Mexican food is often served in flour tortillas, taco shells or on tostadas, filled with vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes and onions and served with baked chips. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not created a legal standard for what can be called a low-carb food, but you can reduce the carbs in Mexican dishes by leaving out the breads and chips -- and still serve authentic south-of-the-border favorites. Make sure to use low-fat, low-cholesterol meats and dairy products when you boost the protein in your meals.
Carnitas
Carnitas, or "little meat," are chunks of pork, marinated and slow-cooked to make them tender. You can parboil leaner, tougher cuts of pork with vinegar in your water to tenderize the meat, then bake or broil in the oven on a rack to let fat drip away. Toss in lime juice and season with cilantro, salt, pepper and chili powder to taste. If you're skipping the tortillas often served with carnitas, you can add the onions that are part of many carnitas recipes. Serve the pork in bite-size chunks or shred with a fork.
Huevos con Chorizo
Eggs are an excellent source of protein, with almost no carbs. The cholesterol content is high, however, with one egg containing more than 70 percent of your recommended daily value of cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association. Serve a low-carb Mexican breakfast using egg whites and chorizo, a spicy sausage made from pork. Add low-fat cheese for more protein, and top with a fat-free salsa.
Black Beans
Black beans are one of the beans lowest in carbohydrates and are an authentic Mexican staple. Rich in protein and iron, black beans are perfect for making soup or a side dish. To make soup, process or mash the beans and combine with a low-fat stock, garlic, cumin, red pepper flakes and tomatoes. Add sour cream before serving. Rinse, then heat canned black beans with a dash of lime juice and cilantro for a tasty side dish that's a low-carb substitute for refried beans.
Sides
Mexican dishes are often accompanied by a number of side dishes, including sour cream, queso and guacamole. Sour cream has no carbs, while a 1 oz. serving of guacamole contains only 2 percent of your recommended daily percentage of carbohydrates according to LiveStrong's Daily Plate nutrition analyzer. Queso, the familiar melted cheese served with baked chips, is another low-carb Mexican favorite. Watch out for the fats, which can make up more than 50 percent of a serving.
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