15 Healthy Mexican Food Items With Immense Health Benefits

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02 December 2024

Food

Healthy Mexican Food

Mexican food is famous for its spices and flavors.

However, many people are confused about whether they can include Mexican food in a healthy lifestyle or not. Actually, there are plenty of misconceptions about Mexican cuisine.

In fact, healthy Mexican food options are many, and you can easily include certain dishes into your balanced diet.

In this article, you will learn about various healthy Mexican food options to include in your balanced diet. Apart from that, you will also get to know the health benefits of each item.

Moreover, this article will also explain why people commonly misunderstand Mexican food as unhealthy. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article.

A General Overview of Healthy Mexican Cuisine

A General Overview of Healthy Mexican Cuisine

The Mexican cuisine is famous for its rich flavors, diverse ingredients, and cultural significance. Hence, there are multiple healthy food options available as well.

Actually, a lot of Mexican food has a lot to teach us about nutrition. In fact, apart from the staple food items, there are quite a lot of additional factors to consider.

For example, there are some special healthy Mexican ingredients, including pumpkin, chia seeds, cactus, etc., which are quite popular among health-conscious people.

Apart from that, you will find a lot of vegetables in Mexican food. These include tomatoes, avocados, bell peppers, chili peppers, etc.

Hence, there is never a shortage of vitamins, minerals, and fibers. Additionally, many traditional Mexican food items include lean protein sources, like chicken, beans, and fish. Basically, you can use them as excellent options to maintain a healthy diet.

Why Is Mexican Food Often Misunderstood As Unhealthy?

Why Is Mexican Food Often Misunderstood As Unhealthy

Generally, the misconceptions about Mexican foods are due to the way many restaurants and food stalls prepare them in the US. For instance, you will frequently find high amounts of cream, cheese, and fried items on top of ingredients.

The following are some of the major reasons why many people misunderstand Mexican food as unhealthy:

  1. Many Mexican restaurants in the US offer dishes that have large portions of sour cream, cheese, and deep-fried items. Hence, this increases your calorie count after consumption.
  2. In many cases, Mexican dishes do not use lard. In fact, there are many healthier cooking options.
  3. Restaurants generally serve large portion sizes of Mexican dishes. So, obviously, they contribute to overeating. Therefore, if you want to eat healthy at a Mexican restaurant, you might face difficulties.

When it comes to healthier food options, there are many dishes you can consider – legumes, grilled meats, vegetables, whole grains, etc. Basically, when you want to have Mexican food, you must make healthy choices.

For example, you must choose lean protein, grilled items, and control cheese and cream portions. This way, you can enjoy Mexican food even when you are maintaining a balanced diet.

15 Healthy Mexican Food Items And Their Health Benefits

15 Healthy Mexican Food Items and Their Health Benefits

The following are some of the best and healthy Mexican food items for you if you are on a balanced diet:

1. Beans

Beans

This is a staple source of fiber, protein, and iron for Mexicans. Apart from that, it also helps you to stay full.

Additionally, if you consume it on a regular basis, it will help you lower your cholesterol levels. Moreover, beans also help you to boost your heart health and help to maintain blood sugar levels.

2. Guacamole

The major health benefit of guacamole comes from avocados. Basically, avocadoes are monounsaturated fat and hence help to lower bad cholesterol. Also, since avocados have high fiber, it helps you to maintain your digestive tract.

Additionally, there is also no risk of colon cancer. Moreover, avocados also ensure eye health and skin health and prevent inflammation.

3. Salsa

Salsa

Salsa is a good addition to your diet. With it, you can add more flavor to your food without adding excess sugar, salt, or additional fat.

Apart from that, it also contains various vitamins and minerals. In addition to that, salsa is also high in fiber and antioxidants. As a result, it will help you to remove harmful toxins from your body.

4. Grilled Chicken

Grilled chicken is a lean and high-quality protein option. Hence, it can help you to build and repair your muscle tissues.

Apart from that, it will help you to maintain a healthy immune system and facilitate muscle growth. In addition to that, lean chicken also improves your bone health and helps you fight infection in your body.

5. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quesadillas

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quesadillas

Basically, sweet potatoes are full of nutritional qualities. For instance, it is rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Apart from that, they also add a little sweetness to the quesadillas.

