About
Molletes are Spanish, open-faced bean and cheese sandwiches that are very popular in Mexican cuisine and are actually very easy to make yourself. A savory bean purée and a melty cheese topping, are accented with fresh, homemade pico de gallo for extra vibrancy, all of which is served on crispy toast. Molletes might become a new lunchtime favorite!
Ingredients
- For the black bean purée:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 onion, roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 (15.5-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 chipotles in adobo, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup water or stock of your choice
- For the pico de gallo:
- 2 plum tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 1/2 jalapeño, seeded and deveined, chopped
- 15-20 sprigs cilantro, chopped
- juice of 1/2 lime
- salt, to taste
- For the sandwiches:
- 3-4 bread rolls
- butter, optional, to taste
- 1-2 cups cheese, such as cheddar, shredded
Directions
Step 1 -Heat the vegetable oil over medium heat.
Step 2 -Add 1/2 of the onion and the garlic and sauté until the onion is tender, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 3 -Add the black beans, the chipotles, the adobo sauce, the cumin, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, the freshly ground pepper, and the water and simmer until heated through, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 4 -Pour the bean mixture into a blender or food processor and process until well-combined.
Step 5 -Taste for seasoning and add more of the salt as needed.
Step 6 -Add the tomatoes, the remaining onion, the jalapeño, and the cilantro to a mixing bowl.
Step 7 -Add the lime juice and the salt, to taste, to the tomato mixture and mix to combine.
Step 8 -Taste the tomato mixture for seasoning and adjust accordingly.
Step 9 -Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 10 -Cut the bread rolls in half.
Step 11 -Toast the rolls in the oven until crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
Step 12 -Add the butter to each roll.
Step 13 -Top each roll with the bean purée and the shredded cheese.
Step 14 -Bake the rolls again until the cheese is thoroughly melted, about 3-5 minutes.
Step 15 -Top with the pico de gallo and serve immediately!
