Did They Eat It: Cooking Light Bean Burritos

Continuing with my personal "Make Two Dishes From Every Magazine Purchased" rule I made Chipotle (But I Didn't Have Chipotle Chili Powder So They Were Just Regular*) Bean Burritos for dinner the other night.

*name was too long for title.

This is mine, the ones my family ingested looked very vaguely like this delicious one.

Here's everything you need.

Yes I realize that's romaine lettuce and it's almost entirely water and Logan would put spinach on this just so he could say he had the iron. But romaine lettuce to me is like white bread to other people. You know it's not that good for you but so what? It's one of those things that makes me think of my youth and the salad we'd have with dinner each night when I lived with the family I babysat for.

As I mentioned I didn't have chipotle chili powder on hand so I used the Hot Mexican Chili Powder (ground by young Hispanic men in hot pants) and cumin because I love cumin.

Rinse your kidney beans and black beans together in a colander.

Heat one tablespoon canola oil over medium heat, then add one clove of minced garlic and cook for one minute.

Add your chipotle chili powder (or substitute spices of your choice) and salt and cook for 30 seconds.

Next add the beans to the pan.

Plus some water, bring to a boil, reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes.

Ha, ha haaaaaaaa.

As I was reviewing the recipe to write up these pictures, I realized I made a big mistake and probably ruined Logan's diet in the process. The recipe called for 3 tablespoons of salsa and I dumped the entire container in.

Classic.

Here it is all mixed up, looking kind of soupy now that I know my mistake. I let mine cook off some liquid because it seemed a little soupy to me. (NOW I KNOW WHY).

Now partially mash bean mixture with a fork.

Warm your tortillas and garnish as you'd like. Cheese, tomato, lettuce, onions....whatever you want.

(Here's a great tutorial on folding a burrito, scroll just about 1/4 down. I can and literally have watched it dozens of times.)

When I folded this one it fell apart because Logan thought I'd turned the burner on and I thought he did so our tortillas were a crumbly mess. Viva La Summers Kitchen!

Did They Eat It?
Logan: I love it! Thanks! Uh, the sour cream didn't get mixed in this somehow, right? Are you sure?
Max: You're sure you watched that burrito folding video? Because what's happening to this thing is really insane (falls apart all over the plate).
Maddie: You know I finally agreed to eat tacos with just ground beef inside a shell. I don't know why you have to get all "funny" with the fillings now.
Melissa: For a 361 calorie dinner I was pretty happy. Certainly isn't going to replace my occasional Qdoba indulgence but for a light supper, thumbs up.

Here's the full recipe from Cooking Light Jan/Feb 2010

Chipotle Bean Burritos

1Tbs canola oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder*
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup water
1 (15oz) can black beans
1 (15oz) can kidney beans
3 TABLESPOONS refrigerated fresh salsa
6 (10") reduced-fat flour tortillas
1 cup (4oz) reduced fat mexican blend cheese
1-1/2 cup chopped plum tomato (about 3)
1-1/2 cup shredded romaine lettuce
6 Tbs thinly sliced green onion
6 Tbs reduced fat sour cream

Heat oil in non stick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, cook one minute stirring frequently. Stir in chili powder and salt; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Stir in 1/3 cup water and beans, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, stir in salsa (NOT THE WHOLE CONTAINER!!!) Partially mash bean mixture with fork.

Warm tortillas according to package. Spoon about 1/3 cup bean mixture into center of tortilla. Top each serving with 2.5 Tbs cheese, 1/4 cup tomato, 1/4 cup lettuce, 1 Tbsp onion, and 1 Tbsp sour cream. Roll it up. Makes six burritos.

*If you don't have chipotle chili powder you can substitute Hot Mexican Chili Powder or regular chili powder (1/2tsp) plus ground red pepper (1/8tsp). I also added 1/2 tsp Cumin because I love it.

Comments

[Pants]

I was a big fan of this recipe!

[Laura]

1. We'll be having these sometime next week.
2. Is that Miceli's cheese good? I've seen it and have thought about trying it, but wasn't sure because I've never heard of the brand.

[Jenn]

Yum!

[Amy]

I wish I had tortillas in the fridge. I made a big pot of black beans last night and I LOVE burritos.

[Chris]

This may be a stupid question, but are black beans the beans that are typically in burritos? I ask because I have a husband who's head will explode if they don't taste vaguely like the burritos he is used to eating at the local mexican restaurant.

[C.]

FYI - Romaine is one of the healthy green leafies.

[Heidi]

I think it sounds better with the extra salsa. And no diet worries, salsa doesn't have any fat. It's a great flavor boost for virtually no calories.

