Mollete (Mexico)

Mollete is a traditional sandwich from northern Mexico consisting of a halved bolillo bread roll that is topped with refried beans, cheese, and tomato salsa. It can be found throughout Mexico in numerous coffee shops, restaurants, and street food stalls.

The sandwich has roots in Andalusia, Spain, where molletes signifies a rustic, oval-shaped bread that has been a breakfast staple for many years. However, the Spanish version is much simpler, served with olive oil, tomato, and garlic.

Mexican molletes are sometimes referred to as a distant cousin of the Italian bruschetta, and in southern parts of the country, they are often served with pico de gallo and topped with bacon and mushrooms. With its rising popularity, molletes have even made it to the United States, so it is unsurprising that a sweet version of the dish also exists, made with butter, sugar, and honey instead of the usual, savory ingredients.