Sunday, January 10, 2010

Peanut Head's Burritos


This is Peanut Head's Top Secret, perfected over the years, recipe for burritos. He has been waiting, and waiting, and wa-a-a-a-aiting for me to make him a recipe card for his burritos.

I think I've been dragging my feet because I'm not a big fan of burritos. I have texture issues and I don't like the beans. Squish the beans and it's even worse.

Needless to say, Peanut Head is the only one eating the burritos in this house. However, I know that lots of people do like burritos, so I'm going to share Peanut Head's recipe with you.

And because he's holding another can of Chipotle Chili Peppers to my head. He's mean like that.

So if you want to make these bad boys, this is what you'll need: ground turkey (or beef), onion, garlic, olive oil, garlic salt, black pepper, canned black beans, rice, water, salt, red pepper flakes, cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, butter, flour tortillas, and shredded cheddar cheese.

Start by sauteing the onions and garlic until the onions are translucent.

I don't have a picture for the next step, but it's okay because it's not that exciting. Brown the meat and add the seasonings. Cook off most of the fluids.

Drain the canned black beans and rinse them well. This is to rinse away some of the added sodium and wash away the bean sludge that accumulates in the can. I don't know if it's bad for you or anything like that, but it sure looks grody.

Once the beans are rinsed, add them, plus two cans of water. Just rinse the rest of the bean sludge out of one of the cans and measure the water that way.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.

In another pan, bring two cups of water to a boil, add one cup of rice, reduce heat to low, and cook, covered, for 20 minutes. Peanut Head uses Basmati Rice, but you could use any kind of rice. You could even use brown rice if you want to make them super healthy.


When the beans are soft, use a potato masher to mash the meat/bean mixture.


Only mash until more than half the beans are mashed.


Add the cooked rice and combine. Then add the remaining spices and boil down until it just starts to thicken. It should be the consistency of chili. Remove from heat.

Working in groups of three tortillas at a time, spread a very thin layer of butter on the tortillas.

Then warm them for 45 seconds on high in the microwave.

I could eat one of these buttered tortillas, but once we go farther than this, I'm outta here.

Add 2 heaping tablespoons of meat/bean mixture to the center of the tortilla.

Sprinkle cheese over the whole tortilla. Peanut Head tells me that it's very important to spread the cheese out, otherwise you'll end up with a super hot cheese pocket when you reheat the burrito in the microwave. I think he learned the hard way.

Now you just roll it up like a burrito, however that is. I guess you roll it half way, tuck in the ends, and then roll the rest of the way. Not that I would know.

I have made egg rolls though, so I'm thinking it's something like that.

Aren't they cute?

Since Peanut Head freezes his burritos and then packs them in his lunch, he individually wraps them.

Wasn't he nice to take so many pictures for us?

All done.

Lastly, he stores them in freezer bags with nine or ten in each bag. One batch makes about 30 burritos, so these will last him close to three months.

Now, go make some burritos. They'll keep you regular.

15 comments:

  1. Like you, I am not a fan of beans, especially mashed up! It's too bad though, because this looks like a quick freezer meal. I should do something similar for tacos, though I'm more of a taco salad than a taco kind of person.

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  2. Boogers, yes!

    Burritos, no!

    Hmmmm....

    Lol Just can't stop laughing about the "boogers"
    post! And my other fave, the Tower of Terror picture!

    I love your writing style!!!!

    Happy Sunday!

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  3. Ok, a couple of points of clarification here.

    These are my lunch burritos and they are handy for quickly putting my lunch together in the morning. I do eat other things. And they do last a while in the freezer and still taste fresh after several months

    Microwave times depend on your microwave. I warm them about half time with the plastic wrap on (loosen it a little before you start or fight it off later, and about half after the plastic is off. No tough hard ends that way.

    Like the recipe card says, only the onions are fried to translucent. The garlic is added right at the end to save the flavor.

    Only the SM Seasoning and Black Pepper are added at the meat browning stage. The rest are added after the rice is mixed in. You don't want to boil away all those flavors.

    Mash or don't mash the beans to your own preference. I could write a whole story about the acceptable level of bean mashing my father demanded when we were kids. Or rather my sister could. Just don't get her started please.

    For all you bean health nazi's out there, I'm too lazy to soak beans over night, I'll just put up with the latent sodium after washing the canned ones. Heck, I add salt later anyway.

    I use less than a stick of butter for all thirty or so tortillas. Spread VERY thin. It's just to help soften the tortilla for rolling.

    Jill knows nothing bout rolling burritos and the picture is a little misleading. You start with the mixture closer to one side of the tortilla, fold what will be the ends over, and then roll. It's a lot easier than cleaning a microwave every time.

    Oh, and make sure the butter side is up when putting on the mixture. It's suppose to be in the INSIDE.

    P-Nut

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  4. I'm with you on the bean burrito thing!! They sure look delightful wrapped though! I am a fan of soft tacos and fahitas! I think it's great that he does this too! what a great idea!

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  5. These look really yummy but I know what you mean about texture. It can kill a dish for you if it feels wrong.

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  6. Yum! How smart that he makes them and freezes them. I love almost anything Mexican so this is perfect for me. Thanks for finally sharing.

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  7. I am emailing this post to my 22 year old son who called me one night saying he had dropped a whole dozen eggs in the container, so I told him to make burritos and wrap them for the freezer. He freaked, but if he sees it can be done with beans he will rethink my advice, and even make these...maybe I will do it while I am here visiting him! Thanks, and the all look so uniform and beautiful!

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  8. OH my goodness thank you! I love burritos and I went through tons when I was prego with my son. But they are super expensive! Also I have tons of beans that I get for free! So I will have to try this and tell you how it goes! Thanks again!

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  9. Looks yummy to me! I'm a fan of beans though, my hubby is not. I never thought to make burritos and freeze them for his lunch though. That's a great idea!!! Thanks :)

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  10. Looks delicious! I alos love the new look for the blog. Once again you are so creative!!

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  11. Yum! Love burritos, we'll have to try this recipe.

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  12. I love beans. NOT mashed though. and my darling hubby makes the BEST burritos EVER..
    its got bacon, hamberger, carrots, and potatoes in it. YUMMY

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