Mexican Molletes Sandwich

Molletes (pronounced moh-yeh-tehs) is a Mexican dish made from toasted bolillo bread rolls topped with refried beans, melted cheese, and salsa and are popular street food. They're often referred to as a Mexican grilled cheese sandwich or Mexican bruschetta. It is so easy to make and who can go wrong with this combination! Bolillo roll is a savory bread popular in Mexico and Central America that’s similar to a baguette but shorter. If you can’t find bolillo bread rolls you can use any crusty bread you want. It’s great for a meal or snack or even for a picnic!

Happy Cooking!

Servings: 8-10 open-faced sandwiches

Prep Time: 30-45 mins

Baking Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 1-1.5 hours

Ingredients: 

Corn Tomato Salsa:

• 1.5 Tomatoes chopped

• 1/2 Onion chopped

• 1/4 cup Corn kernels

• 1 tbsp Lemon juice 

• 1/2-1 tsp Salt as per taste

• 1/4 tsp Pepper

• 2-3 tbsp store-bought Salsa; optional

Mixed refried beans:

• 1 tbsp butter

• 1 jalapeño chopped 

• 1/2 yellow onion chopped  

• 5-6 garlic cloves chopped

• 1 tbsp tomato paste

• 1/2-1 tsp Salt as per taste

• 1/4 tsp Pepper

• 1/2 tsp Sugar 

• 1 tsp Paprika 

• 1/2 tsp Cumin powder

• 15 oz red kidney beans; boiled or canned

• 8-10 oz black beans; boiled or canned

• 1.5 tbsp sour cream 

• 1-2 tbsp hot sauce 

• 1/4-1/3 cup water as needed

• 2-3 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

To assemble:

• 4-5 bolillo rolls or any crusty bread loaf or roll

• 1-2 tbsp melted butter or butter spay

• 1-1.5 cups Mexican shredded Cheese

• Coriander leaves to garnish

Directions: 

1. Corn Tomato Salsa: In a bowl add chopped tomatoes, onions, corn, lemon, salt, and pepper and mix. Add salsa if you are using it. Keep aside for 15-20 mins to let the flavors marinate.

2. Mixed refried beans: Open the bean cans and do not drain all the liquid. Keep about half of the liquid.

3. In a pan add butter and garlic, onions, and jalapenos. Saute it for 3-5 mins.

4. Add tomato paste and saute for 1-2 mins.

5. Add salt, pepper, cumin powder, paprika, and sugar and mix.

6. Add kidney beans and black beans and cook it for 4-6 mins. Start mashing the beans as you cook.

7. Add sour cream and hot sauce and mix. Add about 3-4 tbsp of water and mix.

8. Keep cooking it while mashing some of it as you go. Cook for about 10-15 mins.

9. Add coriander leaves and mix.

10. Cook it as it thickens. Let it cool.

11. Assembly: Preheat the oven to 350F.

12. Slice bolillo rolls or the bread you are using in half horizontally.

13. Scoop out the inside of the bread rolls. Place the rolls on a baking tray.

14. Spray or brush butter on the rolls and bake at 350F for 3-5 mins till crispy.

15. Fill in the hollowed out part of the bread with refried beans.

16. Top it with cheese.

17. Bake at 350F for 2-4 mins till the cheese is melted.

18. Top with salsa and coriander leaves.

19. Serve hot or its even nice cold!