• Preparing Phyllo Shells. Follow the recipe for to prepare 60 Toasted Phyllo Shells before filling.

PREPARE AND FILL SHELLS.

• Black Bean Preparation. Strain any extra sauce from a 15.5 oz Chili Black Beans and transfer them to a spacious mixing bowl.
• Dressing Preparation. In a small bowl, blend 16 oz sour cream with 1 Hidden Valley® Fiesta Dips Mix until thoroughly combined.
• Combining Ingredients. Into the black bean mixture, incorporate ¾ cup 1 Hidden Valley® Fiesta Dips Mix , 1/4 cup red pepper, 1/4 cup yellow pepper, 1/4 cup orange pepper, 1 teaspoons red pepper flakes, and 1 tablespoon hot sauce. Gently stir the mixture.
• Incorporating Cheeses. In a medium bowl combine the 1 cups Monterey Jack cheese and 1 cups cheddar cheese.  Add to the black bean mixture until the ingredients are well blended.  Chill the mixture in the refrigerator at least 2 hours ⏱️up to overnight.
• Filling the Shells. Fill the toasted phyllo shells generously.  Optionally garnish by topping each cup with a half slice of black olive.  Place in the refrigerator and bake within 1 hour ⏱️ or immediately freeze.  

BAKE.

• Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 °F   Arrange the shells 1.5 inches apart on a baking sheet pan or in an air fryer.
• BAKING TIMES:  Standard oven. Bake for approximately 20 minutes ⏱️ and 30 minutes ⏱️ direct from the freezer. 

  Convection oven. Bake for 15 minutes ⏱️ to 20 minutes ⏱️ and 20 minutes ⏱️ to 25 minutes ⏱️ direct from the freezer. 

  Air Fryer oven. Bake for 8 minutes ⏱️ and 10 minutes ⏱️if direct from the freezer.   

  NOTE:  If frozen, do NOT thaw before placing in the oven.  Remove filled shells from plastic container and place on a sheet pan before baking.

FREEZE.

• FREEZING FILLED SHELLS: Generously fill each shell and return them to the plastic tray. Lay the plastic over the shells in the tray.  Place the full tray back into the original Phyllo Shell box. Seal the open end with tape.  I use a permanent marker to label the box with "Black Bean Fiesta Bites," baking temperature, baking time, and the current date.  Place the labeled box in the freezer without stacking until the shells are completely frozen.