Loaded Vegetarian Tortas With Avocados, Queso Oaxaca, Black Beans, and Pickled Jalapeño

Ingredients

serves Makes 4 sandwiches, active time 30 minutes, total time 30 minutes

• 3 jalapeños, thinly sliced into rounds
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus additional for seasoning
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• One large (25 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, plus additional for spreading sandwiches
• 4 soft round rolls
• 1 pound queso Oaxaca (Mexican string cheese), thinly sliced
• 2 ripe avocados, thinly sliced
• 1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
• 1 lime
• 1/2 cup picked fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems

Procedures

1. Place sliced jalapeños in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, combine water, vinegar, salt, and sugar and bring to a boil over high heat. Pour pickling solution over jalapeños and cover bowl with a plate; let cool to room temperature.
   
2. Meanwhile, place beans in a medium mixing bowl and add cumin, mayonnaise and kosher salt to taste. Mash with a potato masher until beans come together as a spread but remain chunky.
   
3. Cut rolls in half. Divide black bean spread among bottom 4 halves of rolls (you may have extra spread), then layer cheese over black beans, dividing evenly between the 4 sandwiches. Top each sandwich with 1/2 a sliced avocado, then add a few jalapeño slices to each sandwich. Top each sandwich with a layer of shredded lettuce and a few cilantro leaves; spritz each sandwich with lime juice. Spread tops of rolls with mayonnaise, place on top of each sandwich, press down gently, and slice in half. Serve immediately.