Gorditabread Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the masa harina, salt and hot water. Gradually mix in the shortening and flour. If the dough seems dry, add a little more hot water. Form the dough into balls that will fit into the palm of your hand.
• Line a work surface with waxed paper or plastic. Sprinkle with water. Flatten balls on the wet surface until about 1/4 inch thick.
• Heat a griddle or comal over medium heat. Cook the gorditas on each side until they are cooked through.
• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium to medium-high heat until hot. Fry each gordita until puffed, pressing it down into the oil occasionally with a spatula. Drain briefly on paper towels, cut the tips off and stuff full of your favorite foods.

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, baking powder and shortening; mix until shortening is blended. Add water; mix well.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board; knead until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Roll dough into a ball; place into a plastic bag.
• Separate and roll out enough dough to make six 4- to 6-inch thin, flat rounds.
• In a cast iron skillet, heat oil to 375 degrees F.
• Place rounds in oil; cook each side 20 to 30 seconds or until light golden brown.
• Use a slotted spoon to remove rounds from skillet; drain on paper towel.
• Fill with prepared fillings as desired.

Steps:

• Combine corn masa flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Add a little water at a time until a firm dough forms. Divide dough into equal pieces and roll between your hands to form small balls. Press dough into 1/4-inch circles.
• Heat a griddle or comal over medium heat. Add dough circles to the hot griddle and cook until light brown, slightly inflated, and cooked on the outsides, about 3 minutes per side.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Pan-fry gorditas in batches, if necessary, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix masa harina and lard. Slowly add in the stock while mixing. Mix the salt and garlic powder into the flour and then add to the Masa mixture. Knead the mixture in the bowl for 2-3 minutes.
• Pull off pieces of dough and roll in your hands to form a golf-ball sized ball. Lightly coat the balls with flour and place between to two pieces of cellophane or use a tortilla press. Roll or press the balls until the gorditas are about 1/4 inch thick.
• Heat a comal (or a griddle) until hot. Cook the gordita for about one minute on each side, or until it is cooked through.
• Heat the oil over medium heat. Place the cooked gorditas in the oil one at a time and cook until the gordita puffs up. Drain on paper towels.
• Slice an opening in one end to open the pocket and stuff with your favorite fillings such as meat and beans.

Steps:

• Combine the corn dough and 1 cup water, adding the water little by little until the dough is soft, smooth and doesn't stick to fingers. Take 3/4 cup dough and roll into a ball, then flatten into a 1/2-inch thick round disk. Place on a hot flat-top or in a cast-iron skillet for 4 minutes to form a crust. Flip and repeat on the other side. Using a knife, poke into the edge of the gordita, opening up one-third of the inside, making it into a pocket. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Set aside, covered, while making the filing. Pour the vegetable oil on the flat-top or in the cast-iron skillet. Remove the chorizo from its casing and crumble onto the hot oil. Cook for 1 minute, releasing the spices. Add the poblano peppers, garlic, tomatoes and onions. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Spread a spoonful of the refried beans inside a gordita. Add the chorizo/vegetable mixture and garnish with lettuce, sliced tomatoes and queso fresco.

Steps:

• Divide the masa into 6 balls. Press each one between 2 sheets of plastic wrap to form 6inch rounds about 1/8inch thick. Heat a dry non-stick pan or well-seasoned griddle pan over medium heat. Toast the gorditas, turning frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until speckled and golden on the outside and puffy. Set aside for up to 6 hours before finishing the dish.
• In a large, heavy saucepan or deep fat fryer, heat 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350 degrees. Deep fry the gorditas, in batches, until golden brown. When cool enough to handle, split open like pita bread and fill the pockets with either Carne Asada or Grilled Fish and White Bean fillings.

Steps:

• To make the chicharrón prensado, toast the chiles in a dry skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, for about 2 minutes; they should be richly aromatic but not burned. Put in a blender with the garlic, onion, and 2 cups water, and blend until very smooth, about 2 minutes.
• In a large pot combine the carnitas with pork skin and the salsa over low heat. Cook for about 20 minutes, stirring constantly, or until the salsa is reduced enough to thickly coat the meat. You shouldn't need to add any salt here, as the carnitas should be well seasoned.
• Place all the ingredients in a blender and purée until smooth (some people prefer a coarse purée). Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
• Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, using a spoon to mash the avocados into the other ingredients. It's up to you how much to mash-I like mine pretty lumpy!
• To make the gordas, knead the masa with the lard or oil until it's fully incorporated (it's impossible to overwork masa since there's no gluten, and in fact it only improves in quality the more you work it). Separate the masa into 8 equal portions and roll into balls. Place a ball between two sheets of plastic (cut from a plastic bag) and flatten to create a ½-inch-thick tortilla shape with a tortilla press or with this cookbook. Repeat for all the balls.
• Heat a griddle or large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add as many gordas as will comfortably fit in the skillet. Cook for about 20 minutes, flipping every 3 minutes or so. They should get golden brown on the outside, with some charred specks; reduce the heat if they brown too quickly. They're done when the inside is soft and fluffy, and the outside crisp and crunchy. (Gordas are best straight from the griddle, but can be kept in a 250ºF oven until ready to serve, if necessary.)
• Slice open the gordas three-fourths of the way around, then fill each pocket with about 2 tablespoons of the chicharrón prensado, then queso, onion, cilantro, salsa, guacamole, and lime to taste.