Crispy Chipotle Black Bean Taquitos

1. In a medium bowl combine softened cream cheese with black beans, jalapeños, cumin, garlic powder and salt. Remove 1 saucy chipotle pepper from the can and finely mince. Add to the cream bean mixture along with an extra ½ tsp of adobo sauce. Stir it all up and set aside.
2. A little taste test of the filing can be done and will ensure these tasty taquitos are seasoned to your liking and you can adjust the spices/chipotle during this step.
3. Next, working in small batches of 3-4 tortillas, wrap corn tortillas in a damp paper towel and microwave on high for 30 seconds until warm and pliable. The goal here is to steam the tortillas so they roll easily without breaking or cracking.
4. To each tortilla, add 2 TBSP of veggie filling side by side about ⅓ of the way up from the bottom of the tortilla, shaping the filling into a little log.
5. Tightly roll each tortilla while it's still warm. Place seam side down on a large plate or baking sheet. You can secure each with a toothpick if needed.
6. Repeat these steps for the remaining tortillas and filling. Depending on your measuring you'll have 10-12 tasty taquitos.
7. In a high-sided frying pan, heat about ¼ inch of oil over medium-high heat. Use tongs to carefully place 4 taquitos in the oil, seam side down, and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side. If you have a larger pan you can cook more at once but it will require more oil. I typically use one of my smaller pans and work in batches.
8. Remove from the pan and place on a stack of folded paper towels to drain off any oil. For even crispier results, place the paper towels atop a wire cooling rack.
9. Enjoy hot with a variety of dips for dunking. See blog post for recipes if you need them. xoxo

FREEZER INSTRUCTIONS

1. To freeze taquitos for later, first lightly pan fry via instructions above, then allow them to cool fully on paper towels. Next place them spaced on parchment paper on a plate or small baking sheet in the freezer and freeze for an hour or so. Once they’re set, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container of choice and write the date on it. They should be good for 1-2 months.
2. Frozen taquitos can be reheated in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer and cook up beautifully.