Is Menudo Keto Friendly?

The keto diet is a very effective weight-loss strategy. It might be difficult at first, depending on what you are used to, but it performs well. The good thing about keto is that you can add any type of spice to your food.

As a person who loves Mexican food, my first thought on keto was- ‘is menudo keto friendly?’ Sadly, traditional menudo is not keto-approved because of its high carbohydrate content.

But the good news is menudo can be made keto-friendly. Menudo is a dish made with beef tripe, broth, and red chilies. Only when the hominy is omitted from the dish does it qualify as keto-friendly. Hominy, which is produced using corn kernels, is the primary source of carbohydrates in a menudo.

What Is Menudo?

Menudo is a classic soup made with garlic, onions, jalapeño, hominy corn, and tripe, and it is served warm. It is also recognized as pancita or mole de panza. 

There are a lot of people who love the stew because they ate it when they were young. Many people remember wonderful moments of their grandmothers or aunts meticulously prepping and cooking a large pot of menudo.

Although menudo is unmistakably Mexican cuisine, it is uncertain where it originated. The northern region believes it began from their farm owners, who fashioned the meal from spare beef parts. Some believe that it originated in central Mexico.

Menudo is related to pozole, another popular hot stew that includes hominy as a core element. It is the meat that makes these soups different.

While ham hogs and chicken are frequent ingredients in pozole, menudo contains tripe. Tripe has a chewy texture that is very close to sautéed calamari.

Menudo typically brings out strong emotions, such as adoration or contempt. The major component of the stew, beef tripe (cow guts), is a source of dispute.

Although menudo originates in Mexico, people of the American Southwest have embraced the cuisine, and it is regularly served in Mexican restaurants all around the area. But truth to be told, people have mixed reactions to it.

Different Types Of Menudo

Menudo is served in a variety of styles since it is a highly traditional and popular meal. Each diner and families put their own spin on making this soup.

Regardless of its origins, the dish is available in two varieties: menudo rojo and menudo blanco. Most people in the country’s northern parts like the menudo rojo, but the white menudo is more famous in the central part of the country and Sinaloa.

The most well-known is menudo rojo, which is spiced with dried chilies. But menudo blanco does not contain dried chilies or pepper; however, some may add a touch of jalapeno for taste. Chefs may substitute ham hogs or sheep intestines for beef tripe in special situations.

There is also menudo sulipena. Surprisingly, this is a Filipino dish that is inspired by traditional menudo. It uses oxtail instead of pork.

How Menudo Is Made Traditionally?

The best menudo is usually made by moms and aunties or in a shabby-looking kitchen. But with the right recipe, even an amateur cook can make a delicious bowl of menudo. You can refrigerate it for 3-4 days, and it freezes nicely, retaining its taste.

· To make menudo first, cook the cow feet and marrow bones in a big saucepan with 7 liters of water, 5-6 cloves of garlic, and onions for 15 – 30 minutes on low heat, uncovered.

· Boil the tripe and herbs for about three hours or until the tripe is cooked. Then add the red pepper and simmer for 15 minutes. You can also use a pressure cooker which will reduce the boiling time.

· Take the feet and marrow bones out of the stew and set them aside. Take the bones and cut the meaty sections to add to the broth. Scoop off any fat that has risen to the surface of the soup.

· In the meantime, prepare the chili sauce. To make the sauce, toast some guajillo peppers on medium heat. When you are done roasting the pepper, then put them in a water bowl and let them soak. Allow them to soak for approximately 25 minutes or until they soften.

· Remove the peppers and blend them with garlic, one cup of broth, and, if you want, some cumin. Blend until completely smooth. Pour the mixture into the broth after straining it through a strainer.

· Now add the hominy and continue to boil the soup, slightly covered, for another 30 minutes. Add additional salt if necessary. Serve the soup in big bowls and set the toppings in a separate dish so that everyone can add them as they like.

Health Benefits Of Menudo

There is no doubt that menudo is an acquired taste. Flavored with peppers and spongy tripe, it is a well-known delicacy. But there are many benefits of eating menudo.

A Hangover Cure

The next time you have a terrible hangover, think about what people in other countries do to get over their hangover. Aside from the traditional two aspirins and plenty of water, some Mexicans believe that the delectable and fragrant menudo soup with its unique texture would revive you. Perhaps the high amount of vitamin B in it and the food’s rich taste are the reason.

Drinking water throughout the night and the next day can help minimize the side effects of alcohol. This is why menudo is beneficial for hangovers. Because soup delivers more fluid than other forms of meals, you may feel somewhat better.

