Preparation Time: approximately 15-20 minutes
Serving Size: 30-45 minutes
Cooking Time: 1- 3x3 square (makes 12)
Ingredients
2 TB olive oil
1 red onion, diced
2 TB garlic, chopped
1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced thick
2 red bell peppers, diced
1 zucchini, medium, medium diced
1 ½ cups brown rice, prepared (per directions on label)
4 oz corn, frozen (thawed)
4 oz spinach, baby (fresh)
15.5 oz can NSA* fired roasted tomatoes, diced
1 TB cumin
2 tsp coriander
1 TB chili powder
2 tsp oregano, dried (or 1 TB freshly minced)
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp sugar, raw granules
2 green chilies, sliced
2 jalapeños, diced (optional)
16 oz black beans, rinsed (NSA* canned or dry prepared)
1 ½ cup shredded cheese, cheddar or Monterey jack (part-skim)
6-9 corn tortillas, baked**
2 avocados, sliced
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13” baking pan with cooking spray or dabbing a paper towel with olive oil.
Heat the fire roasted tomatoes in a saucepot over medium heat. Add cumin, coriander, chili powder, oregano, and garlic/onion powders. Season with salt and raw sugar as directed or TT. Set aside.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet or braiser/rondeau. Sauté onions and garlic until translucent; add bell peppers and zucchini and cook until softened slightly. Add mushrooms, corn, and chili peppers and toss together, cooking until slightly soft as well. Set aside.
Layer three tortillas (broken into thirds) on the base of the baking pan. Layer with half of the vegetable mixture. Top with ¾ cup prepared rice followed by half of the beans then a third of the tomato sauce. Repeat again: tortillas, vegetable mixture, rice, beans, and sauce. Top with a third layer of tortilla pieces then the remainder of the sauce followed by jalapeño slices. Top with shredded cheese***. Cover and bake 30-40 minutes until internal temperature of 150 degrees is reached.
Storage and Turn-out
Serve immediately; garnish with avocado slices & cilantro sprig. Can be stored under refrigeration for up to 3 days.
*NSA: no salt added
**You can bake tortillas by placed them single layered on a baking sheet in the over at 300 degrees for about 5-7 minutes. This will dry them out enough so they do not get mushy in the casserole baking process; the goal is to have them provide texture to this dish. Monitor their progress frequently after 5 minutes to prevent burning.
***You may split the cheese into 2 portions, adding a layer of cheese after the first layer of ingredients is placed in the baking pan, leaving the second portion for topping.