As a result, it complements the earthy flavor of black beans. On the other hand, black beans come with a good amount of protein.

6. Vegetarian Enchiladas

When you make enchiladas with whole grain tortillas, vegetables, beans, and lean protein, you can control the calories. Basically, enchiladas offer you a balance of fiber, protein, and other essential nutrients.

Moreover, you can also boost your protein and vitamin intake if you want. However, one tortilla of vegetarian enchiladas contains 580 calories (approx.).

7. Brown Rice

Brown Rice

Brown rice is primarily a whole grain which will help you reduce the risk of stroke or any other heart diseases. This is because of the presence of magnesium.

Moreover, it also helps in controlling blood sugar since brown rice has a lower glycemic index than white rice. Furthermore, vitamins and minerals also ensure a healthy immune system.

8. Grilled Vegetables

Grilled vegetables are filled with vitamins and minerals. Also, when you grill vegetables, it reduces the amount of fat in vegetables. As a result, it becomes easier to digest. Moreover, with grilling, you can bring out the natural sweetness of vegetables.

9. Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice

If you want a low-calorie, grain-free carb, the cilantro lime cauliflower rice is a better option. Moreover, the recipe is vegan and gluten-free.

This can be a great alternative to traditional white rice. Apart from that, due to the presence of vitamins and minerals, it is a healthy Mexican food option.

10. Corn on the Cob

Due to its high fiber content, corn helps in maintaining bowel health and helps in preventing constipation.

Apart from that, corn also contains antioxidants, folate, potassium, and plant sterols. This will help you to lower cholesterol levels. Apart from that, it will also help you to support heart health.

11. Zucchini

Zucchini

Zucchini has high fiber and water content. This helps in the digestion process and reduces the risk of constipation. Additionally, since zucchini is low in carbs, it also helps you to regulate blood sugar levels.

12. Fresh Tomatoes

Generally, tomatoes contain potassium, which helps to regular blood pressure in the body. Moreover, since they release antioxidants, they can also help prevent cancer.

Additionally, if you consume a tomato-rich diet, you can ensure better digestion. Furthermore, you will have an improved immune system.

13. Shrimp Ceviche

Shrimp Ceviche

Shrimp ceviche is healthy because it is high in protein content. Apart from that, it also comes with a good number of vitamins and minerals.

As a result, it not only helps to build muscles but also ensures bone health, immunity, and nerve function. Moreover, if you are following a low-calorie diet to lose weight, shrimp ceviche is a healthy Mexican food option.

14. Pozole

It is a stew that is rich in protein. Here, for each cup you consume, you get 18 grams of protein. Additionally, it also contains fiber.

However, you can add more fiber to it by adding vegetables like avocado or cabbage. This will help you to digest your food better.

15. Chicken And Vegetable Tacos

Chicken and Vegetable Tacos

Since chicken is a lean source of protein, it provides amino acids for muscle building. Moreover, it is also a good source of vitamin B. On the other hand, vegetables are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Hence, with a combination of chicken and vegetables, you can have a healthy diet.

Try Your Favorite Healthy Mexican Food Now

Hence, you can see that there are plenty of healthy Mexican food options. However, this is not common in the US because most Mexican restaurants in this country serve Mexican food items with a lot of oil, spices, and cream.

Hence, it looks unhealthy to common people. Therefore, if you want to have a healthy Mexican diet, you have a lot of choices.

Do you have more suggestions on healthy Mexican food items? Please share your ideas and opinions in the comments section below.

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A passionate writer and an avid reader, Soumava is academically inclined and loves writing on topics requiring deep research. Having 3+ years of experience, Soumava also loves writing blogs in other domains, including digital marketing, business, technology, travel, and sports.

