Because this is a heavily Hispanic area, there are a great variety of tortillas, refried beans and other ingredients for Mexican cuisine. Most major grocery stores carry everything an ordinary home cook might need. There are also several Hispanic supermarkets with specialty items. One of them, Mercado Numero 1 is located at 1616 E. Los Angeles Ave.
When looking at refried beans, there are many things to consider. Most stores carry low sodium and fat free varieties. Many also carry vegetarian versions. Even though they are mashed, they still contain a great deal of fiber.
Aside from corn and flour tortillas, there are many other choices. Low carb, whole wheat, fat free and even different grains are used. The Artisan brand uses everything from Amaranth to millet. This is the brand of tortilla used in making this dish in the slide show.
Ingredients:
3 tortillas
¼ cup refried beans
¼ cup salsa
½ cup cheese
Place the first tortilla on a baking pan or cookie sheet. Spread the refried beans over the tortilla, and add half the cheese. Place a second tortilla on top of the first and spread the salsa. Add the second half of the cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese melts. Serve with sliced avocado or guacamole.
This is a versatile recipe and can have additional layers. This recipe is an appetizer, but adding seasoned ground beef or chicken can make it an easy entre. With a salad and fruit for dessert, it makes a healthy dinner.
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