Our homemade Antojito recipe is an easy, cheesy, vegetarian Mexican-inspired appetizer.
The popular Tex Mex snack can be found at restaurants and kitchens across Canada and the US.
Flour tortillas are slathered in hot sauce infused cream cheese and topped with onions, bell peppers, jalapenos and shredded cheese before being rolled up, sliced and baked in the oven until crispy. The yummy finger food is often dipped in sour cream, guacamole, salsa and queso dip.
This quick and easy Antojito recipe is super simple to prepare, ready to serve in under 30 minutes!
Mexican Antojitos are typically served at family restaurants like Montana’s and local pub menues alongside jalapeno poppers, nachos and wings.
Homemade Antojitos are often prepared for large gatherings and celebrations like summer barbecues, birthdays, super bowl parties and Cinco de Mayo.
Our Vegetarian Antojito recipe features the flavours of cream cheese, havarti, cheddar, hot sauce, pickled jalapenos and red onions.
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What are Antojitos?
If you find yourself Googling, “What are Antojitos?” you’ll likely find two distinct answers.
Authentic Mexican Antojitos, also known as antojitos mexicanos, reference a group of cheap and tasty Mexican street food dishes. The word directly translates to “Mexican Whims” or “Little Cravings,” and includes tortilla-based snack specialities like tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chalupas and chilaquiles.
Our Antojito recipe is a Tex Mex culinary tradition, which you won’t find on holiday in Playa Del Carmen, Merida, Los Cabos, Mexico City or Puerto Vallarta.
The heart of our recipe for Antojitos stays true to the Mexican meaning, as our dish is a cheap snack using ingredients like tortilla, peppers and onion.
Known as an Americanized version of Mexican cuisine, Tex Mex restaurants are most often found on America’s Mexican border in states like Texas and California.
Montana’s Antojitos recipe is a perfect example of Tex Mex ingenuity. Resourceful immigrants used available North American ingredients like hot sauce, cream cheese, havarti and cheddar to create a popular new dish.
Where To Eat Cheesy Mexican Antojitos
If you live in a large city in Canada or America you’ll likely have access to a local Tex Mex restaurants or pubs that serves their very own recipe for Antojitos.
It may be helpful to first sample Mexican Antojitos at a local restaurant to better understand how the appetizer is served. You’ll get an idea for how to slice the cheese-stuffed baked-tortilla and what dips to offer on the plate.
In Toronto, restaurants that may serve Tex Mex Vegetarian Antojitos include Montana’s and Hotmess Tex Mex.
My Family Loves This Recipe For Antojitos
The first time I ever came across a Antojitos recipe was in Guelph, Ontario at the pub on the university campus. A plate topped with spicy cheese stuffed baked tortillas arrived at the table. I shared the Tex Mex finger food treats with a group of friends over a few pints of craft beer.
One could say I became addicted to Antojitos in my first year at the University of Guelph. As I began to explore other restaurants in the city it became clear that Antojitos were a local delicacy, offered at pubs, bars and family restaurants.
That’s no surprise for a city with such a large student population who want to eat tasty foods that won’t break the bank. What’s funny is that for the longest time I thought Antojitos were a Guelph thing, as I grew up in nearby Toronto, Oakville, Markham and Muskoka and had never heard of them before.
I made this vegetarian Antojitos recipe for my family as they love cheesy dishes and have enjoyed eating at many of Toronto’s best Mexican restaurants.
They were a big hit and we now serve them in the summer as a mid-afternoon snack at the cottage, during sports games or awards nights like the Academy Awards or Grammys.
Antojito Recipe Health Benefits
Our homemade recipe for antojitos is packed full of healthy ingredients!
Onions are a humble vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of leeks can help boost digestive health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Bell Peppers are an incredible source of vitamins C and A, which support your skin and immune system. They also provide beneficial carotenoid compounds such as beta-carotene, which has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers.
Consuming dairy products (such as milk and cheese) provides health benefits — especially improved bone health. Dairy foods provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.
