Snack · Latin American ·

Spicy Belizean Garnaches

Name: Spicy Belizean Garnaches
Prep time: 23 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 93 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Snack
Ingredients: 12 small corn tortillas; 1 cup vegetable oil; 1 cup cooked black beans; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 cup fresh farmer’s cheese, crumbled; 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese; 2 tomatoes, diced; 1/2 red onion, finely chopped; 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced; 1 tablespoon lime juice; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped; Salt to taste

A delightful Belizean street food snack featuring crunchy tortillas topped with spiced refried beans, fresh cheese, and a zesty salsa.

4(973 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·August 17, 2025

Spicy Belizean Garnaches — Snack served and photographed from above

Prep

23 min

Cook

1 h 10 min

Difficulty

Easy

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Garnaches

For the Refried Beans

For the Cheese Topping

For the Salsa

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 627 kcal
Protein: 18.6 g
Carbs: 55.7 g
Fat: 39 g
Fiber: 12.5 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 2508 kcal
Protein: 74.5 g
Carbs: 222.8 g
Fat: 156 g
Fiber: 50 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
12 small corn tortillas	720	12	144	12	16
1 cup vegetable oil	1927	0	0	218	0
1 cup cooked black beans	227	15	41	1	15
2 tablespoons vegetable oil	240	0	0	28	0
1 onion finely chopped	44	1	10	0	1
2 cloves garlic minced	9	0	2	0	0
1 teaspoon ground cumin	8	0	1	0	1
1 cup fresh farmer’s cheese crumbled	370	31	7	25	0
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese	228	14	2	19	0
2 tomatoes diced	44	2	10	0	2
1/2 red onion finely chopped	22	0	5	0	1
1 jalapeño seeded and minced	4	0	1	0	0
1 tablespoon lime juice	4	0	1	0	0
1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped	1	0	0	0	0
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Salsa

1
Combine Ingredients
In a bowl, combine diced tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, lime juice, and cilantro.
2
Season Salsa
Season with salt to taste.
3
Chill
Allow flavors to meld for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Preparing the Refried Beans

1
Heat Oil
Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2
Sauté Aromatics
Sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant and translucent.
3
Cook Beans
Add cooked black beans and cumin, mashing until smooth. Season with salt.
Tip: Make sure beans are thoroughly mashed to achieve a smooth consistency. Pro Tip: Use a potato masher or fork for best results.

How to Make Spicy Belizean Garnaches

Total time: 1 h 33 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Frying the Tortillas
Heat 1 cup vegetable oil in a pan and fry tortillas until golden and crispy.
2
Layering the Garnaches
Spread refried beans over each fried tortilla, then sprinkle with crumbled cheese.
3
Final Touches
Top with prepared salsa before serving.