Spicy Tortilla Lasagna
A small twist on the original lasagna, a bit lighter and ideal with a green salad!
A small twist on the original lasagna, a bit lighter and ideal with a green salad!
- 1 medium onion
- 4 tortilla wraps you could need more depending on size of dish
- 250 grms pork mince i use pork as it is readily available , lamb or beef would be f
- 1 tin chopped tomatoes you could use 6 chopped fresh tomatoes if in season
- 1 small red pepper
- 1 small yellow pepper
- 1 pack taco mix
- fresh chillis ; if you like it hot ( i do)
- grated cheese to top
- Carbohydrate 80.0342287604099 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 4.86753238053693 g
- Fiber 11.6349771392378 g
- Protein 10.3244147610739 g
- Saturated Fat 0.775927620485343 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (257g)
- Sodium 76.7734060084778 mg
- Sugar 68.3992516211721 g
- Trans Fat 0.598267758187214 g
- Calories 388 calories
Step-by-step
- Place minced meat into pan to brown.
- Chop onions and peppers
- Add peppers and onions to the frying pan with mince, (also add fresh chopped chillis if using them)
- Place tortilla on the base of a pyrex dish, and then layer
- Meat then tomatoes then cheese.
- Next tortilla and the layer again.
- When you have ran out of meat mixture place a tortilla on top and cover with tomatoes.
- Place in oven at 175 for approx 15minutes.
- Top with cheese and brown for a further 5 minutes.
Thermal Mechanics of Layering
Layers of flat tortilla wraps absorb moisture from the canned tomatoes and juices released by the peppers during baking. This hydration prevents the tortillas from turning into leather while trapping steam inside the pyrex dish. Ground pork releases fat as it browns; drain excess grease before assembly to prevent the bottom tortilla from becoming soggy. A baking temperature of 175 degrees Celsius provides enough heat to soften the starches without scorching the delicate edges of the wrap.Chemical Interaction of Spice and Dairy
Capsaicin compounds in fresh chilies and packaged taco seasonings are fat-soluble molecules. Grated cheese added during the final five minutes provides the necessary milk fats to bind with these compounds, muting excessive heat on the palate. Without dairy fat, capsaicin binds directly to tongue receptors, creating a harsher burn. Tomatoes introduce natural glutamates and acids, balancing the rich pork mince through enzymatic contrast.Common Structural Pitfalls
Overloading the tomato sauce layer causes the structural integrity of the tortillas to collapse entirely. Drain excessive liquid from canned tomatoes through a fine mesh sieve if the fruit is overly watery. Covering the dish too early with cheese prevents proper steam release from the peppers and onions, resulting in a watery pool at the base of the baking vessel. Add the topping cheese only for the final five minutes to achieve proper browning.