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Is Indian Food Healthy

Is Indian Food Healthy? – Major Nutritional Benefits of Indian Cuisine

Is Indian food healthy? – Of course, they are. There are plenty of Indian dishes that are rich in nutrients, spices, and whole foods. Although there are innumerable gastronomic options, there are many healthier options. In fact, some food recipes are based on Ayurveda, which is Ancient India’s system of medicine. In this article, you will learn about the nutritional benefits of Indian food and the balanced dietary profile of Indian food. Also, you will learn about the health benefits of Indian food and healthy Indian cooking techniques. Moreover, you will also learn about common myths about Indian food. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article. Is Indian Food Healthy? Indian cuisine has a variety of food options consisting of both healthy and unhealthy options. Here, this article aims to consider only healthy Indian food. Generally, in Indian food, you will find a blend of diverse flavors and healthy food traditions. In fact, apart from satisfying your taste buds, Indian food will improve your health. One of the most notable aspects of Indian food is that you will find a rich array of ingredients. Traditionally, the Indian diet uses a variety of whole grains, fruits, legumes, and vegetables. Interestingly, each of them contributes significantly to health benefits. Whole grains like whole wheat, brown rice, and millet play a significant part in Indian meals. Apart from that, Indian food items are rich in antioxidants. This is because they have many spices that are full of antioxidants. For example, antioxidants in cloves and ginger contain anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from that, cardamom also contains antioxidants. Basically, antioxidants are molecules that prevent oxidation damage in your body cells. Moreover, it also reduces when damage is done. Hence, Indians mostly follow a diet that is high in antioxidants. As a result, there are fewer risks of diseases like heart disease and cancer. Balanced Dietary Profile Of Indian Food Here is a balanced dietary profile of Indian food that you need to know about: Food ItemsBalanced Dietary ProfileFruits and VegetablesGenerally, an everyday Indian diet includes 400 grams of vegetables and 100 grams of fruits.Cereals and PulsesEach day, a balanced diet consists of 250 grams of cereals.DiaryA balanced Indian diet consists of 200-250 ml of milk and milk products daily.ProteinIndian food contains 85 grams of protein in the form of eggs, animal protein, and pulses daily.Nuts and Seeds35 grams of nuts and seeds daily also fall under a balanced diet. To ensure a balanced diet, you must cook your food well and make sure that the food is soft and less salty and spicy. Although Indian food has a lot of spices, the healthy options contain multiple healthy spices in the right amount. Moreover, when consuming meat, milk, poultry, or any animal protein, make sure they are moderate in number. Furthermore, when you have a balanced diet, you must drink plenty of water and take fewer beverages. Health Benefits Of Common Indian Ingredients The following are the health benefits of common Indian food ingredients: 1. Spices Since ancient times, India is known as the land of spices. Even today, India is the biggest exporter of spices in the world. Moreover, Indian food contains a variety of spices. Here are some spices and their benefits: Turmeric: It contains curcumin. This item has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Cumin Seeds: They help in the digestion process and boost the immune system of your body. Coriander Seeds: These help you to regulate your blood sugar levels. Cardamom: It helps you to lower blood pressure levels. Cinnamon: This spice can reduce heart risks. 2. Vegetables, Pulses, And Lentils Indian foods contain vegetables in food items. These vegetables provide vitamins inside your body. Also, vegetables lower cholesterol and improve vision. Moreover, many pulses contain vitamins A, B, C, and E. Apart from that, they also contain minerals like iron, potassium, and zinc. On the other hand, lentils and vegetables also promote heart health. This is because they have less saturated fat and high fiber. 