Mexican Tortilla Casserole

Tomatoes, Black Beans, Chiles

Featured Ingredients: San Marzano Tomatoes, Bush's Black Beans, Old El Paso Green Chiles

This is another recipe adapted from one of those little cookbooks you find at the check out line.  This one was low fat meals.  I fattened this up a bit for better flavor and uncanny goodness. Like most "lasagnas", the portions don't come out in perfect stacks until the next day.  But let the casserole sit for about 10 minutes after its done cooking to have some time to settle.

Mexican Tortilla Casserole

This works perfectly for a 11 X 8 X 2  inch pan.

1 can 15oz Goya Black Beans
4 oz. diced cooked chicken
1/2 cup mild salsa
 3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
4.5 oz can Old El Paso green chiles
2 scallions minced
1 1/2 cup San Marzano crushed tomatoes
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
dash black pepper
6 flour tortillas (fajita size)
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup reduced fat sour cream + some milk
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1. Preheat oven to 425F. Coat an 11 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray.

2. In a medium size bowl mash beans and salsa with fork or potato masher, until paste like with some texture. Add 1/3 cup jack cheese, chile peppers and scallions.  Mix together.

3. Combine crushed tomatoes, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper in a pyrex measuring cup (if available)

4. Spoon half of bean mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with three tortillas.  Like illustrated below.

Then pour half of the tomato mixture over tortillas.  Repeat with remaining bean mixture, tortillas and finish with tomato mixture.

5. Put sour cream in small bowl and thin out with a little milk so it is the consistency of yogurt and easier to spread.  Spoon sour cream on top of tomato mixture in dollops and even with back of spoon.  Top with mozzarella and remaining monterey jack cheese.

6. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes.  Uncover and bake for an additional 20 until cheese is melted and begins to brown.  Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. 

Here is a piece I had for lunch today!

My house is full of men so this had "manly meal" all over it. I made this yesterday and by today this was what was left. I always know if my husband likes a dish because he goes back for seconds. Otherwise he eats like a bird and says it's "fine." Unfortunately his type of food and my type of food don't match 80% of the time, so more food gets wasted than I would like. These type of sights make me happy and  are what you can also expect with this dish.



Nothing to Throw Out