Diabetic-Friendly Recipe: Mexican Steak and Broccoli

Holle loves to cook. She creates a lot of delicious recipes and enjoys sharing them.

Mexican Recipes

I’ve learned a lot about Mexican recipes from two of our friends, Jonas and Julia, both of whom are from Mexico. They own and operate two Mexican restaurants where they make everything from scratch—from their salsas to their mole, which involves hours of cooking.

It’s funny, but I was never a big fan of Mexican cuisine until I had the pleasure of enjoying some authentic Mexican food. Now, I’m pretty much hooked. In fact, I’ve turned several Mexican dishes into low-carb recipes and diabetic-friendly recipes.

I’ve found that when I add spices, herbs, and other flavorings, I really don’t miss the carbs and fat so much. Mexican recipes are certainly highly flavored, and I enjoy how the spices play the bongos on my taste buds. Traditional seasonings for Mexican foods include chipotle, cumin, black pepper, cayenne, onion, garlic, chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, and cilantro.

Cook Time

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean sirloin
• 1 tablespoon Ideal Brown brown sugar substitute
• 2 teaspoons chipotle powder
• 1 teaspoon meat tenderizer
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 1 green onion, sliced
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 cup red onion strips
• 1 green bell pepper, cut into strips
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
• 2 jalapeños, sliced
• cooking spray
• salt, to taste
• 1 (14-ounce) bag frozen broccoli, thawed
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Lawry's garlic salt, to taste
• mild paprika, to taste
• 2 thin slices pepper jack cheese

Instructions

1. Trim all fat from the steak.
2. Combine brown sugar substitute, chipotle, meat tenderizer, cumin, and black pepper to make a dry rub. Rub both sides of meat with the steak rub.
3. Roll steak up from long side and slice into strips. Place steak in a large Ziploc bag and add lime juice, green onion, and minced garlic. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
4. Place onion, bell pepper strips, and sliced jalapenos in a bowl.
5. Remove meat from steak marinade and pat dry with paper towels.
6. Empty broccoli onto several layers of paper towels to drain while the steak cooks.
7. Spray a non-stick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high. Add steak strips, onion, bell pepper, and jalapenos. Stir-fry until steak is brown and veggies are soft. Sprinkle with salt and transfer to a warm plate.
8. Spray same skillet with more cooking spray. Add broccoli and cilantro and sprinkle with garlic salt and paprika. Cook over medium heat until broccoli is just tender.
9. Cover broccoli with pepper jack slices and reduce heat to low. When cheese is melted, broccoli is ready.
10. Serve steak and broccoli together on a large plate or platter.

Photo Guide

Trim fat from steak.

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Mexican Spices, Herbs, and Other Seasonings

Diabetic-Friendly and Low-Carb Recipes

My diabetic-friendly meals usually consist of some type of flesh, along with at least one low-carb vegetable. I really try to include at least one cruciferous veggie every day in my healthy recipes, and broccoli fills the bill nicely. Broccoli is very low in carbs, and it contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Beef steak, by the way, has no carbohydrates.

I usually try to make my diabetic meals as healthy as possible. I also want my foods to taste good and be rib-stickingly satisfying, and you’ll see that my Mexican recipes for steak and broccoli are no exception. The entire meal is very low in carbs and contains calcium, fiber, and lots of protein. The whole meal contains just six grams of net carbs. Oh, and by the way, it’s also low in fat and calories!

Low-Fat Recipes

Some people prefer low-fat recipes to low-carb recipes. But what if you can reap the benefits of both with the same great foods? With diabetic meals like this one, you can. Believe it or not, beef can be low in calories and in fat, as long as you use the right cut and the right grade.

The USDA grades beef on several factors, including marbling. Marbling is the fat deposits within the muscle. Generally speaking, choice beef has more marbling—and therefore more fat—than does select beef. And when it comes to steak, sirloin is low in fat. A three-ounce serving of lean sirloin has just 5 grams of fat and 160 calories.

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Comments

Mary Gaines from Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, Washington on June 11, 2020:

My husband is diabetic and I am always looking for great low carb recipes, thank you for sharing I can't wait go try this one. Cheers!

nicediabetes from Australia on June 04, 2014:

Looks delicious, may try it myself

Simone Haruko Smith from San Francisco on June 08, 2012:

Heck, I could make a meal out of just the broccoli part! This looks delicious.

Marcy Goodfleisch from Planet Earth on June 06, 2012:

I like the mix of seasonings you've used here - this would be a very tasty dish! I wonder if you could do this with chicken, too? Habee, you are such an incredible chef - I learn from you every time I click on one of your hubs!

Voted up and up!

Gloria Siess from Wrightwood, California on June 05, 2012:

I have made this before and have learned some good tips from this/it looks wonderful. Awesome HUB!!

Lela from Somewhere near the heart of Texas on June 05, 2012:

You are so right, Holle. Authentic Mexican food is the real deal for taste and nutrition. Even though I grew up eating TexMex, when I went to Mexico and learned what REAL Mexican cuisine was I came back and started making my own. This is a great recipe for steak. Thanks!

Holle Abee (author) from Georgia on June 05, 2012:

Thanks, Suki!

Barbara C from Andalucia, Spain on June 05, 2012:

Lovely recipe - one I'll definitely try!