Masa Potato And Cheese Snacks Oaxaca Style Recipes

TAMALES OAXAQUEñOS (OAXACAN-STYLE TAMALES)

Steps:

• Beat 9 ounces lard in a large bowl with an electric mixer until creamy. Add salt and continue beating for a few minutes. Add masa harina and beat well until combined. Add chicken broth, 1/4 cup at a time, beating until masa has a smooth and workable consistency similar to cookie dough, about 3/4 cup total. Test if the masa is ready by dropping a small ball of masa into a glass of cold water; if it floats, it's ready, if not, beat the dough a little longer.
• Combine tomatillos, ancho chile pepper, mulato chile pepper, garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano in a blender; blend until smooth.
• Heat remaining 2 ounces lard in a skillet and cook tomatillo sauce until lightly thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add shredded chicken and a little of the remaining chicken broth. Cook over low heat until chicken filling has thickened, about 10 minutes.
• Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons masa mixture onto 1 banana leaf, filling it up to 2 inches from the bottom and 1/4 inch from the top. Add 1 tablespoon of the chicken filling in the center of the masa mixture. Fold sides of banana leaf together, one over the other. Fold the bottom of the banana leaf over the seam of the 2 folded sides and tie together with kitchen string. Repeat with remaining banana leaves.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add tamales with the open side up and cook until filling is heated through and separates from the leaf, 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. Let tamales rest for 15 minutes before serving.

TRADITIONAL MEXICAN MOLLETES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Remove some of the bread from the middle of bread halves to accommodate more toppings. Spread about 1 teaspoon butter on each half.
• Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons warmed refried beans on bread. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup Borden® Cheddar and Monterey Jack shredded cheese on the beans. Place bread halves on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the bread is crispy, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Top molletes with Mexican salsa or pico de gallo.

MASA QUESADILLAS WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the dough. Then, dampen your hands with water, and mix the dough with the salt, working it very well until soft. Form the dough into 16 small balls of equal size. Using a tortilla press, put 1 piece of plastic on the open press and lay 1 ball in the center. Put a second piece of plastic on top of the dough, and lower the handle to press out a 3 1/2- to 4-inch circle. Peel off the top piece of plastic. 2. Put a small slice of cheese on 1/2 of the circle, but not too close to the edge. Add a few shreds of epazote or cilantro and about 3 thin slices of serrano on top. Lift the plastic and gently fold the dough together so that the edges meet. Press to seal the edges together, and peel off the plastic. Put the filled quesadilla on a lightly floured baking pan, and cover to prevent drying out. Repeat with the remaining dough. 3. Heat oil to a depth of 1/4 inch in a medium skillet until it shimmers. Fry the quesadillas, 2 at a time, until golden brown on both sides, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and serve at once. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

POTATO MASA CAKES

Steps:

• 1. In a small saucepan, cook the potato in salted water to cover until very tender, about 8 minutes. Drain and mash potato with the butter while still hot. Cool until lukewarm. 2. In a mixing bowl, using clean hands, mix the masa harina, salt, and water together to make a soft dough. If too dry, add additional water 1 to 2 teaspoons at a time until the dough is moist and soft, but not sticky. Add the mashed potato and work it into the masa with your hands. Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces and form into balls. 3. Put 1 ball between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and gently press and pat lightly with your hands to make a 4-inch round cake about 1/3-inch thick. 4. Preheat the oven to 200°. In an 8-inch nonstick skillet, heat about 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Remove the plastic and fry the cake until golden brown and crisp on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Put on a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while shaping and frying the remaining cakes. Serve hot. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MASA SNACKS, VERACRUZ STYLE

Steps:

• 1. Form the masa dough into 18-to-20 equal balls of about 1 ounce each. Using a tortilla press, place a piece of plastic on the open tortilla press, and put 1 masa ball in the center. Lay another piece of plastic on top of the ball. Lower the handle to press into a 3-inch circle. 2. Heat a small dry skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Peel the plastic off the masa patty and pan-bake 15 seconds, turn over and cook another 15 seconds. Remove from the pan and quickly pinch up the edge of the partially baked masa to form a tiny rim of about 1/4 inch all around. Cover with a kitchen towel to keep moist. Repeat with the remaining balls. Reserve the shells while preparing the tomato sauce. 3. In a medium skillet, heat the oil and cook the onion, garlic, and serrano chile. In a blender, blend the roasted tomatoes and cilantro. Add to the skillet, and cook until the mixture thickens and is nearly dry. Season with salt. The topping can be made ahead and stored refrigerated up to 2 days. 4. In the same skillet used for cooking the masa patties, heat enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan. When the oil shimmers, fry the reserved picada shells on both sides until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Top each picada with about 1 tablespoon of the tomato sauce. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of cheese on top, and serve at once while still warm. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MASA QUESADILLAS WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Prepare the dough. Then, dampen your hands with water, and mix the dough with the salt, working it very well until soft. Form the dough into 16 small balls of equal size. Using a tortilla press, put 1 piece of plastic on the open press and lay 1 ball in the center. Put a second piece of plastic on top of the dough, and lower the handle to press out a 3 1/2- to 4-inch circle. Peel off the top piece of plastic. 2. Put a small slice of cheese on 1/2 of the circle, but not too close to the edge. Add a few shreds of epazote or cilantro and about 3 thin slices of serrano on top. Lift the plastic and gently fold the dough together so that the edges meet. Press to seal the edges together, and peel off the plastic. Put the filled quesadilla on a lightly floured baking pan, and cover to prevent drying out. Repeat with the remaining dough. 3. Heat oil to a depth of 1/4 inch in a medium skillet until it shimmers. Fry the quesadillas, 2 at a time, until golden brown on both sides, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and serve at once. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MASA POTATO AND CHEESE SNACKS, OAXACA STYLE

Steps:

• 1. In a medium saucepan, boil the potatoes in water to cover until very tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain well, and put in a wide shallow bowl. Coarsely and gently break up the potatoes with a fork. Cool the potatoes to room temperature, and allow the steam to dissipate. 2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix the masa harina with the water. With clean hands, work the dough together until smooth and soft but not sticky. Cover with plastic wrap to prevent drying. 3. Put the cotija cheese in a food processor bowl, and pulse until finely crumbled. Add the prepared masa dough and salt. Pulse to mix. Add the potato and pulse to combine with the dough. The dough should be soft but not sticky. (Add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, if too stiff.) 4. Remove the dough to a flat working surface, and divide the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Cover with plastic wrap. To form the molotes, press 1 ball of dough into a 3-inch circle and put 1 stick of the cheese across the center. Wrap the dough around to enclose the cheese. Seal the ends well, with no cheese peeking through, and gently shape the molote to resemble a torpedo. Lay the molote on a baking sheet and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Repeat with remaining dough. 5. In a medium skillet, heat 1 inch of vegetable oil until hot. Fry the molotes, 3 or 4 at a time, frequently turning them, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Keep warm in a 200° oven. Serve warm. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.