There’s a New York thread for this, but no NJ thread.
I just finished some Barbacoa with Salsa Verde from Cinco de Mayo and now have a raging thirst. I have the same problem with just about anything from restaurants (e g., Shanghai Bun, Sichuan Cottage, El Rinconcito, …). Is there any hope for low-sodium meals from “ethnic” restaurants?
I didn’t have this problem with Afghan Kabob and Grill, for what it’s worth. Is it just Chinese and Mexican (and Italian)?
I suspect you shouldn’t hope too hard, Evelyn. Having been raised in a low-/no-salt (but lots of pepper) house due to my paternal grandfather’s many heart attacks, I’ve always been sensitive to salt. One question for you - do you regularly drink much water? I’m asking because I’m the self-proclaimed queen of hydration and I do think that helps move salt through my system when it’s more than my usual, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling like my rings were tight when on vacation and eating in restaurants 2-3x a day.
There’s no question that most restaurants (of any kind) use far more salt than what most of us are used to. I think that’s one reason I appreciate good spice flavor so much. One trick you could try is to ask for sauces on the side, but I think in most cases that’s going to be difficult.
Salt and fat makes the restaurant world go 'round. The job of a kitchen is flavor, not health.
Some of us think flavor does not necessarily mean lots of salt and lots of fat. I find what I cook at home is flavorful without sending me gasping for huge quantities of water.
I’m really sensitive to salt. There are some take-out foods I avoid now.
I was able to have a relatively low salt Vietnamese take-out meal this week. Green mango and cabbage salad with shrimp, and a tofu and vegetable stir-fry. It was under seasoned relative to most Chinese and Thai stir fries.
Surprisingly, my worst drink water all night meals have been things I didn’t think of as salty. Chicken parmigiana, or chicken Parm sandwiches. Korean take-out, Thai take-out, Middle Eastern take-out.
Costco rotisserie chicken and grocery store rotisserie chicken.
I have been cutting out salt by ordering my cheeseburgers with no condiments, and not ordering fries at all…
Some ideas here may help:
