Beach Burritos

We are beach lovers if you couldn't tell by the blog's title. A few years ago a friend of mine introduced us to a dish her family call "River Burritos". They make them while out on adventures in a boat because it requires no refrigeration. We love them and renamed them Beach Burritos. So simple to prepare and enjoy!

Beach Burrito featured on a tortilla chip. YUMMY!

Ingredients:

• 3 cans of any flavor beans (I always use black beans, and mix it up with either pinto, small white, kidney or whatever)
• Italian dressing

Optional ingredients:

• green chiles
• corn
• tomatoes
• olives
• onions
• seriously, whatever you want in your bean salad 

Other items needed for eating at the beach:

• sturdy paper plate or plastic plate
• slotted spoon
• a bunch of paper towels
• tortillas and/or tortilla chips

Prepare:

1. Open cans of beans, drain and rinse in cold water.  
2. Place beans in plastic bowl with lid that seals well. Add any additional ingredients you choose.
3. Dump a bunch of Italian dressing on it. Enough to coat but not have them swimming.
4. Place lid on bowl. Shake, rotate and do a dance in your kitchen while holding the bowl; this ensures the dressing gets spread throughout (much more fun than a traditional spoon).
5. Place in your beach bag along with a slotted spoon, one sturdy paper or plastic plate, and a handful of paper towels. (last items place in a large ziplock baggie together. You won't want them to get sandy or get your bag greasy with dressing when you're at the beach.

How to eat at the beach:

1.  Place one tortilla on the plate. Spoon some of your bean salad onto it, roll it up and pass it out to your family. Repeat until everyone is served. 
2. Immediately put all items away in plastic bag to avoid the sand.
3. If your tortilla is rolled tight enough you shouldn't drip too much. Do not hold over your lap in case of drips, but that is why you bring paper towels, just in case.
4. Or open that bag of tortilla chips and get dippin'. 
5. When you get home throw your extra in the fridge until your next beach adventure. Feel free to add more beans and/or dressing to it before you head out again. 

The end. See I told you it was easy and super good! My kids pick this over pb&j at the beach. It is way more filling too.

*note: the bean salad itself with just beans and dressing is fine out of the fridge for your full day. If you have extra refrigerate it until your next adventure. If you add any of the optional ingredients you are compromising the life of the bean salad somewhat. None of the ones I listed will get you in trouble that day. But you will want to finish your beach burritos within a week. 

Happy Summer!