Chicken & Bean Flautas Delight

Step 1: Prepare Vegetables and Beans

• Dice Tomato: Start by finely dicing the tomato. The smaller the pieces, the more evenly they'll mix with the other ingredients. You can remove the seeds if you want a drier mix, but it’s not necessary.
• Slice Scallions: Trim the ends of the scallions and slice them thinly. The white part of the scallions has a stronger flavor, while the green part is milder. Use both parts for a full flavor profile.
• Cut Lime: Halve the lime, squeezing one half into the tomato-scallion mixture for a tangy, fresh flavor. Set the other half aside for serving in wedges alongside your finished flautas.
• Slice Onion: Peel and thinly slice the onion. Thin slices will cook faster and soften nicely. If you want a milder flavor, rinse the onion slices briefly under cold water to reduce their sharpness.
• Prepare Green Pepper: Slice the green pepper by first cutting off the stem, then removing the seeds and inner ribs. Cut the pepper into ½-inch pieces. If you prefer a milder heat, remove all seeds; for more heat, leave some in.
• Drain Black Beans: Open the can of black beans, place a strainer over a bowl, and pour the beans into the strainer to drain. Be sure to save the liquid in the bowl, as it will be used later to cook the beans and help create a smooth texture when mashing.

In a small bowl, combine:

• Tomato, scallions, lime juice, and a drizzle of olive oil. This will create a fresh salsa-like topping that will complement the rich, savory flavors of the flautas.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the seasoning as needed to suit your preference. Set this mixture aside to allow the flavors to marinate.

Step 2: Cook the Filling

• Heat Oil in Pan: In a large pan, heat a drizzle of oil over medium-high heat. If you prefer, use olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Cook Vegetables: Add the onion and green pepper to the hot oil. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking, and cook for 5-6 minutes until the vegetables are softened. The peppers should have a slight crispness left to them for texture, while the onions should be tender and translucent.
• Add Spice Blend and Beans: Add the Southwest Spice Blend to the pan. Stir it in to coat the vegetables and let it toast for about 1 minute to enhance the flavor. Then, add half of the black beans (the other half will be used later in the mashing step). Stir the mixture for 2-3 minutes until the beans are warmed through and fragrant.
• Season: Taste the filling and season with salt and pepper to enhance the flavors. You can add a pinch of chili powder or cumin if you prefer extra spice. Remove the pan from heat to stop the cooking process.

If using chicken, open the chicken package, drain any excess liquid, and cut into bite-sized pieces if not pre-chopped. Add the chicken to the pan along with the vegetables and cook, stirring frequently until the meat is fully cooked through, and the vegetables are softened. This should take about 4-6 minutes.

Step 3: Mash the Beans

• Heat Oil in Small Pot: While the filling is cooking, heat a drizzle of oil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Use a neutral oil like vegetable or canola.
• Cook Remaining Beans: Add the remaining black beans to the pot. Stir occasionally as they warm up for about 2-3 minutes. The beans will soften slightly.
• Add Bean Liquid: Pour in ¼ cup of the reserved bean liquid (½ cup if making 4 servings). Stir the mixture and simmer for 1-2 minutes until the liquid is absorbed and the beans become soft.
• Mash Beans: Reduce the heat to low and stir in 1 tablespoon butter until it melts into the beans, adding richness and flavor. If you don’t want butter, you can use olive oil instead.
• Mash Beans: Remove the pot from the heat and mash the beans using a potato masher, fork, or immersion blender. Mash until mostly smooth, but with some texture. Season generously with salt and pepper for flavor.

Step 4: Assemble the Flautas

• Spread Mashed Beans: Place your flour tortillas on a clean surface. Spread a layer of the mashed beans over each tortilla, leaving about 1-inch space from the edges.
• Add Filling: Spoon a small amount of the vegetable and bean mixture onto one half of each tortilla. Be careful not to overstuff, or the flautas will break when you roll them.
• Add Cheese: Sprinkle pepper jack cheese on top of the filling for a creamy, melty texture. This cheese adds a bit of spice and tang to complement the other ingredients.
• Roll Tortillas: Starting from the filled side, roll each tortilla tightly to form a flauta. Be sure to roll it up as tightly as possible without ripping the tortilla. Place each rolled flauta seam-side down on a plate or cutting board.
• Wash Out Pan: Rinse the pan to prepare it for frying.

Step 5: Cook the Flautas

• Heat Oil in Pan: Add a generous drizzle of oil into the cleaned pan and heat over medium-high heat. You want enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan but not submerge the flautas.
• Cook Flautas: Carefully place the flautas into the hot pan, seam-side down. Allow them to cook for about 1-2 minutes per side, turning carefully with tongs or a spatula, until they are golden brown and crispy. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your pan.
  • TIP: Watch carefully as flautas can burn quickly. If they’re browning too fast, lower the heat slightly.
  • TIP: For extra crispiness, cook the flautas in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.

Step 6: Serve

• Plate the Flautas: Place the cooked, crispy flautas on a plate.
• Top with Toppings: Generously top the flautas with guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream. These fresh toppings will balance the richness of the flautas.
  • TIP: You can also serve these toppings on the side for dipping if you prefer.
• Serve Lime Wedges: Cut the remaining lime half into wedges and place them on the plate. A squeeze of lime before eating adds a fresh burst of flavor.

Final Tip:

• Ensure Poultry is Fully Cooked: If you’re using chicken, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) to ensure it’s fully cooked and safe to eat.

Enjoy your crispy, flavorful Chicken & Bean Flautas Delight! This recipe is designed to be flavorful and easy to follow, with lots of tips to guide you through the cooking process.