Toasted Bread with Beans and Cheese (Molletes)

A Mexican breakfast staple, Molletes are open-faced sandwiches topped with refried beans and melted cheese. Typically, they are eaten with Pico De Gallo.

Molletes can be vegetarian or omnivorous - enjoy them with just the cheese and beans, or feel free to top them with traditional cooked Pork Chorizo. Other options for meat toppings include ham, chopped steak, chopped fajita, or anything else that comes to mind. Get creative!

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Prep Time: 5 Minutes | Cook Time: 16-30 Minutes (Depending on Meat Topping) | Total Time: 21-35 Minutes

Special Equipment

• 1 Saucepan

• 1 Skillet (for preparing meat topping)

• 1 Baking Sheet

Ingredients

• 1 yield of Refried Beans (Or substitute with prepackaged, a suggestion is: Isadora's Mayocoba Peruano Refried Beans)
  

• One package of meltable Mexican cheese (suggestions include: Queso Asadero, Queso Chihuahua, Queso Oaxaca. Or Sub with Mozzarella or Monterey Jack)
  

• 4 Bolillo Rolls (or substitute with French roll or baguette)
  

• 1 tube Pork Chorizo (or meat topping of choice - optional)
  

• Salt or Chicken / Vegetable Bouillon (to season the beans to taste - optional) (substitute with Better Than Bouillon for MSG-free)
  

• 1 yield of Pico De Gallo (or other salsa of choice - optional)
  

Method

Prepare Toppings

1. Start by cooking your chorizo (or other optional meat topping - skip to Step 4 if vegetarian)
   

2. Add raw chorizo to a skillet and cook on Medium heat. (Chorizo is typically high in fat / grease, so the skillet does not need to be oiled).
   

3. Use spatula to occasionally stir and break apart the chorizo as it cooks, for about 15 minutes. Remove heat and set aside.
   

4. If using prepackaged refried beans, prep them a bit. Empty package into a saucepan on Medium heat. Cook for about 3 minutes, then reduce heat to Low. Stir occasionally and cook for an additional 3 minutes. (Optional: Add salt or chicken bouillon, to taste) (If using homemade refried beans, just make sure they are warm enough to spread. They do not require any additional prepping.)

Assemble / Cook Molletes

1. Preheat conventional oven or toaster oven to 300°F (150°C).
   

2. Start by cutting each bolillo roll in half, length-wise
   

3. Add 1 large spoonful of beans to the white side of each bolillo half. Use spoon to spread across the majority of the bolillo.
   

4. Add a full slice of cheese on top of the beans / meat topping. (Cheese may not come pre-sliced, depending on the type. For this recipe our slices weighed about 33g each.)
   

5. Now, add 1 large spoonful of Chorizo (or other optional meat topping) on top of the cheese. Spread to cover majority of the bolillo.
   

6. Place assembled bolillos on a baking sheet, and cook in preheated oven for 7-10 minutes, until cheese is fully melted and bread is starting to toast.
   

7. Remove from oven and serve immediately. Top molletes with Pico De Gallo or other salsa of choice.

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Nutritional Data

Total Yield: 8 Molletes Slices

Servings: 4

Serving: 2 Mollete slices

(With Chorizo and Queso Chihuahua)

Calories: 854 | Protein: 38 | Carbs: 83 | Fiber: 15 | Fats: 39

(Without Chorizo and with Queso Chihuahua)

Calories: 702 | Protein: 30 | Carbs: 83 | Fiber: 15 | Fats: 27

*Nutritional Data does not reflect Pico De Gallo or other added salsa. Data is approximate based on roughly one spoonful of beans and meat on each mollete slice, and may vary depending on amounts / brands used.

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This is a family recipe and is not derived from another existing recipe. Please give proper credit if re-posting.