What is a Fajita?
Fajitas are a Tex-Mex cuisine whereby strips of meat are grilled and served on flour or corn tortillas. Fajitas were originally served with only skirt steak, but these days it is common to find a range of ingredients being used. For example, popular fajita recipes include chicken, steak and shrimp in addition to modified vegetarian options which can be made with quorn or mixed vegetables. Popular condiments include shredded lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, salsa, cheese and mixed spices.
Are Fajita's healthy for you?
Fajitas can be a healthy alternative to other Tex-Mex cuisines such as enchilladas or burritos. It is key that the fajitas are made with lean meats such as chicken or turkey, or a low-fat vegetarian option such as quorn, to ensure that saturated fats are minimized.
Other high-fat condiments such as cheese should be avoided. Instead, aim for more fibre by adding grilled vegetables such as peppers and onions to your fajita recipes. Sauces must be minimized to lower the sugar/fat content of the fajita. I recommend a dash of lemon or lime juice on a chicken fajita, with a sprinkle of chili and/or corriander to enhance the flavour.
Determining the average amount of calories in a fajita is difficult given the variable ingredients that personlize the dish. However, you can expect a calorie count of between 140-200 for a basic chicken fajita with grilled peppers and onions and no added condiments. |
