Huevos rancheros

Name: Huevos rancheros
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Mexico
Ingredients: 4 tomatoes; 1/2 onion; 1 garlic clove; 1 serrano chili; 2 tbsp oil; 4 corn tortillas; 4 eggs; 200 g cooked black beans; 1 avocado; 40 g crumbled fresh cheese; 1 bunch coriander; Salt

Local name: Huevos rancheros

The Mexican farmhouse breakfast: fried eggs on crisp corn tortillas, covered in a tomato and chili salsa, with black beans and avocado.

Published on 17 October 2026

Gluten-free#eggs#tortillas#tomato#black beans#breakfast

Photo: L.A. Foodie , CC BY 2.0

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 20 min
Total: 35 min
Serves: 2
Difficulty: Easy

Method

Dry-roast the tomatoes, onion, garlic and chili in a pan until charred in places, then blend coarsely with a pinch of salt.
Cook this salsa in 1 tbsp oil for 5 minutes, until slightly thickened.
Warm the black beans with a little salt, half-mashing them.
Pass the tortillas a few seconds per side through a lightly oiled pan and set two on each plate.
Fry the eggs in the rest of the oil, keeping the yolks runny. Lay them on the tortillas.
Spoon over the hot salsa and serve with the beans, sliced avocado, crumbled cheese and coriander.

The name means “ranch-style eggs”: it was the hearty mid-morning meal served on farms, between two stretches of field work.

The techniques this recipe uses

Reduce
Uncovered, water leaves and flavour concentrates. It is done when the sauce coats the back of a spoon.

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Nutrition per serving

Calories: 859 kcal
Protein: 33.3 g
Fat: 47.1 g
Carbohydrate: 83.3 g
Fibre: 23.5 g

An estimate computed from the recipe quantities and the USDA food composition database. Real values vary with the products used.

Frequently asked questions

Why do my tortillas go soggy?

They were not passed through hot oil before topping. A few seconds per side in an oiled pan makes them supple but sturdy, and they then hold up under the sauce.

Should the salsa be very hot?

No, above all it should be fresh and fragrant. A serrano chili gives a clear heat; seed it to soften it, or swap in half a bell pepper if you are serving children.

Are huevos rancheros gluten-free?

Yes, as long as you use 100% corn tortillas: check the label, as some contain wheat flour.

Mexican vegetarian cooking: maize, beans, chilli
What the milpa and nixtamalisation bring to a meatless meal, how dry charring builds a sauce, and what the Spanish added to the repertoire.
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