Whole wheat flour is rich in vitamins B-1, B-3, and B-5, along with riboflavin and folate. It also has more iron, calcium, protein, and other nutrients than white flour.
Vegetarian Antojitos Recipe Tips
This homemade Antojitos recipe is quick and easy to make at home. We’ve included a few tips:
- I used normal tortillas for this recipe but you can use any type of tortilla you prefer. Increase the healthy factor by using whole wheat or get creative by using colourful spinach or sun dried tomato tortillas.
- We’ve used cheddar and jalapeno havarti cheese in this recipe but you could substitute for mozzarella or monterey jack. Just make sure the cheese you are using melts well.
- We use bread crumbs to bind the cheese and keep the filling from running out of the tortilla. You could substitute for panko crumbs or leave them out entirely if you like a stringy cheesy experience.
- Make sure to chop the vegetables into very small pieces. This way the tortillas can be rolled tightly and evenly.
- If you don’t like red onion feel free to substitute for scallions, chives or sweet vidalia.
- Feel free to get creative with this Antojitos recipe by adding other ingredients like chopped green bell peppers, corn, refried beans or cilantro.
- This vegetarian antojitos recipe can be made for meat-eaters by adding finely chopped steak, roast pork or chicken. You can flavour the meat with your favourite prepared taco seasoning.
- Use any type of hot sauce you prefer, or eliminate it entirely if you don’t like spicy hot food. If you love DIY cooking why not make homemade hot sauce?
- If you are making large quantities for a party prepare the Mexican Antojitos in advance and then reheat them in an oven for 5 minutes at 350°F. Use aluminium foil trays with lids. Lids help to prevent them from drying out.
What To Serve With Montana’s Antojitos
At Tex Mex restaurants Antojitos are typically served with sour cream, guacamole, salsa or queso dip. Since the appetizer is carb and cheese heavy, we suggest pairing with a fresh salad or homemade soup.
After dinner why not dazzle your guests with one of our popular desserts such as Oat Flour Cookies with Chocolate Chips, Dark Chocolate Lindt Lindor Cookies, Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes Recipe or Cinnamon Babka For Chocolate Lovers.
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How To Store Our Antojito Recipe
If you have leftover Mexican Antojitos you can store them in the fridge in an airtight container for 2-3 days. To reheat simply place on a baking sheet and toast in the oven. We do not suggest reheating them in the microwave as they’ll lose their desired crunchy texture and get mushy.
If you’re hosting a big super bowl party don’t fret, you can make antijitos ahead of time! After they are rolled and before you bake, wrap them well with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
You can also freeze pre-made antijitos up to 2 months by double wrapping with plastic wrap. When you’re ready to serve them just thaw to room temperature overnight before baking.
How To Make The Best Antojito Recipe
Vegetarian Cheesy Antojito Recipe
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon
- cheese grater
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- French knife
- oven
- baking sheet
Ingredients
- 8 oz Cream Cheese
- 1/4 cup Bread crumbs
- 2 tbsp Hot Sauce
- 2 tbsp Red Pepper Jelly
- 1/2 Red Bell Pepper finely chopped
- 1/2 Red Onion finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Pickled Jalapenos finely chopped
- 3 Large Flour Tortillas
- 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup Jalapeno havarti cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a mixing bowl add cream cheese, red pepper jelly, bread crumbs and hot sauce. Mix with a fork until cream cheese has softened. Add the peppers and onion and mix with the cream cheese until fully combined.
- Using a palette knife, spread the cream cheese mixture over each tortilla, 1/3 of the mixture for each tortilla, and sprinkle 1/3 of the shredded cheeses on each tortilla. Roll up the tortillas and cut them into 1 inch slices.
- Place the slices on the prepared sheet and bake at 350 F for 10 minutes, then for another additional 3 minutes under the broiler.
- Serve with salsa, sour cream, guacamole and queso dip.
Nutrition
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