HOW TO: Make molletes
Great for a quick, easy meal or a snack made from leftovers, molletes are very popular in Mexico. You can typically find them at any coffee shop and in many casual restaurants around the country as well. They can be eaten for any meal and you probably have all of the ingredients without knowing it!
A few notes: Day old bread is best, but you can use fresh bread just fine if you toast it well. There aren’t really exact proportions here in this guide. I typically make refried beans at the beginning of each week and just use them until they’re gone. If you don’t do the same, a small can of refried beans will do just fine here, and you’ll still have some left over. Here, I’ve used pinto beans. You can also use frijoles bayos refritos (a cousin in taste and texture to the pinto bean) or refried black beans. You can also add as much or as little cheese as you’d like; the point is that you cover the beans.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
- For each serving of two molletes, you’ll need one bolillo roll. If you don’t have those, you can substitute with a loaf of soft French bread cut into sections.
- A little bit of butter or margarine
- A few tablespoons of refried beans (frijoles refritos) for each piece of bread
- Shredded cheese (I recommend: Chihuahua, Oaxaca, Monterrey Jack. Note: In Mexico, I prefer what they call manchego, which is not the same as Spanish manchego, but they don’t sell Mexican manchego in the U.S. to my knowledge.)
- Salsa mexicana (here’s my recipe for 2 servings, which can be doubled or tripled for however many you’re feeding)
Keep reading for step-by-step photos to help you assemble your molletes.
1. Cut the bread open lengthwise. If there’s too much bread in the middle, sometimes I remove a little bit. Toast the bread under the broiler or in a toaster oven until the edges turn golden. Lightly butter the toasted bread.
2. Spread a few tablespoons of beans onto each piece of bread. Be careful not to make them too heavy. The refried beans pictured here have cooked chorizo mixed in for extra flavor, but that’s completely optional. If you use regular refried beans, this can be a vegetarian meal.
3. Add shredded cheese over the top of the beans and place under the broiler or in a toaster oven until the cheese melts.
4. Add salsa mexicana (or any other salsa you like) over the top and enjoy.
- How do you make your molletes? Do you have a favorite place where you like to get them in Mexico?
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Love this! I’m already thinking of ways I can sneak those high fiber beans into my toddler. Gracias!
WOW, does this ever look yummy! I can’t wait to try them.
We LOVE making these! Such an easy dinner – and it’s vegetarian!
oh yum! I use to eat these as a kid with just frijoles and queso fresco! I think i have the craving of trying a white pizza flavored one now easy and so delicious!
Ruby, thanks for the comment. I’d never thought of putting queso fresco on molletes, but that sounds good! I think you just gave me an idea
My mom always made them with queso fresco, finely shredded, and baked them, lots of them. She also made a very good salsa, instead of pico de gallo. I’m making those tomorrow for a small celebration.
That’s how I always ate them, and when I saw they sold them with manchego cheese and some people even nuking them I was like, What the heck!
What a fun recipe!! We called “mini pizzas” and what I love is that is so easy to make!
Yum! I love molletes! We also had them with a thick layer of beans and a heavy sprinkle of queso fresco like ruby~ Thanks for the how to!
~vianney
Vianney, I wonder if the queso fresco is a regional thing? I’ve never seen in that way in Mexico City or anywhere else.
I grew up in Mexico City’s Metro Area, so probably from there? You should try them that way. They rock!
OMG, these look amazing. “Molletes” sounded like they had a lot of meat involved in the preparation, but now that I see they’re vegetarian I’m totally putting this in my to-do list. I guess they’re the Mexican bruschetta?
Morena, yes – they are completely vegetarian (unless you add chorizo to your refried beans, of course)! You can click on the vegetarian category at the top of the post to see all my other meatless options as well
What a delicious recipe. I also love that its a vegetarian dish as well. Looking forward to making these at home.
This just made my mouth water….. I am so hungry right now and these photos are not helping.
So easy to make! I am always looking for easy and delicious recipes like this one. I’m pretty sure that my daughter would love these molletes.
I’m a teacher in Monterrey and I get molletes almost everyday from lunch hahaha! Thanks for the recipe!