3. Whole Grains And High Fiber Foods Healthy Indian food items contain whole grains like wheat flour and brown rice. These items provide fiber, carbohydrates, and protein. On the other hand, chickpeas, and other fruits and vegetables help you in the digestion process. Thereby, you can maintain a healthy weight and ensure there are no risks of chronic diseases. Indian Cooking Techniques And Their Impact On Health Generally, Indian cooking techniques preserve nutrients in the food items (vegetables, seafood, and meat). On the other hand, there are tempering methods and slow-cooking techniques, with the help of which you can ensure you get all the nutrients in your body. Here are some of the major Indian healthy cooking techniques that you must know about: 1. Steaming This is one of the healthiest cooking methods, where you ensure all nutrients in the food stay. Here, you cook the food with minimum water and little to no oil. In this case, you preserve all the vitamins and minerals in vegetables, fish, and meat. 2. Tadka In this technique, you have to heat spices  quickly in a little oil. Then, you have to add them to the main dish. Thereby, you add flavor without increasing the fat content in the food. 3. Dum Cooking Dum is a slow-cooking method. Basically, you have to seal food in a pot-shaped cooker and add a small amount of liquid. Hence, you  can allow flavors to develop inside the food. As a result, there is no need for excessive oil in the food. 4. Grilling As you might already know, grilling is a simple way to cook vegetables and meat. Meanwhile, with this process, you can retain all the nutrients in the food. Also, you can add a nice-looking character to the food. 5. Pressure Cooking In this way, you can cook food quickly with a low amount of water. As a result, you preserve most of the nutrients in the food item. Apart from that, this process also helps you to reduce your cooking time. Why Is Indian Food One of the Healthiest Cuisines in the World? Indian food is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world. This is because of good reasons. One of the major reasons is that it relies heavily on lentils, whole grains, vegetables, and diverse spices with low health benefits and saturated fats. As a result, these food items are rich in nutrients and are dense with fibers when prepared with traditional techniques. The following are some of the major reasons why Indian food items are healthy: Stable ingredients in Indian food are high in fiber. Due to India being a large and diverse country, a wide variety of vegetables are available. As a result, all the essential vitamins and minerals are available through food. Moreover, a variety of spices available in India come with potential health benefits. Traditional Indian food items use less amount of oil in cooking. Also, they focus mostly on healthy fats like ghee (moderate amount, of course). Lentils are common in Indian cuisine and offer a complete profile of amino acids. Many Indian foods feature fermented items like yogurt, which improve your gut health. The Vegetarian Advantage of Indian Cuisine India has an extensive variety of dishes full of flavors and delicacies. However, most consist primarily of lentils, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. This provides a nutritious, high-fiber, and well-rounded diet for vegetarians. Apart from that, these food items are full of diverse vitamins and many protein sources. There is a vast array of vegetarian dishes in Indian cuisine. Moreover, due to the high range of species, it enhances the taste and offers potential benefits. Common Myths About Indian Food Being Unhealthy Here are some myths about Indian food that you will find common (however, they are just myths): “Indian food is unhealthy and fatty”: This is a common misconception in the West because most Indian restaurants in Western Countries add a lot of oil and ghee to food items. However, this is not the case in Indian households. “Indian foods are spicy”: When people think of spices, they align it with the word hot. Actually, India produces a lot of healthy spices. By adding those spices to food, you can make your food healthy. “Indian desserts are too sweet”: Again, this is a myth as desserts differ with changing regions. Some regions in India create homemade desserts which are actually healthy. Try Indian Food Now Is Indian food healthy? – Now you know the answer to this question. You can see that there are multiple myths about Indian food, and they multiply with misinformation on social media. India is the land of Yoga and Ayurveda. Hence, multiple healthy food options are available if you cook with the right ingredients. Do you have more information about healthy Indian foods? Please share your opinions in the comments section below. Read Also: 15 Healthy Mexican Food Items With Immense Health Benefits Eat Your Heart Out A List Of Restaurants That Are Open On Christmas Lift Your Home Cooking: Mysteries From HMD Bar And Grill’s Kitchen

