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Baleadas
Honduran soft flour tortillas folded over refried beans, crumbled cheese and cream
Baleadas are what Hondurans grab for breakfast on the way to work, from street stands in San Pedro Sula to the beaches of La Ceiba on the north coast. A thick, soft flour tortilla, warm from the comal, is spread with refried red beans, sprinkled with dry salty cheese and a spoon of mantequilla (sour cream), then folded in half. A 'baleada sencilla' stops there; add avocado, scrambled egg or fried plantain for a fuller one. Chef's tip: rest the dough balls a full 30 minutes; relaxed dough stretches thin by hand and puffs on the pan instead of shrinking back.
- Total time
- 70 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the tortillas
For the filling
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix 10 ½ oz plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder and ¾ tsp salt. Rub in 1 ¾ oz butter or vegetable shortening with your fingertips until it looks like breadcrumbs.
Step 2: Add ¾ cup warm milk and knead for 5 minutes into a smooth, soft dough that springs back slowly when poked. Divide into 8 balls, brush with a little water or oil, cover and rest for 30 minutes.
5 minStep 3: Heat a dry frying pan or comal over a medium-high heat. Flatten a ball with your hands and stretch it, or roll it, into a round about 20 cm across and 3 mm thick.
Step 4: Cook for 45–60 seconds until bubbles rise, flip and cook for 30–45 seconds more, until it puffs and has pale brown spots. Common mistake: cooking too long; baleada tortillas should stay soft and bendy, not crisp. Stack in a cloth to keep warm.
15 minStep 5: Spread each warm tortilla with 2–3 tbsp of 10 ½ oz refried red or black beans, scatter over 2 ⅞ oz queso seco, feta or ricotta salata, add a spoon of ½ cup sour cream and any 1 avocado or 4 eggs. Fold in half and eat straight away.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 18 g
- Carbs
- 62 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fibre
- 9 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does baleadas take?
- About 70 minutes in total: 50 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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