Packed With Protein

Menudo is genuinely beneficial to your health. Menudo fits within a healthy diet plan since it has 6 grams of fat and 14 grams of carbs per cup. A 1-cup portion of the meal has around 180 calories and 16 grams of protein.

Another good thing about it is that it is a good source of vitamin B12, Selenium, and Zinc. Menudo’s high protein content may assist in weight management by enhancing feelings of fullness and decreasing the number of calories taken during the day.

Potential Risks Of Eating Menudo

There are some risks to eating menudo regularly. Menudo is made with primarily tripe. Unlike other types of meat, tripe has a higher cholesterol level. A mere three-ounce portion of tripe can have up to 108 mg of cholesterol. That is almost one-third of the total cholesterol intake per day. And intake of high cholesterol can leads to atherosclerosis.

What Is A Keto Diet?

As a low-carb diet, the ketogenic diet demands restricting carbohydrate consumption, which helps your body enter a metabolic phase known as ketosis. In this condition, your body fat will be used for energy rather than carbohydrates, causing you to lose weight. Furthermore, this diet lowers blood pressure and insulin levels to maintain health.

To maintain a proper diet, restrict your carb consumption to less than 50 grams. Some experts believe that the recommended carbohydrate amount should be less than 20 grams per day. So, it would be best if you eat 60-75 % fat, 20-30% protein, and 5-10% carbohydrates each day.

Is Menudo Keto Friendly?

As a staple in Mexican cuisine, some might ask- is menudo keto friendly? Sadly, the answer is no.

Classic Mexican menudo is not keto-friendly since each dish contains 10-20 grams of carbs. Its high carbohydrate content is mainly from hominy, a corn byproduct.

This amount of carbohydrate can undoubtedly affect your keto diet. But if you do not use hominy in your menudo, it is keto-friendly.

The Filipino menudo is also not keto-friendly. With a conventional recipe, you add starchy veggies like potatoes, onions, and carrots to the soup.

How To Make Menudo Keto Friendly?

Menudo is a portion of comfort food for many people. But when these people embark on the keto diet and think- is menudo keto friendly? They are always disappointed. But the good news is menudo can be adapted to the keto diet very easily.

To make the Filipino menudo keto-friendly, try using radishes and veggies instead of vegetables like potatoes and carrots. These have considerably fewer carbohydrates, and you will be far within your daily limit regardless of when you have menudo.

Menudo is also often made using hotdogs, although these sausages contain a significant amount of carbohydrates. Reduce your daily carb count by swapping these sausages with breakfast sausages.

You may exclude hominy from your Mexican menudo. You can also make the classic Mexican menudo keto-friendly. You will not have the typical crunch of corn kernel-based veggies, but you will not have the carb count.

If you really want some texture, there are some low-carbohydrate veggies you may use instead. Perhaps, choose finely diced cauliflower or asparagus.

If you desire the flavor of a starchy vegetable, simply add tiny bits of broccoli to the mix. Additionally, you can add slices of zucchini for a more autumnal feel.

Keto Friendly Menudo Recipe

Filipino Menudo may be made with a low-carb diet by using a variety of fresh vegetables and seasonings. The flavors come from the tomatoes, chicken stock, grated ginger, olive oil, and low sodium tamari that you will use in your food.

First, prepare the veggies by chopping them and sautéing them in oil. After that, you will add ground beef and ginger. When you are ready to serve, combine the tomatoes and chicken stock and heat to the bubbling broth. You will need to boil the stew for a few minutes after adding the tamari.

You can also make a Mexican menudo by using keto-friendly alternatives. A few ingredients are needed to prepare Mexican menudo, like tripe, onion, garlic, chili peppers, cumin, oregano, etc. It usually also calls for hominy, but you will not need it for the low-carb edition. To make it even more enjoyable, you can cut up some zucchini or cauliflower.

First, add the water to the saucepan with the remaining beef tripe, onion, garlic, and bay leaves. Allow it to simmer for a few hours.

Simultaneously, combine the peppers, garlic, cumin, oregano, and the soaking liquid to make your chili sauce. Once the sauce and meat have been mixed, the dinner will be ready to be served.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Menudo is one of the tastiest soups in Mexican and Filipino cuisine that has gained popularity over the years. But many people are disheartened by the fact that it is not keto-friendly.

But do not torture yourself by asking-is menudo keto friendly? Because you can easily make this by simply substituting some ingredients.

Never fear experimenting with ingredients you like. Keto-friendly menudo offers you a chance to experience using traditional foods. Substitute with another thing if you dislike sausages or capsicums.

But remember to always keep note of the carbohydrates in the vegetables and meat you use in the soup. This strategy will guarantee that you stay within your daily keto diet guidelines.