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Cocktail Party

7 Delicious & Exotic Snacks For Your Next Cocktail Party

Are you that lucky cocktail party host this weekend among your friends? If you are, then you must be wondering what exception you can make this time that people will love. We know that you can manage the ‘cocktail’ part. So, we have gathered seven delicious & exotic snacks for your next cocktail party that will win the hearts of your guests and makes you the star host of the month! However, these snack ideas are so overwhelmingly good that people may request you to make them again and again. Here, you will find quick and easy dishes to prepare, although you may need to visit the supermarket to get the ingredients. Without further ado, let’s get started with the recipes so that you can pick which snacks you want to prepare and make the list of ingredients. 1. Salmon Tartines for Fish Lovers Recipes with Salmon and avocado are always a delicacy; when you prepare it with wasabi, it will deliver a heavenly feel with your fast bite. And guess what, you need only 15 minutes to make it. Ingredients: To prepare this dish, you have to gather the following ingredients: Puff pastry, Sashimi-quality salmon, Mirin, One avocado, Low-sodium soy sauce Ginger, Lime juice, Caster sugar, Rice vinegar, and Wasabi paste. Cooking Method: To prepare the recipe, follow the steps below: Preheat the oven to 200 degree Celsius and cut the pastry according to your preferred shape; place them on a lined tray over the baking paper and bake for 10-12 minutes till golden in color and allow them to cool down. Your tartine base is ready. While baking, process the avocado with wasabi. To do that, take a small pan and dissolve sugar in water over low heat. When it cools down, take an avocado, wasabi, lime, and sugar in a blender, add salt or any other seasoning if you want, and set aside. Prepare a dressing by mixing mirin, vinegar, soy sauce, and ginger in a small pot. After you have prepared everything, take a pastry base and place avocado, salmon, and cress. Serve with a drizzle of dressing. 2. Elk Jerky Cheeseboard for Slow Eaters How about serving an Elk Jerky cheeseboard at your cocktail party? This cheeseboard is a great addition to the food you can serve because it not only has a posh vibe but also serves a unique version of your regular charcuterie board due to the gamey elk. Elk goes well with many reds including Cabernet Sauvignon, which can complement this strong-flavored jerky with its earthy notes. You can also pair it with lighter-style cocktails made from scotch, gin, or tequila, as they go well with these types of dried meat. You can add a variety of cheese to such a board, including emmental, brie, gouda, and blue cheese. 3. Carrot Muffin for Sweet Tooths  If you want to prepare a carrot muffin for your cocktail party ahead of time and you love baking, then this dish is a must for you to try. Ingredients: This dish is easy to prepare and only needs eight ingredients. They are: Yogurt (Greek style), Ready mixture for making carrot cake, Carrots, Pecans, Eggs, Aperol, Pure cane sugar, and Vegetable oil. Cooking Method: To prepare the recipe, follow the steps below: First, you will make a labneh. Take a bowl and set a fine sieve over it. Put the yogurt inside, wrap it with the sieve, and hang it over the bowl in the refrigerator overnight. Preheat the oven to make muffins at 170 degrees Celsius. Grate the carrot coarsely and mix it with the cake baking mix. You can add pecans to the mix. Take the muffin glasses, and bake them for at least 35 minutes. To make sure they are evenly baked, insert a skewer in the center, and if it comes out clean, your muffins are ready. If you want to soak the muffins with Aperol syrup, place water, sugar, and Aperol on a small pan and keep stirring until the sugar is dissolved over medium heat. Place the muffins in a line and pour syrup over them. Let the muffins soak in the syrup for 5 minutes. Add the icing mix with labneh to make frost, and use your creative ideas to décor the muffins. 