Ultimate Layered Mexican Vegetable Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp of olive oil
• 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
• ½ cup of roasted pasilla chile sauce (brand: Herdez®)
• ½ cup of frozen corn kernels
• ½ yellow bell pepper, finely diced
• ½ green bell pepper, chopped
• ½ white onion, finely chopped
• ½ red onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, deseeded and chopped
• 1 tsp of ground cumin
• 1 can of refried beans (16 oz)
• 1 can of pinto beans, rinsed and drained (15.5 oz)
• 1 ½ cups of shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 cup of cottage cheese
• 1 cup of sour cream
• 5 whole wheat tortillas (7 inches each), or more if necessary

Step 1

Begin by preheating your oven to a toasty 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for that perfect cooking environment. On the stovetop, warm up some oil in a skillet over medium heat, then toss in a delightful medley of Roma tomatoes, chile sauce, sweet corn, vibrant yellow and green bell peppers, aromatic white and red onions, spicy jalapeno pepper, and a hint of cumin. Stir and sauté until everything is tender and bursting with flavor, which should take around 5 to 7 minutes. Next, add in the refried beans and pinto beans, giving it all a good mix before taking it off the heat.

Step 2

In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup of sharp Cheddar cheese with creamy cottage cheese and tangy sour cream, creating a rich and velvety mixture.

Step 3

Now, let's assemble this masterpiece! Start by layering one-third of the bean mixture at the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Follow it up with a third of the cheese mixture and a delicate layer of tortillas. Repeat this process twice more, alternating between beans, cheese, and tortillas, until you reach the final layer. Finish off with a sprinkle of the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese on top before covering the dish snugly with aluminum foil.

Step 4

Pop your creation into the preheated oven and bake for a cozy 20 minutes. After that, remove the foil and let it bake for another 8 to 10 minutes until it's gloriously bubbling and golden on top.

Step 5

Once it's done, take it out of the oven and allow it to rest for a blissful 10 minutes before digging in and savoring every delicious layer.