting all of the flavors of elote. However, by using baby corn and cauliflower instead of corn on the cob, you cut the number of carbs way down! A serving has 107 calories, seven grams of carbs and two grams of fiber. Get the recipe.
Most Mexican meals are served with rice when you go to restaurants. But, if you are avoiding carbs, you probably leave it uneaten. With this “rice,” you can clean your plate. It’s delicious, vegetarian and you won’t have to think about your blood sugar as you enjoy your meal. It’s also a fast side, taking only 20 minutes in all! To achieve that, use cauliflower rice from the store. It’s sold in the produce section or the frozen aisle. We’ll be honest, we’ve never riced cauliflower ourselves, yet we enjoy it all the time. Life is too short! A serving has 196 calories, seven grams of carbs and three grams of fiber. Get the recipe.
Tres leches is such a delicious cake that a friend of our team had it for her wedding! It’s a sponge cake soaked in sweetened milk, topped with whipped cream. This is a poke cake – one where you poke holes in the cake to soak in a phenomenal keto condensed milk topping. The final touch is a layer of fresh whipped cream. The recipe does have quite a few ingredients, but it’s not a difficult cake to bake, and you’ll be thrilled you did! A serving has 275 calories, seven grams of carbs and four grams of fiber. Get the recipe.
We have no doubt you’ll be celebrating Cinco de Mayo in style and having a wonderful meal with these recipes. We’re sure you’ll be adding them to your regular cooking rotation because they are so good you’ll be coming back to them time and again.