[Linda]

Looks delish. And I have to agree with C. Romaine is great. I think it's iceburg lettuce that has no nutritional value. I use both all the time.

[Alesya]

I love this feature on your blog. My favorite part are the uncensored comments at the end.

[Kate @ And Then I Was a Mom]

Yum. And also: Hot-panted men always make the best spices.

[Ginny]

oooo we are on a big summer mexican food kick at the moment and this looks yummo! Do you think this would work for a large number of people if I multiplied the recipe? I'm thinking Friday night dinner for guests with a couple of boxes of beer!

[Michelle]

Yeah, iceberg is the lettuce that is truly useless. My family would not eat this particular meal AT ALL, but I have to say I so love this feature of your blog!

[RachelJ]

I couldn't find chipotle chili powder either, so I used the canned chipotle chilis in adobe sauce (one small chili, cut finely). Added just the right amount of spice. The guacamole recipe was a good one also. My husband and son had never liked guacamole but both of them ate it (not so with the 6yo daughter).

[Julia]

Something very similar to this recipe is our go-to easy dinner when we want something hot and healthy in a hurry. (Mmm...hot and healthy...just like I like my men!) Its also good on top of a bag of salad for taco salad or just to dip tortilla chips into. Trader Joe's Enchilada sauce mixed in while cooking gives a dish like this an extra punch.

[Nora]

I actually just made this for our dinner. Easy and yummy, and not much work at all. MY kind of meal.

[Amber]

I'd definately try this out. Yum.

Now I'm craving beans.

[cee]

I think that's iceberg you're using - romaine is a great leafy green.

[Melissa Summers]

Well whad do ya know! I am making healthy choices...http://www.iateapie.net/reviews/archives/2006/04/iceberg_vs_roma.php

Sent from my iPhone with fat fingers on tiny keys.

[nicole]

it's called a burrito . . . who needs a recipe for a burrito?? sorry for not keeping my opinion to myself, but come on . . . .

[Wendy]

Yum! It looks exactly like my kind of food. However..the lack of meat crosses it off my husband's list of something he'd eat. My 3 year old probably would though...maybe I'll make it for our lunches one day this week. You probably could freeze the bean mixture, as it is similar to chili and I freeze it all of the time...

[Allison]

I agree -- cumin totally rocks (or is the bomb. I need a new expression to say something is great that makes me sound like less of a dork). Chipotle Tabasco sauce is also great to keep around -- easy chipotle flavour (I add it to everything, including cupcakes). I have a friend who's started reading your blog and making all the did they eat it recipes. I'm still at the 'ooh, note to self, make that in the next ten years' stage.

[Melissa Summers]

Apparently I do, good for you though! Weeeeee!

Sent from my iPhone with fat fingers on tiny keys.

[Michelle]

Mmm! Looks yummy - what kind/brand of salsa did you use?

[Irene]

Might be just a burrito, but I for one appreciate you posting recipes for even these basic types of meals, good for us novice cooks. Oh & that salsa looks yum...who makes it???

[kelli]

we make something similar (actually just made it tonite) using refried black beans, spread on tortillas, sprinkle w/chopped red onion and minced garlic and shredded cheese. put in omelette pan, top with other tortilla. toast, flip,toast, flip. cut in quarters. serve w/sr cream, salsa and avocado. or whatever the hell you have on hand. this is always my "jesus-i-don't-feel-like-making-dinner" meal so I always keep the ingredients on-hand. and the kid and husband love it, so bonus points there :)
oh, and if i have spinach to use up, sometimes i'll shred it up and throw it in there too! I'm crazy like that.
i too enjoy the "did they eat it" posts and get lots of ideas from you. keep 'em coming

[Emma]

I need recipes for everything, even things I've made over and over. Who can hold those kinds of details in their head? I'm lucky I can remember my house number.

[Claire]

I love the rule about the two recipes from a magazine - and I probably should also make a rule that I'm not allowed to print out a recipe from a blog until I've made the previous one I printed out from a blog!

[silene]

The hilarious thing to me is that, unless I'm missing something nicole had to click through to *read* the burrito recipe...so c'mon, nicole! Don't deny your secret love for the burrito recipe!

Ahem. Just a li'l joke, there. In seriousness--I've got 2 boys (ages 4 and 1.5), and I love this feature. At the very least, I get reassurance that I'm not the ONLY one who tries to make stuff my kids will eat only to be greeted with funny faces and requests for peanut butter. And--I get great ideas for realistic family meals. Thanks!!