Flautas / taquitos | corn & flour | quick bean filling

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The catch with this recipe is you can't make that many at a time. If you need to feed a crowd, try making my enchiladas recipe instead:    • Green Enchiladas  

**RECIPE, SERVES 3-4**

For the flautas:

6-10 taco-size tortillas, corn or flour (I prefer ultra-thin corn for this)
1 15.5 oz (439g) can of beans (I use black or kidney)
1 4 oz (113g) can of diced green chilies
4 oz (113g) smooth-melting cheese (I use Monterey Jack)
cumin
dried oregano
garlic powder
salt
olive oil
water and cornstarch (if using corn tortillas)

Rinse and drain the beans. Dump in the chilies, and tear in the cheese in chunks. Season with cumin, oregano, garlic powder and salt to taste. Squish a few hands-full of the beans into paste, then mix everything throughly. Be sure to taste for seasoning — some canned beans are much saltier than others.

If using corn tortillas, wrap them in a damp towel and heat them until warm to make them more pliable — I use the microwave. Also if using corn, dissolve a dash of cornstarch in a little water and heat it until boiling and gelatinized to use as a glue.

Position a log of filling onto the middle of each tortilla, then use your finger to smear the cornstarch glue onto the edge of the tortilla that will form the outer seal — plain water is fine if you're using flour tortillas. Roll each tortilla up tight with the seal positioned on the bottom.

An a wide pan or griddle, heat a film of olive oil over medium-low heat. Put in each of the flautas seam-side down, and mop each one around in the oil to make sure the bottom is coated. You might need to slide the flautas around as they cook so they each brown evenly. When the first side is golden and crispy, flip them all and repeat. With flour tortillas I usually try to brown a third side, but corn tortillas are usually too delicate to lay on their sides.

When everything is golden and the filling is hot and melty, you're done. Serve with your choice of one of the condiments below.

For pico de gallo:

1 fresh globe tomato
1 shallot (or half an onion)
1 jalapeño
1-2 limes
fresh cilantro
salt

Dice the tomato, shallot, jalapeño (take out the ribs if you don't want the heat). Squeeze in the juice of one or two limes to taste, tear in some cilantro leaves and maybe mix in a little salt.

For pink pickled onion/shallots:

2-3 red shallots (or one red onion, but shallots pickle faster)
Enough vinegar to submerge (red wine vinegar enhances the purple color)
A couple spoons of sugar (optional)
Fresh cilantro on the side (optional)

Peel and cut the shallots (or onion) in half and slice into thin semi-circles. Transfer to a bowl, submerge in vinegar, and stir in a couple spoons-full of sugar — don't worry if it doesn't seem to dissolve at first. Put the bowl in the fridge. If you can do this a couple hours or days ahead of time they'll be a lot better, but they'll taste like pickles after 20 minutes or so.

Use a fork to drain the pickles as you transfer them to the plate with the flautas, and I like to have a big pile of cilantro leaves next door.