These flautas were awesome! I'm going to have to work on the presentation, because they aren't as pretty as they tasted! I took a few pictures as I was making them, so you can see the wonderfulness that was the filling. I got the inspiration for this meal as I was perusing pinterest yesterday. I guess those ingredients were screaming for me because, without searching for anything specific, those same ingredients kept popping up- tacos, flautas, noodle bowls, salads..... I began to rack my brain for what I might have at home, and also what I was craving. Flautas it is! So here we go!
Ingredient List:
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 can black beans (drained)
1/2 can corn (drained)
1/2 onion diced or 1 tbsp dried minced onion
1/2 cup salsa
1 large sweet potato
guacamole (see quick recipe below)
spices/seasonings (to taste)
- Cumin, pepper, red crushed pepper, garlic powder, salt, cilantro
- Pre-heat oven to 425.
- make guacamole so flavors can mix while you're preparing everything else
Guacamole:
1 large avocado, cumin, lime juice, garlic powder, salt, pepper, 2 tbsp medium salsa.
- slice avocado and place in small dish. Begin to mash. Add salsa and continue to mash. Add the rest of the seasonings to taste- remember it's always easier to add to your mix, than to take away! Mix until everything is blended, but it will be slightly chunky. Set aside.
- Next cook sweet potato. Poke several times with a fork, wrap in a damp paper towel, and microwave for 6 minutes. Check, if potato is soft it is ready. If not, continue to cook in 1 minute increments until soft to squeeze.
- If you're using fresh onions, go ahead and dice the onion and saute it until tender. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Brown the ground beef. I didn't add any extra seasoning to mine because you will add that when making the filling.
- Combine the corn, beans, beef, onion, and sweet potato in a large bowl. (Cut the sweet potato in half and using a fork, scrape out the inside).
- Season the mixture with cumin, pepper, red crushed pepper, garlic powder, salt, cilantro and salsa. mix well. Take a taste of the mixture and adjust as you desire.
** now it's time to assemble the flautas- for perfectly crispy flautas use a raised baking rack- that way they cook on both sides evenly (see picture below). However if you don't have a raised rack, you can use a regular baking sheet and make sure to turn the flautas half way through. **
*** another note: to make it easier to work with the tortillas, and make sure they don't break, do this: 2-3 at a time, take the tortilla and barely dampen with water. The best way I can explain this is to hold the tortilla in one hand and run your other hand under the water. shake it off, then run your wet hand across both sides of the tortilla- it's barely anything, just enough to barely moisten the tortilla. Place tortillas on a plate in the microwave for 30 seconds. If you do more than a few at a time they will stick together. ***
Take a tortilla and place a line of filling down the middle. (see picture) Then top the filling with a small amount of guacamole. ( you could use cheese here- but since we can't have cheese in our house, guacamole makes a great replacement and still gives the creamy texture. )
- Take one end of the tortilla and fold across the filling, pulling it tight. Then begin to roll it up!
- Once rolled, spray tortilla on all sides with cooking spray or olive oil and place on baking rack. (see picture) It's ok if they touch
Repeat process with warming tortillas, filling, and rolling until you have made as many as you like.
- Place on the lowest rack in the oven. I always have to put my raised rack on a baking sheet so it's more sturdy in the oven- you might want to consider doing that.
- Mine took about 15 minutes to cook, but you may want to check them every five minutes to make sure they aren't getting too crispy. If they are, you can always flip them or turn down the oven heat.
- They will be done when the outside is crispy and light brown, and the inside has an internal temp of at least 140. I served with simple corn chips and salsa, however, if you're feeling fancy you can always make rice and refried beans!
Enjoy!
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