Having been a vegetarian for over 40 years, I have a large repertoire of recipes featuring legumes: beans, lentils, split peas, chickpeas, etc. I have written a number of recipes using them in various blogs over the years. Here is an unpublished favorite recipe for Tortilla Pie and links to seven recipes with pulses.

 Not-Exactly-a-Recipe for Quick and Tasty Tortilla Pie

Exact proportions don’t really matter in this recipe. I have never made this the same way twice, yet it is always well received. Even if they are on the run or otherwise occupied, this pie generally brings my family to the table. We love black beans, however, pintos are equally tasty in this dish; if I have leftover brown rice I add that in a layer. I can put this together in about 10 minutes and it takes 25 to 30 minutes to bake. If there are leftovers, whoever gets up first generally has it for breakfast.

Serves 4 to 6

About 8 whole-wheat tortillas (8 to 9-inch size), warmed
About 3 cups cooked or canned black or pinto beans, whole or refried cooked with some garlic or add a few pressed or minced cloves, along with other seasonings; heated
About 1 cup chopped onion or green onions
2 to 3 cups grated cheddar cheese
About 2 cups of enchilada sauce or hot salsa
About 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, washed and dried

Have all of your ingredients ready. If you have cooked your beans from dried you probably have seasoned them with garlic, chiles and cumin, perhaps oregano or epazote; if they are canned, put them in a strainer and rinse them; transfer them to a pan and heat them with some of the aforementioned seasonings. Refried beans work well since they spread easily and don’t fall off the layers; if using whole beans, mash about half of them (a potato masher works well for this) and leave some whole for texture. Chop onions and grate cheese. If using enchilada sauce, heat it; salsa should not be cold but at room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 375º F and oil a pie plate or round casserole. Begin by placing a spoonful of sauce/salsa in the bottom of the plate and place a tortilla on top. Spread the tortilla with about 3/4 cup of beans and sprinkle lightly with cheese. Place another tortilla on top and spoon some sauce/salsa (about 1/2 cup or so) on it to cover and sprinkle it with cheese, scattering a few onions and cilantro leaves overall. Add another tortilla and alternate with the bean and sauce/salsa layers until you have used up all of your ingredients. (Sometimes you have more beans or more sauce/salsa-the next to the last layer can be a repeat or just use up what is left-no one will notice-you may not use all of the tortillas.) Save some sauce/salsa and cheese for the top layer.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until bubbling and heated throughout and golden brown on top. Remove from oven and garnish with some chopped onion and cilantro leaves. Cut into 8 wedges and serve hot.

lentil-and-greens-soup

/item/11769/lentil-and-greens-soup

country-pea-soup-with-rosemary

/item/8030/country-pea-soup-with-rosemary

pasta-e-fagioli

/item/7927/pasta-e-fagioli

quick-and-easy-white-bean-salad-with-savory

/item/61488/quick-and-easy-white-bean-salad-with-savory

pinto-beans-with-savory

/item/60659/pinto-beans-with-savory

lima-beans-with-tarragon

/item/14707/lima-beans-with-tarragon

stuffed-cabbage-rolls

/item/12967/stuffed-cabbage-rolls

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.

Buy at Amazon

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon

Gardener's Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This weatherproof five-year log book includes the following features: · Sturdy waterproof cover to protect pages from rain and muddy soil · Lined pages and gridded paper for plotting beds · Five years of 12-month bloom and harvest grids for recording what you planted and when · Authoritative appendices on composting, pruning, pest and disease control, and container gardening · Useful reminders by season on fertilizing, mulching, and transplanting · Space for listing your favorite sources and suppliers.

Buy at Amazon