Thrifty Thursday: Mexican Style Pizzas

Summer is here and we’re all looking for easy, tasty meals to keep up with busy summer schedules.

With kids home in the summer, families are looking for healthy, low-cost meals that kids can either make themselves or have assembled in a flash.

Everyone loves pizza, and these Mexican-style pizzas use a flour tortilla in place of a crust. Using a flour tortilla is a great way to put together a complete meal that can be assembled in just a few minutes. They are also very cost-effective!

We’re also going to use beans for all the pizza for a great, low-cost source of plant-based protein. Beans are a key part of the Latin American diet and eaten at almost every meal.

Pizza #1: Classic Taco

Serving Size: ½ pizza | No. of Servings: 2

Ingredients:

1, 10” tortilla (whole-wheat preferred)

1 cup refried beans

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese

Dash of hot sauce (optional)

1 cup shredded lettuce

1 medium diced tomato

¼ cup sliced black olives

2 T chopped onions

½ cup crushed tortilla chips

1 cup salsa

½ cup sour cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400F

Place tortilla on a baking sheet. Spray both sides with cooking spray.

Bake at 400 F for ~ 10 minutes, until tortilla is crispy.

Remove tortilla from oven and allow to slightly cool.

Spread refried beans evenly over tortilla and top with cheese and hot sauce.

Bake at 400 F for ~10 minutes, until cheese is melted

Transfer tortilla to cutting board and slice into 8 wedges. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, onions and crushed tortilla chips. Serve with a side of salsa and sour cream.

Pizza #2: Spicy Black Bean Pizza with Adobo Crema

Serving Size: ½ pizza | No. of Servings: 2

Pizza Ingredients:

1, 10” tortilla (whole-wheat preferred)

1 cup drained and rinsed black beans

1 ½ T. adobo sauce (the extra sauce from chipotles in adobo can)

½ cup diced tomatoes

½ cup diced green peppers

¼ cup chopped onions

1 cup Mexican-blend cheese

Fresh cilantro to garnish

Adobo Crema Ingredients: