Molletes – Mexican comfort food

Appetizers and Side dishes — By Ben on 03 January 2008

Update 01/04/08. I will be participating on the 2008 Comfort Food Cook-Off on Eve’s blog, The Garden of Eating, with this recipe. Was that perfect timing or what?

After the holidays nobody wants to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I know I don’t, especially after cleaning my kitchen from top to bottom to make it sparkle (I have become my mother!) This is the time when I turn to comfort food to avoid getting my kitchen dirty (something that I can never seem to accomplish) and what a better way to keep things simple than making molletes, “the” Mexican comfort food by excellence.

Molletes are no more than bolillos (white bread) cut in half and baked with refried beans, cheese, chorizo, ham or even turkey or chicken on top. I specially like them with refried beans, chorizo and cheese. I add salsa or pico de gallo right before eating them. This dish is very popular in most Mexican chain restaurants at the price of 2 or 3 dollars for 4 bolillo halves. This is a filling, cheap and easy to make dish that will not disappoint you in one of those cold and lazy winter mornings.

All you need for this dish:

Bolillos cut in half lengthwise, you can also use baguettes, Italian bread or even biscuits.
Canned refried beans.
Melting cheese.
Cooked chorizo or ham, turkey breast thin slices or any other cooked meat or veggies (leftovers work perfectly)
Salsa, pico de gallo or guacamole.

How to prepare molletes:

Warm up oven to 300° F (150° C)
Spread refried beans over the bread. Top with cheese and meat.
Bake on cookie sheet for 10 minutes or until it starts to turn light brown.
Serve with salsa and enjoy.

Buen provecho!

Tagged as: Baking, Beans, Cheese, Comfort food, Legumes, Mexican food

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About Author

Ben

grew up around food. His family owned a restaurant in Mexico City and he spent a big deal of his childhood helping and learning after school the art of creating delicious dishes from simple ingredients. He created this blog to share his kitchen adventures with the world.

(18) Readers Comments

Vicki
January 3, 2008 at 5:00 pm

I haven’t tried this yet, but I can already tell it’s my new favorite!

Reply
- Ben
  January 9, 2008 at 4:38 pm
  
  Hi Vicki,
  
  It is a very tasty dish. The best thing about it is that you can top it off with anything you like. The beans and cheese are the basic ingredients but you can get creative with it. I love them with chorizo and salsa but sometimes I eat them with turkey, ham, avocado or chicken. Is my favorite comfort food.
  
  Reply
Cynthia
January 3, 2008 at 6:01 pm

Ben, you got me going crazy for this! I am a sucker for refried beans and this is a dish I will definitely be making the next time I make some bread.

Happy new year!

Reply
- Ben
  January 9, 2008 at 4:38 pm
  
  Let me know how it turns out
  
  Reply
Katie
January 3, 2008 at 8:03 pm

Whoa! New format, I like it Happy New Year!!

p.s. this looks fantastic!

Reply
- Ben
  January 9, 2008 at 4:39 pm
  
  Thank you. I think I am liking it, too :-p Happy New Year to you too
  
  Reply
Ed
January 3, 2008 at 11:19 pm

Wow!!!! I’m drooling. I love molletes but yours look really tasty. Cuando me invitas???? Jeje – Pudiste arreglar tu problema en IE?

Reply
- Ben
  January 9, 2008 at 4:41 pm
  
  Hola Ed. I love molletes, too. I miss Sanborn’s molletes, they are so tasty. And you are welcomed whenever you want, just tell me when you are coming to get ready :p and I think I fixed that bug. It seems that the blog is opening faster now.
  
  Reply
Roberto
January 4, 2008 at 2:49 am

Hey those are good. A classic!.

Reply
- Ben
  January 9, 2008 at 4:41 pm
  
  Oh yeah! I love molletes
  
  Reply
kellypea
January 4, 2008 at 5:14 pm

YUM. I agree that it’s so easy to put some things together in a bun. I’ve had some naan with cheese and salami the last couple of days. It works for me. But I wish I could say there was no mess after the holidays…my husband’s family came over on New Year’s Day and I cooked. UGH.

Reply
- Ben
  January 9, 2008 at 4:43 pm
  
  Buns are one of the best inventions ever! And there is always a mess in the kitchens of people who cook. That’s the only part that I truly dislike :/
  
  Reply
JennDZ_The Leftover Queen
January 7, 2008 at 1:13 pm

Kinda like Mexican Bruschetta!
This sounds really yummy!

I love the new look of your blog!

Reply
- Ben
  January 9, 2008 at 4:45 pm
  
  Exactly, it is a Mexican Bruschetta, hehe.
  
  And thank you. I have been spending so much time figuring out the codes that I think I’m finally starting to get it
  
  Reply
Fany
September 3, 2008 at 3:18 pm

I am joing to do molletes I am from mexico and my page is jipictures.webs.com

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Israel
September 3, 2008 at 3:20 pm

I am goingo to make molletes to eat, they are delicious mmmm… I am from Mexico and visit my website is http://www.jipictures.webs.com

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Mario
April 28, 2010 at 5:32 am

I'm from Mexico and I've been eating molletes all my life! They are the best!

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@dsvld4mb
June 2, 2010 at 11:09 pm

I just made some for the whole crew every one loves these!!! they are mega delicious and really fun to make and easy no doubt..::D i give it a 10!

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