The other night I found myself in a Mexican standoff over dinner, with one kid adamant they felt like chicken, the other wanting vegetarian.
I had to think quick and get creative before guns were a-blazing.
With some leftover chicken in the fridge and a couple tins of black beans in the cupboard, I saw a way of pleasing all the people and the idea for Tex Mex Burrito Bowl was born.
By simply throwing together a bunch of yummy things into a bowl, this dinner was an instant hit and you should see the smiles on the kids faces when they hear it’s Tex Mex Burrito Bowls for dinner. Sometimes feeding the family is just all about simple, fresh ideas.
These Tex-Mex bowls are fun, filling and delicious and can be served hot or cold, so it’s a great one to prepare ahead.
The Tex Mex Burrito Bowl is also a great example of packing as much nutrition into one delicious meal as possible. Here’s are the ingredients which help to upgrade this dinner into a powerhouse of goodness:
Bone Broth
In this case chicken broth is added to cooking the bean mix and is used to cook the rice in too.
Bone broth is loaded with nutrients that many people lack, and in a form our bodies can easily absorb and use like calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals, like silicon and other trace minerals, amino acids like proline, glycine, and glutamine (which have anti-inflammatory effects).
It’s exceptionally healing for your gut,
It treats leaky gut syndrome
Helps to overcome food intolerances and allergies
Improves joint health
Reduces cellulite
Boosts immune system
The benefits are endless.
Garlic
Garlic is loaded with vitamins like B & C, and minerals like calcium, potassium, copper, manganese, and selenium.
It also contains the active ingredient, Allicin, which is released when the garlic clove is sliced or minced or chopped. To take full advantage of the health benefits you should eat garlic within 1-2 hours of cutting into it. If you are going to cook chopped garlic let it sit for 15 minutes before cooking it. This allows for the allicin to be activated.
Allicin is anti bacterial, contains high levels of anti-oxidants, which helps to prevents cancer, has antimicrobiral properties so it’s great for skin, fights cold and flu symptoms. Lowers bad cholesterol and improves good cholesterol (HDL)
Kale
In terms of nutritional density, kale is virtually unparalleled among green leafy vegetables.
It contains omega-3s in a beneficial ratio to omega-6, and is really rich in vitamins A, C, and K1.
It’s loaded with minerals including more calcium per gram than whole milk, and in a more bioavailable form.
Black Beans
They’re packed with protein and iron, they’ve got crucial minerals like copper, manganese, thiamine, phosphorus, and magnesium. So if you don’t use these in your Mexican dishes already, try to scatter them through.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is an essential fatty acids which provides the basic building blocks of fats and they have many roles within the body and they play a critical role in supporting your child’s physical, emotional and mental growth. They’re the fats that we can only get from our food, namely
Omega 3 (which is the primary fatty acid found in the brain and Omega 6 (helps to support a healthy immune system). They help to …
Promote heart health
Protect your brain
Fight depression
Relieve inflammation
Reduce joint pain
They are so important when we’re talking child development and in many of the nutritional diseases that arise later in life.
Text Mex Burrito Bowl Recipe
This recipe serves 5 and is a fun and filling family friendly dinner the whole family will enjoy.
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Ingredients
Splash of extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons Mexican seasoning or a mix of cumin, paprika and chilli powder
Two big handfuls chopped kale
2 x tins black beans
1 cup tomato passata (optional: add if you know your kid prefers their Mexican with a tomato base)
½ cup of homemade bone broth (I used chicken broth)
Handful fresh coriander leaves, chopped
Squeeze of lime juice
1 cup cooked rice
1 corn on the cob, steamed and kernels sliced off
1 avocado, smashed up with lime juice
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Sour cream to serve
Cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes, chopped
Leftover roast chicken (optional)
Olive oil for drizzling
Extra lime for serving.
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a big pan on low heat and saute the onion for five minutes.
2. Add the garlic and kale and saute for a couple of minutes, then add the Mexican spices and saute for another minute.
3. Stir through the black beans.
4. Add chicken broth and passatta, if using.
5. Stir and simmer for 5 – 10 minutes.
6. Assemble the plate with rice, bean mix, chicken if using, chopped lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers, corn kernels, avocado smash, a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of grated cheese.
7. Drizzle the lot with olive oil and a good squeeze of lime before serving.
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