Tlayuda Oaxaqueña (Oaxacan Bean and Cheese Tlayuda)
A crisp Oaxacan tortilla spread with beans, melted cheese, cabbage, avocado and red salsa, folded and eaten by hand.
Made with Salsa roja (cooked red salsa) and Tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips) and Refried beans (frijoles refritos). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.95 a head
- Oven220°C (200°C fan)
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 the oven to 220°C (200°C fan) and line two baking trays with baking paper.
- 2
Warm the refried beans in a pan with a splash of water until spreadable, about 3 minutes.
3 min - 3
Lay the eight tostadas on the trays. Spread each with an even layer of beans, leaving a 1cm border.
- 4
Scatter the grated cheese over the beans. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the edges are just golden.
7 min - 5
Meanwhile, toss the cabbage with the juice of one lime and a pinch of salt.
- 6
Top each with cabbage, avocado, tomato and coriander, and drizzle with your ready made salsa roja (see the base recipe). Serve two per person with lime wedges.
Tips
- A real tlayuda is a 30cm tortilla toasted over charcoal. Large tostadas or crisp flatbreads give a similar result at home.
- Do not overload the base or it will crack under the weight. Add the cold toppings after baking.
- Add a layer of cooked chorizo or shredded chicken for a meaty version, as street stalls do.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight from the oven. Leftover topped tostadas go soggy, so store the toppings and the beans separately in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Questions
What is a tlayuda?
A tlayuda is a large crisp tortilla from Oaxaca topped with beans, cheese, cabbage and meats or salsa. Many people call it a Mexican pizza, though it is folded and eaten by hand.
Can I use ordinary tortillas?
Yes. Bake corn tortillas flat at {t200} for 8 minutes until crisp, then top. They will be flexible rather than brittle, but taste good.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, if the tostadas and refried beans are made without wheat and your salsa roja is made with gluten free ingredients. Always check packaged tostadas.
More made with salsa roja (cooked red 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.