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Dinner recipe · from the recipe book

Spiced Chicken and Black Bean Torta Melts

Smoky chili-cumin chicken thighs, creamy mashed black beans, avocado and melty queso fresco pressed between crisp, mustard-swiped bread, using whole-wheat slices since sourdough isn't in the pantry.

Spiced Chicken and Black Bean Torta Melts

Ingredients

  • 1 lb500 gChicken thighs, boneless skinlesscut into thin strips
  • 8 slices256 gWhole-wheat bread8 slices
  • 2 tbsp30 gYellow mustard
  • 1 cup172 gBlack beans, canned, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup diced150 gAvocadosliced
  • ⅔ cup crumbled80 gQueso frescocrumbled
  • ½ medium60 gRed onionthinly sliced
  • 1 whole14 gJalapeñoseeded and thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves6 gGarlicminced
  • 1½ tsp3 gGround cumin
  • 1½ tsp4 gChili powder
  • ½ lime, juiced20 gLime juice
  • ½ cup chopped8 gFresh cilantrochopped
  • 1½ tbsp20 gOlive oil
  • ¼ tsp2 gSalt

Steps

  1. Prepare first: slice the chicken thighs, red onion, jalapeño and avocado, mince the garlic, crumble the queso fresco and chop the cilantro.
  2. In a bowl, toss the chicken with the cumin, chili powder, salt and half the lime juice.
  3. Heat half the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and red onion and cook, stirring, 6 to 8 minutes, until the chicken is browned and reaches 165°F (74°C). Stir in the garlic and jalapeño for 1 minute, then move everything to a plate and wipe out the skillet.
  4. In a small bowl, mash the black beans with the remaining half of the lime juice until mostly smooth.
  5. Spread the mustard on one side of 4 bread slices and the mashed black beans on one side of the other 4 slices.
  6. Top the bean slices with the chicken mixture, avocado, queso fresco and cilantro, then close with the mustard slices, mustard side in.
  7. Brush the outsides of the sandwiches with the remaining half of the olive oil.
  8. Cook the sandwiches in the skillet over medium heat, pressing with a spatula, 3 to 4 minutes per side, until the bread is crisp and golden and the cheese softens. Cut in half and serve hot.

Contains: Milk, Gluten. Some brands contain egg, soy.

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Saved in the Every Helping recipe book on October 24, 2026.

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