Panuchos Yucatecos (Stuffed Fried Tortillas)
Crisp little tortillas stuffed with black bean paste, then topped with achiote shredded chicken, pickled onion and avocado.
Made with Recado rojo (achiote paste) 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
- Time1 hr
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.73 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
Use your ready made recado rojo (see the base recipe). Rub it over the chicken with the orange juice and salt. Put the chicken in a pan with the water, cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes until cooked through.
20 min - 2
Shred the chicken with two forks and stir it through the pan juices. Keep warm.
- 3
Meanwhile, soak the onion slices in the lime juice with a pinch of salt for 15 minutes.
- 4
Warm your ready made corn tortillas (see the base recipe). Carefully split each one at the edge with a knife to make a pocket, and spread in a spoon of your ready made refried beans (see the base recipe).
- 5
Heat the oil in a frying pan to a gentle sizzle. Fry the stuffed tortillas for 1 to 2 minutes on each side until crisp and golden, then drain on kitchen paper.
3 min - 6
Top each panucho with chicken, tomato, avocado and the lime onions. Serve straight away.
Tips
- Thin shop tortillas can tear. Freshly pressed masa tortillas puff slightly and are easiest to split.
- Keep the oil at a gentle sizzle. If too hot, the tortilla burns before it crisps.
- Press each panucho flat with a spatula in the pan so the beans stay inside.
Storing and freezing
Panuchos are best eaten at once. Keep leftover chicken and beans separately in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Questions
What is the difference between a panucho and a salbute?
A panucho is stuffed with beans then fried. A salbute is a puffed fried tortilla without the bean filling. Both come from the Yucatan.
Can I bake them instead of frying?
You can brush with oil and bake at 200 C for 10 minutes, turning once, but they will be less crisp and puffy than fried ones.
Are they gluten free?
Yes, with 100% masa tortillas and plain refried beans. Check the label on any shop bought tortillas.
More made with recado rojo (achiote paste)
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.