4. Four Crispy Buffalo Wings for Savory Hunters Nothing can beat the taste of chicken wings. And the crowd will devour it within a minute if you can make it extra crispy outside and juicy inside. Here’s the recipe: Ingredients: To make Buffalo wings, you’ll need the following: Chicken wings (defrost if frozen), Baking powder, Salt, Butter, Franks hot sauce, Sugar. Cooking Method: To prepare the recipe, follow the steps below: Tap the wings with tissue paper to absorb the extra water after washing. Toss the wings with baking powder and salt; it will absorb the extra moisture from the chicken's skin, making it crispier. We are not using hot oil in this recipe as we are going to bake the wings. The science behind baking the wings and making them crispy is to start baking using low temp at first and increasing the temp after a few minutes. Set the tray on the lower shelf of the oven at 250F/120C. Low temperature will melt the fat first, and high temperature will make the skin super crispy when you place the wings on a higher oven shelf at 425F/220C. 5. Sausage Rolls for Meat lovers You know that your friends love meat. But you don’t want to worry about arranging a bbq in the backyard. So, prepare these bite-size sausage rolls to calm the meat cravings of your guests. Ingredients: To make sausage rolls, you’ll need: Pork, Onion & Garlic, Breadcrumbs, Puff Pastry, Bacon, Fennel Seeds, Salt & Pepper. Cooking Methods: Follow the easy-peasy steps below to cook off sausage rolls: Take a pan and cook bacon, onion, garlic, and celery, Mix with the pork, Place the puff pastry, put the mix on it, roll it over, and cut it into small portions. Place them on a baking tray and brush with egg. Bake them for 30 to 40 minutes until golden brown. This snack serves its best when you are keeping the option of exciting games at your party. Whether it’s a two-player board game or a multiplayer one, people can have more fun when they have something delicious to eat. 6. Coconut Shrimp for Peaky Eaters Every party has those guests who will not eat anything that’s too oily or too sweet. To tackle those peaky eaters, you can cook coconut shrimp, which will go well with whiskey cocktails. If you are not hiring any bartenders and decided to become one for the day, check out these whiskey cocktail recipes for home bartenders! Ingredients: You will need the following items for this quick bite. Jumbo Shrimp, Flour, Shredded coconut, Beaten egg, Pepper, Pranko breadcrumbs, Garlic powder, Oil and salt to taste. Cooking Method: Follow the steps below to have the best shrimp dish of your life. Wash the shrimp and season them in a bowl with pepper and salt, Take two flat dishes. Mix flour and garlic powder in one of them; in the other, mix coconut and breadcrumbs. Take one shrimp and dredge it in the flour mixture; after that, dip it in the beaten egg and dredge again in the coconut mix. Follow the steps for each shrimp. Refrigerate for an hour (or overnight if you want to prepare the night before and serve hot the next day). Deep fry in a pan full of oil till golden brown color and season with salt and pepper after the whole batch is done. Place them on a baking sheet with a cooling rack so that they can absorb the dripping oil.  Serve it with sauce or mango salsa. 7. Salsa for Lazy Hosts When it comes to cocktail parties, you need easy, quick recipes that will take less time to prepare so that you don’t get stuck in the kitchen while others are enjoying the evening, and this salsa will take only two minutes. Ingredients: Here goes the items you need to get together: Crushed tomato, Coriander leaves, Green chiles, Garlic, Lime, Jalapeno, Cumin, and Sugar. Serve with tacos, fajitas, burritos, nachos, or quesadillas. You can buy them at any store. Cooking Method: All you need to do is blend all the ingredients mentioned above. However, make sure to use good quality canned tomatoes, if not fresh ones. You need to blend for a few seconds and see the consistency. Keep blending if you like it smoother. But don’t blend too much if you like it chunky. Conclusion: With this list of seven delicious & exotic snacks for your next cocktail party, you will be able to welcome your guests with warm hearts and warm food on the counter. Even though cocktails are the main stars of your party, these bite-size, easy-to-prepare snacks will make your evening even better alongside the drinks. Prepare the snacks while ensuring the recipes have variety, such as spicy, sweet, savory, vegetarian, and non-veg options. Read Also: 14 Whiskey Cocktail Recipes For Home Bartenders Tips And Suggestions On How To Wear Cocktail Dresses Why should you go to a pool party in Vegas?

