Mexican Monday: Tortas

Well, it's Monday and in our house that means Mexican food.  Tonight we had one of our regulars - tortas.  The torta we make is our version of Rick Bayless's version of tortas.  Baby bonus:  tortas have all of Oliver's favorite things - bread, beans, avocados and cheese.  Mom bonus:  tortas are quick and super easy.

Black Bean Tortas

Black beans

Guacamole

Bread

Queso fresco

Hot sauce

1.  Make the black beans.  Heat one can black beans and liquid in a saucepan over low heat until thickened, mashing the beans to make them thicker.  I usually get the beans going first and just let them cook until I have everything else ready.  Also, you can season the beans however you like.  I usually add some cumin and/or garlic.  Carnivore variation:  Cook up some chorizo and then mix in with the black beans.
2.  Make the guacamole.  Mash 1 avocado with the juice of 1 lime and garlic powder and salt (both to taste). 
3.  Slice the queso fresco into triangle-shaped wedges.
4.  Slice bread.  Traditionally you'd use bolillo rolls and pull out the extra bread "stuffing" to give your beans and guacamole a place to rest.  We use our sandwich bread and toast it in the toaster to give it a little crispiness.
5.  Assemble tortas.  Place black bean spread on one side of bread.  Place a few cheese wedges on the beans.  Add the hot sauce of your choice (ours in Cholula).  Spread guacamole on other side of bread place on top to complete your torta.  Eat and enjoy! 

We usually eat our tortas with cactus soup.  Nick & Bethany brought cactus soup over to our house right after Oliver was born and we've been making it regularly ever since.  Tonight I also made some rice with mixed vegetables in an attempt to get Oliver to eat more veggies.  (It didn't work.)