If you’re looking for Mexican recipes with lower fat and healthier ingredients, there’s one often-overlooked component of Mexican recipes you can try—fish. Mexican seafood recipes are lighter without sacrificing flavor or texture. From ceviche to red snapper, there's so much variety you won’t know which one to try first.

Mexican ceviche is basically a seafood salad marinated with citrus juices. Ceviche, which originally came from somewhere between Peru and Ecuador, is served as an appetizer by some, but it works well in place of a traditional salad. The key to ceviche is the cubed raw fish. You can use scallops, whitefish or any sushi-grade raw fish if you are feeling experimental. Using the freshest fish you can find is key when preparing this great dish.

The cubed fish is not cooked over heat; instead is it marinated in citrus juices that firm it up and alter it in a unique way. Some people say the juice “cooks” the fish, others don’t approve of that term. Either way, the citrus marinade is a vital part of what makes this dish so appealing. You can experiment with any combination of lime, lemon, even freshly squeezed orange juice. Don’t use canned or concentrated juices for this recipe; the citrus should be as fresh as the fish. There are plenty of other ingredients; garlic, avocado, tomatoes, cilantro, all combined to make a memorable Mexican recipe that is light and tasty.

Other seafood-based Mexican recipes abound, but if you want to start with the basics, try switching from chicken and beef in your favorite dishes to varieties of fish. You can make a delicious fish enchilada Mexican recipe this way, and you can make the dish even healthier by switching to low-fat cheeses and sour creams. Try using whole wheat tortillas to reduce white flour carbs and add some whole grains to the dish for a very health conscious meal.

Another good use for fish as a beef or chicken substitute is in tacos. Switching to fish adds a slightly different texture to the Mexican recipe, but once you adjust to it, this can be a fun alternative to the heavier beef and chicken versions. Try seasoning your fish with similar flavors to the original recipe and keep the fish covered after the first serving to keep it warm for seconds.

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