Sunday at Salt Free: A Taco Night Everyone Can Build
Sunday at Salt Free: A Taco Night Everyone Can Build
Some dinners work because everyone at the table loves exactly the same thing.
Taco night works because they don’t have to.
A build-your-own taco dinner lets everyone choose what goes on the plate, while the cook concentrates on making a few simple components taste really good. And when you’re cooking without added salt, that flexibility is especially useful.
The key is to stop thinking of tacos as something that needs a packet of seasoning, bottled salsa or a pile of salty toppings to taste complete. Instead, build the meal around layers of fresh flavor.
Start With a Flavorful Filling
Ground beef, shredded chicken, grilled chicken, fish, shrimp, black beans or roasted vegetables can all become the center of taco night.
Instead of a packaged taco seasoning—which can contribute a surprising amount of sodium—season the filling yourself.
Try a combination of:
Ground cumin
Salt-Free Chili Powder
Smoked paprika
Garlic
Onion
Oregano
Freshly ground black pepper
Fresh lime juice
Toast the spices briefly with the meat or vegetables as they cook. That little bit of heat helps release their aroma and gives the filling much more depth.
Let Fresh Toppings Do the Work
This is where taco night really comes alive.
Set out bowls of shredded lettuce or cabbage, diced tomatoes, avocado, chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeños, diced onion and plenty of fresh lime wedges.
A quick homemade salsa or pico de gallo adds even more brightness without relying on the sodium found in many prepared versions.
And don’t underestimate lime. A squeeze just before eating can wake up an entire taco.
Add Something Creamy
Avocado is one of the easiest ways to add richness without adding sodium.
Serve it sliced, mashed with lime and garlic, or turned into a simple homemade guacamole.
Plain Greek yogurt can also stand in for sour cream. Stir in lime juice, cilantro or a little cumin to make it feel like a topping in its own right rather than a substitute.
Be Smart About the Tortillas
Tortillas can vary considerably in sodium, so this is one place where reading the label matters.
Compare brands and choose the lowest-sodium option that works for you. Depending on your needs, corn tortillas may offer better choices than some flour tortillas.
Warm them in a dry skillet or directly over a gas flame for a few seconds per side. That small step improves both their texture and flavor.
You can also skip the tortilla altogether and turn the same ingredients into a taco salad or taco bowl.
Put Everything on the Table
The best part of taco night may be that dinner doesn’t need to arrive already assembled.
Put the filling in one serving dish and arrange the toppings around it. Warm the tortillas, cut plenty of lime wedges and let everyone build dinner exactly the way they like it.
Someone wants extra avocado? Fine.
Someone doesn’t like tomatoes? Leave them off.
Someone wants everything piled into a bowl instead of a tortilla? That works too.
It’s relaxed, colorful and especially good for families because one dinner can accommodate very different tastes without requiring the cook to prepare several different meals.
And perhaps that’s the real secret to a good taco night.
You provide the flavor.
Everyone else builds dinner.
Ready to make taco night? Try our Salt-Free Build-Your-Own Beef Tacos recipe, with homemade taco seasoning, fresh toppings and plenty of lime.
Looking for more salt-free dinner inspiration? Get our free 7 Days of Salt Free Dinners, featuring 14 exclusive recipes arranged into seven complete meals.
https://www.saltfree.com/7-days-salt-free-dinners
Until next Sunday,
—The Salt Free Family
