Found in the beautiful land of Oaxaca, memelas are thick and handmade tortillas made from masa, a type of dough used in Mexican cuisine. These delectable treats are slightly thicker than a tortilla and are a great vessel for a variety of toppings. Among the many recipes to make memelas, the traditional ones are topped with black and red beans, paired with a side of queso fresco for a tangy kick, and drizzled with a flavorful charred tomato sauce.
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MEXICAN MEATBALLS WITH RED CHILE TOMATO SAUCE AND QUESO FRESCO
Steps:
- For the red chile tomato sauce: Heat the oil in a 12-inch high-sided saute pan over high heat. Cook the onions and jalapenos until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds, and then stir in the chili powder and coriander and cook 1 minute. Pour in 1 cup water and cook until reduced. Mix in the chipotles and tomatoes and bring a boil, and then reduce to a simmer and cook until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper and honey, if using. Whisk in the crema, followed by the cilantro, and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
- For the mexican meatballs: Grind the cubed meats using a hand-operated meat grinder fit with a medium dye. Combine the ground meats with the garlic and egg in a large bowl, and then add in 1/4 cup of the cilantro, the cheese, New Mexico chili powder, Mexican oregano, cumin and cayenne pepper. Gently mix together until combined. Begin mixing in the breadcrumbs, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture holds together. Mix in some salt and black pepper, and form the meat into 2-inch balls. Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Cook the meatballs, turning occasionally, until brown all over, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the chicken stock and cook until the liquid is mostly reduced and the meatballs are just cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes longer. Transfer to a serving platter and top with the Red Chile Tomato Sauce, queso fresco and additional cilantro leaves.
VINE-RIPE TOMATO SALAD WITH QUESO FRESCO, CILANTRO, AND SERRANO
Steps:
- Slice tomatoes about 1/4-inch thick and arrange on a plate with the sliced onions. Place the sliced chile alongside the tomatoes and sprinkle the cilantro on top and around the plate. Crumble the queso fresco on top.
- In a bowl combine the oregano, oil, and vinegar and mix well. Drizzle the vinaigrette on top just before serving. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
MEMELAS WITH QUESO FRESCO AND CHARRED TOMATO SAUCE
Categories Cheese Tomato Fry Cocktail Party Cinco de Mayo Hot Pepper Spring Cilantro Hominy/Cornmeal/Masa Gourmet
Yield Makes 16 hors d'oeuvres
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Make tomato sauce:
- Preheat broiler.
- Broil tomatoes and chiles in a foil-lined small shallow baking pan 2 to 3 inches from heat, turning frequently, until lightly charred on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes for chiles, 12 to 15 minutes for tomatoes (flesh should be soft). Alternatively, char vegetables in a hot well-seasoned griddle or cast-iron skillet over moderate heat.
- Core tomatoes and stem chiles, then purée with onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste, in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot ingredients).
- Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until just hot. Stir 1/2 cup tomato sauce into oil (this reduces spattering), then, when bubbling vigorously, add remaining sauce.
- Fry, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro and salt to taste.
- Prepare memelas:
- Stir together masa harina, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and water in a large bowl with a wooden spoon until it forms a dough. Knead in bowl with heel of hand 1 to 2 minutes.
- Divide dough into 16 pieces and roll each into a 1 1/2-inch ball.
- Roll balls into 3-inch-long logs. Transfer logs as formed to a plastic-wrap-lined tray and cover with more plastic wrap.
- Heat a well-seasoned large cast-iron griddle or skillet over moderately high heat until hot.
- Cut 2 (5-inch) squares from a small plastic bag and use 1 to line lower half of tortilla press. Put a log of dough in press and top with second square of plastic. Close press, pushing gently on lever to flatten dough to a 4- by 3- by 3 1/2-inch oval. If press doesn't flatten evenly, rotate tortilla 180 degrees and gently flatten again. (Alternatively, use a rolling pin to flatten dough between squares of plastic.)
- Remove plastic and cook oval on hot griddle until a skin forms and some small golden spots appear, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Make more ovals, cooking 3 or 4 at a time.
- Remove memelas from heat and, when cool enough to handle, form sides: Beginning 1/2 inch from edge of each memela and working all around it, push undercooked masa toward edge with your thumb and pinch up to form a 1/4-inch side. Then pinch up masa in center of memela in several places. If dough still seems very raw, cook memelas upside down on hot griddle 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons cheese on each memela and top with 1 to 2 tablespoons tomato sauce. Heat filled memelas, 4 at a time, on hot griddle until bubbling, about 3 minutes. Serve hot.
MEMELAS
Similar to sopes or huaraches, memlas are grilled thin masa cakes topped with beans, salsa, cabbage, guacamole and cheese. The toppings vary from recipe to recipe and its a good recipe to improvise using your favorites.
Provided by AlainaF
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 25m
Yield 16 memelas
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Prepare Sauce: Broil the tomatoes and green chile(s) about 2-3" from the coils, on both sides. Peel tomatoes and chiles, core tomatoes, puree with onion in food processor with a little salt.
- Heat oil in frying pan over medium high heat, pour in sauce, a little first, then the rest, heat bubbling until it thickens 2-5 minutes. Add coriander
- Memelas: Mix 1/2 tsp salt, 2 cups masa harina and 1 1/3 cups of water with a wooden spoon Turn into a nice dough.
- Divide into 16 pieces
- Heat frying pan over medium high heat
- Roll out memelas to about 3" x 4" between sheets or parchment, wax paper or plastic.
- Fry 3-4 at a time until lightly golden on each side
- If possible, shape them into little dishes with raised edges
- Sprinkle cheese on each memela, spoon on sauce, heat them in a 350F oven for 2-3 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 65.4, Fat 1.5, SaturatedFat 0.2, Sodium 148.3, Carbohydrate 12.2, Fiber 1.3, Sugar 0.8, Protein 1.6
BAKED QUESO FRESCO WITH TOMATILLO SAUCE
This recipe was posted in the Houston Chronicle. A great appetizer for football and holiday season. It came from the chef at Prairie View A & M University.
Provided by PanNan
Categories Cheese
Time 50m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil.
- Remove husks from tomatillos.
- Boil tomatillos for about two minutes or until soft.
- Remove tomatillos from water and place in a blender or food processor.
- Add garlic, cilantro, lime juice, avocado, jalapeño and salt.
- Purée until smooth.
- Place cheese in ovenproof serving dish.
- Pour sauce over cheese and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and serve with tortilla chips.
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients: The fresher the ingredients, the better the memelas will taste.
- Make the masa dough ahead of time: The masa dough can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
- Use a heavy skillet: A heavy skillet will help to evenly cook the memelas.
- Cook the memelas in a little bit of oil: A little bit of oil will help to prevent the memelas from sticking to the skillet.
- Top the memelas with your favorite toppings: Queso fresco, charred tomato sauce, shredded chicken, and black beans are all great options.
Conclusion:
Memelas are a delicious and versatile Mexican dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are easy to make and can be customized with a variety of toppings. Whether you are looking for a quick and easy meal or a special occasion dish, memelas are sure to please.
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