Baleadas (Honduran Flour Tortillas with Beans, Cream and Cheese)
In short: Soft, warm flour tortillas folded around creamy refried red beans, thin cream and crumbled cheese, with egg or avocado to make it special. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 770 kcal
The baleada is Honduras's everyday food: a thick, soft flour tortilla cooked on a hot griddle, folded around a smear of refried red beans, a drizzle of thin cream and a shower of salty crumbled cheese. Stalls sell them from early morning until late at night. For a baleada especial, add scrambled egg, avocado or grilled meat. The tortillas are quick to make and the beans can be cooked ahead.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the oil, then stir in the warm water until a soft dough forms. Knead for 3 minutes, cover and rest for 30 minutes.
- For the beans, heat the oil in a skillet and cook the onion for 4 minutes. Add the garlic for 30 seconds, then the beans, their liquid and the salt. Mash while frying for 8 to 10 minutes, until a thick, smooth paste forms. Keep warm.
- Divide the dough into 8 balls. Roll each on a lightly floured surface into a round about 20 cm (8 in) wide and 3 mm (1/8 in) thick.
- Heat a dry skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Cook each tortilla for about 1 minute per side, until puffed with a few brown spots. Stack them in a clean towel so they stay soft.
- Spread beans over half of each tortilla and drizzle with cream. Sprinkle with cheese, add egg or avocado if using, and fold the tortilla over the filling.
- Serve the baleadas at once, while the tortillas are still warm and soft.
Tips
- Cook the tortillas briefly. Overcooked ones turn stiff and crack when folded.
- Honduran cream is thinner and tangier than sour cream. Thin sour cream with a little milk or lime juice to get close.
Questions and answers
What is a baleada especial?
A baleada with extras, usually scrambled egg and avocado, and sometimes grilled meat or sausage, on top of the beans, cream and cheese.
Can I use store-bought tortillas for baleadas?
Yes. Thick flour tortillas warmed in a hot pan work fine, though homemade ones are softer and puffier.
Can I make the beans ahead of time?
Yes. The refried beans keep for 4 days in the fridge and freeze for 3 months. Reheat with a splash of water.
How long does it take to make Baleadas (Honduran Flour Tortillas with Beans, Cream and Cheese)?
About 55 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Baleadas (Honduran Flour Tortillas with Beans, Cream and Cheese)?
About 770 kcal per serving, with 24 g of protein, 99 g of carbohydrates and 31 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 770 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 24 g |
| Carbohydrates | 99 g |
| Fat | 31 g |
| Fiber | 10 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 1450 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
