Mexican Pizza – Quick & Easy Appetizer Recipe

When you are in for something hot and spicy, that is also crunchy, tasty and filling at the same time, take refuge in this quick and easy Mexican Pizza recipe. Unlike American pizza, which does take some time and preparation, the Mexican counterpart is very easy to pull off. With a can of re-fried beans and some whole-wheat tortillas at hand and a few veggies, topped with 4 cheese blend,you are all set to curb your appetite in a jiffy with this deliciously vibrant Mexican pizza

If you like Mexican food, invest in buying a small pack of Mexican seasonings to keep in your pantry. Otherwise, run to your local grocer and get a packet of Taco Bell seasoning – it works wonders in all Mexican recipes, kind of like the secret ingredient:) That’s a tip my husband uses for all his Mexican cooking, and the final plate always turns out very tasty indeed, just like restaurant-style! Adapted from the recipe at Green Lite Bites, I modified this one to add the seasoning, some caramelized onions for extra flavor, and also some Avocado for a smooth texture. If you are interested, here is a previous post I did on How to Caramelize Onions – it’s a handy recipe to keep, especially if you love caramelized onions on Pizzas, Sandwiches or as a topping over Rice Pilaf.

Hot & Crunchy Mexican Pizza with Caramelized Onions

Ingredients
1 whole wheat tortilla
1/4 cup re-fried beans
2 tbsp hot or medium salsa
1/2 tsp Taco bell seasoning
pinch of kosher salt
about 1/4 cup diced peppers
1/2 onion – diced and caramelized
1/4 cup Mexican 4-cheese blend
red chili powder – to taste
some dried cilantro flakes

Method
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Pierce the tortilla with a knife a few times and bake for about 2 minutes until crispier.

Mix the beans, salsa, taco seasoning, chili powder and salt together. Smear it on the tortilla evenly to cover the base. Top with the bell peppers, caramelized onions and the mixed cheese. Bake for about 5-7 minutes until the cheese melts and the tortilla edges become hard and crispy.

Remove from the oven, garnish with some dried cilantro flakes, and allow to cool a little. Slice it into 4 pieces with a pizza cutter, and serve immediately.

To complete the Mexican meal, pair this with some Vegetarian Mexican Enchiladas, or a bowl of Mexican Tortilla Salad.

Recipe Variations
I decided to keep it simple, mostly because I just used all the ingredients I had on hand, but if you have some time to plan ahead, you can make this a 2-layered Pizza if you like, Tortilla-filling-tortilla-filling, for a more filling meal. If you want to serve this at a party, make a bite-sized version by using Tortilla chips as a base instead of the flour tortillas. They bake in no time and make excellent appetizers. For a more authentic Mexican flavor, add some Guacamole or Sour Cream on the top, after you finish baking these in the oven. Jalapenos also add a nice spice kick to the Pizza recipe. Experiment with toppings to please your crowd as you like!