Huevos Motuleños (Motul Eggs with Beans, Ham and Plantain)
Crisp tortillas spread with beans, topped with fried eggs, tomato sauce, ham, peas and plantain. A Yucatecan brunch.
Made with Habanero salsa and Corn tortillas from masa harina and Refried beans (frijoles refritos). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.31 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan over a medium heat. Cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft, then add the garlic for 30 seconds. Tip in the tomatoes and a pinch of salt and simmer for 10 minutes until thick.
10 min - 2
Fry the plantain slices in 1 tbsp oil for 2 minutes each side until golden. Lift out and keep warm.
4 min - 3
Cook the peas in boiling water for 3 minutes and drain. Warm the ham in the tomato sauce for 2 minutes.
3 min - 4
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large pan. Fry the tortillas from your base recipe for about 1 minute each side until crisp at the edges, in batches. Keep them warm.
- 5
Fry the eggs in the last tablespoon of oil until the whites are set and the yolks are as runny as you like.
- 6
Spread each tortilla with warmed refried beans from your base recipe. Top with two eggs, then spoon over the tomato sauce, peas, plantain and crumbled queso fresco. Serve with your ready made habanero salsa (see the base recipe), a few drops at a time.
Tips
- Plantain should be ripe with black patches for sweetness. Green plantain is starchy and will not caramelise.
- Fry the eggs last so the yolks stay runny when they reach the table.
- Use a small spoon of habanero salsa at the table, as a little goes a long way.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Keep the tomato sauce in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat until steaming hot. Do not store assembled plates.
Questions
What are huevos motuleños?
They come from the town of Motul in Yucatan. Fried eggs sit on a fried tortilla with beans, then a tomato sauce, ham, peas, plantain and cheese.
Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes. Leave out the ham and add a handful of extra peas or some sliced fried courgette. The beans and cheese still make it filling.
Can I make the sauce ahead?
Yes. The tomato sauce keeps for 3 days in the fridge. Reheat it, then fry the tortillas and eggs fresh.
More made with habanero salsa
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.