Healthy Exotic Foods You Can Make at Home

If you’re looking to enjoy healthy exotic foods from around the world, these simple ideas are just what you need. Working with new flavors and spices and getting used to some handy and healthy ingredient substitutions is an easy way to travel the culinary world without leaving your front door.

Chicken and olive tagine

Chicken is an excellent lean meat, and with a tagine, you can add as many or as little vegetables as you like. The spices of paprika, garlic, ginger, turmeric, saffron, and cumin will bring healthy exotic foods while providing many benefits. Pop your tagine in something like the Uno Casa Tagine pot and soak up the compliments while everyone gives their health a boost!

Here are some health benefits of these common tagine ingredients:

• Olives. Olives add lots of flavor without adding too many calories – each olive has approximately 5 calories.
• Turmeric and ginger. Both of these spices have potent anti-inflammatory actions, and ginger is also known for treating nausea.
• Garlic. Garlic is a powerful antibiotic, helping to fight the common cold, and is also known for helping to improve heart health.
• Paprika. Paprika can also help fight inflammation as well as improve cholesterol levels.
• Saffron. Saffron can help reduce your appetite as well as boost your mood.
• Cumin. Cumin can help control blood sugar.

Miso soup

Miso soup is made from a fermented soybean paste. Miso has many essential minerals and is an excellent source of B vitamins as well as vitamin E, vitamin K and folic acid. Miso has the additional benefit of being fermented and therefore providing the gut with friendly and health-boosting bacteria.

Other common ingredients in miso soup:

Tofu. Tofu has all nine essential amino acids and is an excellent meat-free protein source. Tofu also contains calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin B1. Tofu has been linked to the prevention of heart disease.

Tofu is an excellent source of protein and contains all nine essential amino acids. Tofu is also a good plant-based source of iron and calcium, as well as manganese and phosphorous. Tofu also contains magnesium, copper, zinc, and vitamin B1.

Seaweed. Seaweed contains tyrosine and iodine that support healthy thyroid functions. It is excellent for stabilizing blood sugar as it provides many vitamins and minerals and fiber, and polysaccharides.

Vietnamese fresh Spring rolls

Fresh spring rolls made by wrapping rice paper around your chosen lean meat and raw veggies are a brilliant and fun way to eat vegetables in tasty little packages. Each piece of rice paper only has about 30 to 40 calories.

Common fresh veggies in spring rolls are shredded carrots, fresh spinach, thinly sliced celery, edamame or green peas, or any other crunchy veggies that you fancy.

You could pack in some fresh shrimp or chicken for your protein, or cubes of marinated tofu – anything goes.

Dip your rolls in some Asian ginger dressing – a mixture of soy sauce, fresh ginger, and other spices.

Turkey gyros

If you love traditional Turkish gyros, you can substitute the heavier meats of beef and lamb with turkey for a lighter and healthier treat.

Fill warm pita bread with diced fresh cucumber (great for the skin), low-fat cottage cheese (delicious and creamy), slices of lean turkey meat, some chopped fresh onions (they balance your blood sugar and are anti-bacterial), fresh dill, sliced tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese.

Cucumber is excellent for the skin. The cottage cheese is high in protein while being low in fat, and the fresh onions help balance your blood sugar and are anti-bacterial. The fresh dill has lots of antioxidants as well as vitamin C, magnesium, and vitamin A. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Feta cheese has B vitamins, phosphorus, and calcium.

Sprinkle a few olives on top and enjoy!

Mediterranean style spinach and bean casserole

Bean casseroles are easy one-dish recipes that provide lots of nutrients. Beans are a source of protein and folate, essential for healthy cell formation and cell growth, and antioxidants. Beans are also known for helping to stabilize blood sugar and to control appetite.

This Mediterranean recipe is typically Italian and provides lots of delicious vegetables and beans, such as spinach (high in iron), onions, and garlic.

You could add any veggies to this recipe, and it would be delicious.

Hopefully, these healthy international dishes have inspired you to create healthy exotic foods that keep you in top form!