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how to thicken chili

How to Thicken Chili – Tried and Tested

A cold winter night with a delicious dish of chili is all you need to enjoy your moment. But wait, Are you left with too much liquid in your chili? Ah! No need to worry at all. There are numerous ways on "how to thicken chili". Honestly, you don’t want a thin chili because there is nothing better than a cheerful bowl of thick chili as your winter dish. Many times, just to thicken the chili, people cook it more than it is necessary. Later, other ingredients in it fall apart and turn to mush.  Don’t panic. There are effective and easy ways to thicken chili at your home, and all of these methods are tried and tested. Just be sure to use at least some of these methods to thicken chili before your precious moment turns into sour. How To Thicken Chili - Tried and Tested You may be wondering that cooking your dish for a little longer will make your chili thick. But do you know that you are mushing other ingredients in it? So, you must know other effective ways about how to thicken chili. Below listed are the perfect ways to thicken chili for the perfect night. 1. Flour - Standard Thickening Method: Wheat flour is composed of proteins, sugars, lipids, starch, and enzymes. It is used for making different types of foods. Flour is widely used for thickening chili in most of the kitchens. It really works great. Now its time to try for yourself as well. Ingredients:  30ml or two tablespoons of flour and 60ml or ¼ cup of cold water. How to Use? Take a separate bowl. Mix flour and water thoroughly in it.  Make sure that the resulting mixture has no lumps and is smooth. Then add the flour mixture in your thin chili while cooking it in medium-high heat. Stir constantly. Let the mixture boil and thicken well. It will hardly take few minutes. Make sure to continue stirring an additional few seconds to see if you are able to detect flour in your chili flavor.  So, here is your hearty chili dish! Now, it is much thicker and tastier than before. You can even serve this to your guests. 2. Arrowroot- Best Thickening Agent: Arrowroot contains Vitamin B, Iron, Potassium, low-protein, starch, etc. It is widely used as a thickening agent in all household kitchens. It is a starch that is extracted from the arrowroot plant. When you will use arrowroot in your dish, then it will give an amazing surface gloss to your liquid chili.  Ingredients: 5ml or 1 tablespoon of Arrowroot and 5ml or 1 tablespoon of cold water. How to Use? Take a separate bowl. Mix thoroughly water and arrowroot to turn it into a smooth paste. Make sure that you add only a small amount of arrowroot as it is potent and flavorless. Then add slurry into your thin chili cooking it in medium heat. Stir constantly below the boiling point. Then after 1 to 2 minutes, your thin chili will thicken instantly. Arrowroot adds gloss like appearance to your chili dish making your dish thicker and delicious. I have used this method and got the result, so now it’s your time! 3. Cornstarch- Anti-sticking Agent: Cornstarch is also known as Maize starch which is extracted from the maize grain. It is a food ingredient that is used in thickening soups and sauces. Cornstarch gives a moderate glossy appearance and when mixed with liquid, it rearranges itself.  Ingredients: 15ml or 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 15ml or 1 tablespoon of cold water. How to Use? Take a separate bowl. Mix thoroughly cornstarch and water before mixing it to chili. After adding cornstarch paste to chili, heat it in a medium to high flame. Stir it well until the bubbles start appearing. Wait for few minutes to see the results. If you still feel that your chili should be thicker then you can add more cornstarch and water on it.  Then let it cook for an additional few minutes. You can use cornstarch to thicken your chili because it will not alter the taste of your dish of chili as cornstarch is flavorless. Other Simple Ways to Thicken Your Thin Chili: 4. Mix it in Tomato Paste Now, no need to worry about how to thicken chili. If you want your chili only a little thick then you can use this method. Tomato is one of the main elements in chili. So adding it to your mixture won’t alter its taste and makes your chili thicker. Ingredients: 170 grams of tomato paste. How to Use? I am suggesting that you should use fresh handmade tomato paste. Since tomato paste is recognized as bitter in taste, so you can add a pinch of sugar in it. Sugar will add a mild sweetness to your dish by removing tomato’s bitterness. During the final thirty minutes of cooking add 170 grams of tomato paste into your thin chili. Slowly add tomato paste to your thin chili. You can also add it after every ten minutes if you wish (⅓ of the tomato paste). Stir constantly to combine it well. You can use tomato paste to thicken your thin chili dish. But keep all the instructions in mind so as not to make any mistakes while preparing it. 5. Use More Beans to Thicken Your Thin Chili: A bean is a seed of numerous genera of the flowering plant. They have the ability to curl up on any medium. Beans can be use to thicken your thin chili. Do you know that India is the largest producer of dry beans in the world? Yes, it is.  Ingredients: 125ml or a half-cup beans. How to Use? If your chili contains beans then strain half cup of beans. Then refry and blend it. Then again mix this mixture to your chili and cook for a few minutes. Stir occasionally to warm it well. You can use canned or home-cooked beans as per your wish.  If you still feel that your chili is thin, you can add extra beans in it but make sure you blend it well. Here you go! Your thick chili dish is ready now to serve your family. If you don’t like beans then no need to worry. You can add meats to make your chili thicker. Wrapping it Up "How to thicken chili" is one of the major problems for all the cook masters. Even I have used many methods to thicken my thin chili but all went in vain! Therefore, all the above methods are tried and tested about how to thicken chili. So, you can use it to thicken your thin chili. I know nobody likes to serve thin chili to their family or guests. Even I don’t like it. Do you?  Image source: wikihow Read Also: 3 Variants of Thin Crust Pizzas How You Can Increase the Value of Your Home with Stone Veneers

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