Skip to main content

Molletes

4.0

(5)

Image may contain Food Bread Plant Cutlery Spoon Produce and Bowl
MolletesTodd Coleman

This is the Mexican equivalent to the American grilled-cheese or turkey sandwich, an everyday treat you throw together with what's left in the fridge. In Mexico, that's beans, cheese, and salsa. Though molletes are available in restaurants, they're definitely best made at home, when you can make sure to properly butter and toast the bread, add the right amount of beans and cheese, then melt that queso under the broiler.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 4

Ingredients

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
2 large rolls, preferably teleras, Portuguese, kaiser, or ciabatta, split
Generous 1/4 cup Refried Black Beans, homemade or canned
6 ounces Chihuahua cheese or provolone cheese, shredded

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven or toaster oven to 500°F.

    Step 2

    Heat a large pan over medium heat until it's nice and hot. Spread the butter over the cut sides of the roll halves. Place them, cut sides down, in the pan and cook until they are lightly golden brown and crispy, a minute or two.

    Step 3

    Spread a thin layer of beans over the toasted side of each roll. Top with a thin layer of cheese. Cook the molletes (open-faced) in the oven just until the cheese has melted and turned golden brown in a few spots, 3 to 5 minutes.

    Step 4

    Serve the molletes beside a bowl of the pico de gallo and let everyone top the molletes with pico de gallo themselves.

Reprinted with permission from Tacos, Tortas, and Tamales by Roberto Santibañez with JJ Goode, © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Read More
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Put that half-full tub to use with recipes that go beyond the Italian American classics.
This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This easy, one-skillet chicken stroganoff features tender chicken breasts, savory mushrooms, and a creamy Dijon-crème fraîche sauce—perfect for weeknights.
Like Sri Lankan cashew curry and vegan stuffed shells.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.