A must try Mexican recipe!

If you have never heard of Mexican gorditas they are a pretty popular street food that basically consists of a thick corn tortilla stuffed with delicious Mexican fillings. Gordita in Spanish translates to “chubby”, maybe because of their thick and round shape or perhaps because they are so delicious you wont be able to stop eating them! Best news is that you only need a couple of simple ingredients in your pantry to make them: masa harina and water! They make for the perfect appetizer, party snack or dinner side, and my favourite way to have them is with some aji verde sauce as a side.

Here I am stuffing them with refried beans and cheese, which turns them into a nourishing and delicious dish. Some other popular fillings include: chorizo and eggs, or picadillo (ground beef, and potato mixture) or chile verde (pork and green chile sauce).

So what is masa harina?

It is corn flour that comes from ground nixtamalized corn. This flour is a staple in Mexican cuisine and it is used to make popular dishes such as tortillas, tamales or pupusas. These days you can find it in Latino American supermarkets or online in Amazon.

🌱Vegetarian

🍽️ 4 portions

Ingredients

• 1 cup masa harina

• 1 cup water

• 1 tsp salt

• Suggested filling: Shredded mozzarella cheese and refried beans

Method

• Place the masa harina and 1 tsp salt in a bowl, and add the water. Mix well with a spoon and then start kneading for 4-5 minutes with your hands until it forms a maleable dough. It should not stick to your hands, if it feels very sticky add some extra flour. Cover with a cloth and leave to rest for 15min.

• After 15 minutes of resting, divide the prepared dough in 4 equal portions. Roll the dough with your hands into a ball and then flatten it with the palm of your hands until getting a flat disc. Make sure not to press it down too much as it will become too thin like a normal corn tortilla. You want it about twice as thick as a normal tortilla

• Take a large skillet or comal, spray with extra virgin olive oil and bring to medium high heat. Cook your gorditas for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden. Remove from heat, and slice them with a sharp knife in half without reaching the bottom. Now it is time to stuff them with your favourite fillings! If you are using cheese, return them to the skillet for a couple more minutes so it melts.

FAQS and Tips

• You can use other cheeses of your choice such as cheddar or emmental

• The dough can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge for up to two days wrapped in cling film