Description
Hearty Mexican Tortilla Bake delivers a spicy symphony of layered flavors dancing through crisp tortillas and melted cheese. Comfort meets zest in this simple yet impressive dish that promises to satisfy hungry appetites with authentic southwestern charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 500 grams (1 pound 2 ounces) beef mince
- 100 grams (3.5 ounces) mozzarella, grated
- 100 grams (3.5 ounces) cheddar
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
Vegetables and Spices:
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 1 mild red chili, deseeded and finely chopped
- 1 red pepper, deseeded and diced
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 small bunch fresh coriander, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sauce and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato puree
- 12 tablespoons mango chutney
- 2 x 400 grams tins chopped tomatoes
- 3 large flour tortilla wraps
- 250 grams (9 ounces) full-fat mascarpone
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 160°C, preparing a comfortable cooking environment for the Mexican-inspired dish.
- In a large skillet, warm the oil and gently sauté onions until they become translucent and soft, approximately 3 minutes.
- Introduce beef mince to the skillet, thoroughly browning the meat to develop rich, deep flavors.
- Incorporate garlic, chili, pepper, cumin, and coriander, allowing the spices to bloom and intensify for about 5 minutes.
- Pour in tomato puree, chutney, chopped tomatoes, seasoning with salt and pepper, then reduce heat to create a robust, simmering sauce.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven, covering and allowing the mixture to slowly develop its complex flavors for 1 hour.
- Remove from oven, fold in half of the fresh coriander, infusing the sauce with aromatic herbs.
- Increase oven temperature to 200°C, preparing for the final assembly and baking stage.
- In a baking dish, create alternating layers: beef mixture, tortillas, mascarpone, mozzarella, and cheddar cheese, repeating the layering process twice.
- Complete the dish with a generous topping of remaining cheese for a golden, bubbling finish.
- Bake for 25 minutes until the cheese melts and turns a beautiful golden brown, creating a crispy, enticing top layer.
- Allow the bake to rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with the remaining fresh coriander before serving.
Notes
- For a leaner option, swap beef mince with ground turkey or chicken to reduce fat content.
- Enhance flavor depth by using fresh spices instead of pre-ground, toasting them briefly before adding to the mixture.
- Vegetarian adaptation works perfectly by replacing meat with black beans or lentils, maintaining the dish’s rich protein profile.
- Make it gluten-free by using corn tortillas and checking that all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 33 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 573 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg