Gorditas

Making your own Mexican Gorditas at home is super easy! These little corn cakes made from masa dough have a little pocket in the middle for all sorts of delicious fillings! These are real, authentic, homemade gorditas!

Mexican Gorditas

Ingredients

  • 2 cups masa harina (nixtamalized maize flour)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons margarine (melted), or lard
  • 1 cup hot water (or more)
  • 2 tomatoes , peeled, seeded and crushed
  • 1 onion , chopped
  • 2 red bell peppers , finely chopped
  • 4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • Juice of half a lime
  • ⅔ lb ground beef
  • 1 clove garlic , chopped
  • 1 teaspoon chilli powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 onion , chopped
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 green bell pepper , cut into strips
  • A few leaves lettuce , chopped
  • A few leaves cilantro
  • A few slices chorizo

Method

  1. Mix the maize flour and salt.
  2. Add the margarine (or lard).
  3. Add the water gradually while mixing and kneading until a soft and homogeneous dough is formed.
  4. Divide the dough into 12 or 14 balls and cover them. Let stand 15 minutes.
  5. Using a tortilla press, rolling pin or by hand, press each ball between two sheets of parchment paper (or plastic wrap) to form a circle about 5 inch diameter and ¼ inch thick.
  6. To bake the gorditas, put each of them on a preheated comal (hot griddle or a pan) coated with oil.
  7. Bake each side for 2 to 3 minutes, until lightly browned and fully baked inside.
  8. Once all the gorditas are baked, take each of them and cut them on one side with a knife soaked in water each time. Only half of the tortilla should be cut to fit inside, like a pita sandwich.
  9. Preheat the oven to 250 F.
  10. Line a baking dish with parchment paper. Place the gorditas on the dish and cover them.
  11. Place the dish in the oven, halfway up, to keep them warm.
  12. In a bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly and set aside in the refrigerator.
  13. In a skillet, heat the olive oil on low heat, and sauté the onion and green pepper for 10 minutes.
  14. Add the ground beef, sprinkle with thyme, garlic and cook for another 10 minutes over medium-low heat, stirring regularly.
  15. Season with salt and black pepper. Set aside.
  16. Heat the sauce slightly.
  17. Stuff each tortilla with the garnish, sauce, salad, cilantro and chorizo.

Serves: 12 Preparation time: 1 hour 30 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes