Masa Snacks Veracruz Style Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion; cook and stir until onions begin to turn translucent, 6 to 7 minutes.
• Cook and stir in garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add capers and caper juice; stir to combine.
• Stir in tomatoes, olives, jalapeno pepper, . Cook and stir until jalapeno pepper softens and tomatoes begin to collapse, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in oregano.
• Drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil into a small baking dish. Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon of the tomato-olive mixture. Top with 1 snapper fillet, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Top with more filling and juice from 1 lime. Repeat with remaining snapper fillet, seasoning, and lime juice in a second baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until fish is flaky and no longer translucent, 15 to 20 minutes.

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.