How To Make Fajitas Less Spicy: BEST Solutions!
Fajitas are fab for sharing, and recreating that Mexican vibe in your own dining room is always a fun experience!
If you need to turn the heat down a notch, you don’t have to sacrifice flavour. Here’s everything you need to know…
How to make fajitas less spicy
In a hurry? Here’s the short answer so you can grab and run…
You can make fajitas less spicy by using a milder seasoning mix, and using less of fiery spices such as cayenne pepper, chilli powder, and paprika.
If you only discover that they’re too spicy once you’ve coated your meat and/or veggies in the seasoning, don’t panic! You can tone down the heat by adding dairy based fillings, a squeeze of lime, fresh tomatoes, or a pinch or two of sugar. You can also serve your fajitas alongside fresh and bland side dishes, to balance out the heat.
Want to learn more about these methods, how to use them, and why they work? Keep reading for the full lowdown on exactly how to make fajitas less spicy!
(Be sure to also take a look at the best side dishes for fajitas).
1. Use a milder seasoning mix
First up, let’s suppose that you haven’t started to make your fajitas yet, but you want to err on the side of caution when it comes to heat. Maybe you’re just in the mood for something milder, or you’re cooking for kids and want to play it super safe.
In this instance, the easiest way to make sure fajitas aren’t too hot is to use a mild seasoning mix for your meat and veggies during the cooking process. In practical terms, this means that you’ll want to use hotter spices like cayenne pepper, chilli powder, and paprika sparingly. I use and recommend this recipe for kid-friendly fajitas.
Of course though, hindsight is a wonderful thing. What if you’ve already cooked up your fajitas, only to discover now that they’re too spicy? Let’s take a look at what you can do next..
2. Choose some dairy based fillings
Capsaicin is the oil-based molecule that’s found in chilli that’s responsible for bringing the fire. It triggers the pain receptors in your mouth, and whilst a little bit can be enjoyable, depending on your personal preferences and tolerance levels, too much can prove to be uncomfortable and even downright unpleasant.
This is where dairy products come in to your pending fajita night. Dairy contains a protein known as casein, and it can help to break down that fiery capsaicin. That means adding toppings like soured cream, natural yoghurt, and even grated cheese can really help to cool down your fajitas.
3. Add a good squeeze of lime juice
If you don’t eat dairy, or you just don’t have any dairy products in your fridge right now, another option for how to make fajitas less spicy is to add an element of acid to your meal. This helps to balance the alkaline of the capsaicin, which can in turn really cool down your mouth.
The best choice here is a good squeeze of lime juice! It’s often a staple in Mexican food anyway, partly because it brings such vibrancy to so many different dishes. Acid based ingredients are well known for bringing balance to a plate, and helping all the other flavours to really shine through. In fact, it’s something that many chefs swear by as being their secret ingredient.
Don’t have any limes in your kitchen? No worries. Alternatively, you could add a couple of splashes of wine or cider vinegar to your fajitas right at the end of the cooking process.
4. Add chopped fresh tomatoes
Technically, tomatoes are also an acid, so it’s the element of acid that makes this choice work from a scientific point of view! This one is such a good choice though that I feel it deserves a mention of its own.
If you need to fix spicy fajitas, simply chop up some fresh tomatoes. You can add these to the pan at the end of cooking, or use them as a topping for your fajitas. If you don’t have fresh, you could used tinned instead.
This is also a great way to bulk the meal out a little more without having to add extra protein, so it’s a savvy way to make your fajitas stretch further. It’ll also give you an extra serving of veggies, which is always an added bonus, especially if you’re feeding your kids!
5. Add a few pinches of sugar
Adding an element of sweetness is another culinary trick for how to make fajitas less spicy. It absorbs the oil-based capsaicin, providing relief from the heat and making the food more palatable for those who love flavour but like to swerve too much spice.
A pinch or two of sugar works fabulously, though you can also use a little honey or maple syrup instead, depending on what you have in your pantry.
Be mindful to add just a tiny bit at a time, and taste as you go. You don’t want to end up with overly sweet fajitas!
6. Serve alongside plenty of fresh or blander fillings
A super simple option for making fajitas less spicy is to just use a little less of the spicy meat and veggie mix inside your tortilla wraps. You can still create a really satisfying meal by adding plenty of other fillings to balance things out.
Some good choices include lettuce, guacamole or sliced avocado, refried beans, rice, and more of your favourite fresh and crunchy veggies. For more inspiration, be sure to check out my guide to what to serve with fajitas.
Final thoughts on toning down fajitas that are too spicy
Fajitas are such a great choice on those busy evenings when you need a meal on the table fast, and they’re often a fantastic way to use up odds and ends of meat and veggies that are lurking in the back of your fridge.
Some like them super spicy, but if that’s not for you, that doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on those vibrant Mexican flavours.
Keeping these ideas in mind will mean you always have a back up plan to help you to fix fajitas that are too spicy, or make sure that you can cater to a crowd even if they have difference preferences in terms of how hot the filling is!
