empty your fridge: mexican style 6-layer dip

     My boyfriend and I are headed down to Florida this weekend (Universal and Daytona 500, here we come!), so we need to make sure we use up everything we have in our fridge. This means lots of meals where we just throw things together. We have already done pasta, stirfry, salad...and frankly we wanted something new. I started to realize lots of what we had went together quite well - avocado, greek yogurt, black beans, ground meat, cheese, tortilla chips - so I set out to buy a lime and some cilantro to tie it all together!

layer 1 - black bean and lime

layer 2 - spiced beef/pork

layer 3 - guacamole

layer 4 - spiced meat round two

layer 5 - cilantro yogurt

layer 6 - mexican cheese blend

     I know that a dip doesn't really sound like a dinner, but this is so filling. In my mind, dinners are paired together for contrasting textures and complimentary flavors. This 6-layer dip served with tortilla chips does just that!

     You're probably thinking, "wait - isn't it usually 7-layer dip?" and you're not wrong to think so. But who says it has to be?! Really it was a matter of not having any salsa or wanting to buy any that made it 6 instead of 7 layers, but believe me when I tell you that you won't miss it. There are so many flavors happening already in this version of the well known dip!

Mexican Style 6-Layer Dip
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 3-4


You Will Need:

• 1 15oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 lb ground beef and pork ("bork")
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup guacamole (homemade or store bought)
• 1 cup thick greek yogurt
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
• 3/4 cup shredded mexican cheese blend

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 
2. In a large skillet on medium high heat, cook ground meat breaking into pieces with a spatula. After about 1 minute, add onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt. Cook for another 4-5 minutes until cooked through without overcooking. Set aside.
3. Puree black beans and lime juice in a food processor. Spread on the bottom of a 9x5 inch loaf pan. 
4. Spread half of the spiced meat on top of the bean puree.
5. Spread the guacamole on top of the meat.
6. Spread the rest of the meat on top of the guacamole.
7. Combine yogurt and cilantro in a bowl and mix to stir. Spread cilantro yogurt on top of the meat.
8. Spread the cheese on top of the yogurt.
9. Place in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, until the cheese on top has melted and started to brown. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes before serving, it'll be hot! Serve with any style of tortilla chip you like.

What type of chip will you serve this with?