Masa Cakes From Veracruz Recipes

BOCOLES RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the corn flour, salt, butter, and cheese in a bowl, and stir to mix well. Once these ingredients are completely mixed, add the chopped cilantro.
• Slowly add the warm water and knead to form a soft dough, it will feel a little sticky. The total kneading time will be about 4-5 minutes. Divide the dough into 8 small balls.
• Heat the griddle over a medium heat, and, using a paper napkin, dab the surface with a little oil. These little patties sometimes tend to stick to the griddle.
• To form the patties/bocoles, place each ball of dough between two pieces of plastic, place on your tortilla maker, and gently press down to form a circle of 2-½ inches in diameter and about 1/3-in thick.
• Bocoles, corn masa cakes recipe
• Place each formed patty on the hot griddle and cook for 2-½ minutes, then turn and cook for 3-½ to 4 minutes and then turn again to cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from the griddle and cover with a kitchen napkin to keep them warm while you cook the rest of the dough.

MASA CAKES AND EGGS

Steps:

• Warm milk with butter over low heat, just until butter melts. Do not bring to a boil. Combine masa harina, sugar, salt, and cheese in a bowl. Stir in milk mixture to make a soft dough. Shape the dough into 4 portions (about 1/4 c each), and flatten slightly to make a disc shape.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat, and fry the masa cakes until crisp and golden (about 3 1/2 minutes per side). Remove and drain. Keep warm while you make the eggs.
• I highly recommend a microwave egg poacher, as it makes the eggs the perfect size and shape. But if you don't have one of those, you can poach the eggs as follows:.
• Bring a deep pan of water to a simmer (don't boil, as it will cause the eggs to disintegrate). Add 1 T white vinegar to help the eggs hold their shape.
• Break the egg into a small cup or bowl. Stir the simmering water to create a gentle whirlpool, then quickly slide the egg into the water (this helps the egg keep its shape. Poach the eggs for 3 1/2 minutes, or until the whites are set but the yolks are runny. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
• To serve, place a masa cake on plate and top with egg. Add salsa to taste (we like La Victoria's Cilantro Salsa the best for this dish). Then sprinkle with extra feta and chopped avocado.
• Enjoy!

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.

POTATO MASA CAKES WITH GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 200°. Prepare the Potato Masa Cakes, and keep warm in the oven while cooking the chicken. Rub the chicken with the 2 teaspoons of oil and season with about 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Heat a stovetop grill pan over medium-high heat and cook the chicken breasts about 4 to 5 minutes per side or until browned with grill marks on the outside, firm to the touch, and no longer pink inside at the thickest part. 2. Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook the corn with the butter, stirring, until completely heated through, 3 to 4 minutes. Reserve in the pan off heat. 3. Remove the chicken to a cutting board and slice thinly crosswise. Remove the potato cakes from the oven and put 1 cake in the center of each of 4 warm plates. Arrange the chicken strips equally on top of each potato cake and top each with some salsa and a dollop of sour cream. Spoon a portion of the corn around the cakes on each plate. Scatter chopped cilantro over all. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

MASA CORN CAKES WITH POACHED EGGS

Steps:

• See how to poach eggs
• Make the salsa: Combine the tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Make the corn cakes: Warm the milk and butter in a small saucepan over low heat just until the butter melts. Combine the masa harina, 1 teaspoon salt, the sugar and queso fresco in a large bowl. Stir in the milk mixture to make a soft dough. Scoop the dough into 8 portions (about 1/4 cup each) and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with another sheet of parchment; press a pan on top to flatten into disks.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, fry the corn cakes until crisp and golden on the bottom, about 3 1/2 minutes; flip, press lightly with a spatula and cook until golden on the other side. Continue with the remaining cakes, adding more oil as needed. Season the cakes with salt; place on a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you poach the eggs.
• Bring a deep pan of water to a simmer over medium-low heat; add the vinegar. Poach the eggs.
• Divide the corn cakes among 4 plates; top each cake with a poached egg, salsa and cheese; serve with avocado.

MASA CAKES FROM VERACRUZ

Steps:

• 1. Put the ingredients in a food processor and process until the mixture comes together to form a soft smooth dough. Remove from the processor and knead the dough by hand to test the moistness. The dough should be moist and soft, but should not stick to your hands. If too dry, moisten hands with water and work the dough until it reaches the desired consistency. Put the dough in a plastic bag and let rest for 20 to 30 minutes. 2. Heat a comal, griddle, or skillet over medium heat. Flatten egg-size balls of dough--by hand or in a tortilla press--into small cakes 2 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter and 1/4 inch thick. Cook in a large, dry pan for 3 minutes on each side or until crusty and flecked with brown in spots. Serve bocoles warm. NOTE: To stuff the bocoles: When they are hot off the pan, slit an opening with a small sharp knife and slip in a small thin piece of cheese, such as Monterey Jack, Oaxaca, or asadero. From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

OVAL MASA CAKES WITH GOAT CHEESE FILLING

Steps:

• Mix goat cheese and cilantro in medium bowl for filling. Cover; chill.
• Combine fresh masa or masa harina mixture, lard, and salt in large bowl. Knead until well blended, adding warm water by teaspoonfuls as needed until dough is soft but not sticky. Divide into 12 equal portions; shape each into ball. Arrange on sheet of foil; cover.
• Cut two 8-inch rounds from heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Place 1 plastic round on bottom half of tortilla press. Place 1 dough ball in center; top with second plastic round. Close tortilla press, gently flattening dough to 4-inch round about 1/4 inch thick. Peel off top plastic. Arrange 2 tablespoons goat cheese filling in strip in center of dough round. Using bottom plastic as aid, fold up sides of dough over filling. Using moistened fingertips, mold dough into oval, sealing filling inside. Arrange, seam side down, on sheet of aluminum foil. Repeat with remaining masa balls and filling.
• Heat 2 heavy large ungreased griddles or skillets over medium heat. Arrange 6 cakes in each. Cook until cakes are pale golden, 8 minutes per side. Transfer masa cakes to baking sheet. (Masa cakes can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Pour vegetable oil into each griddle to depth of 1/8 inch. Heat over medium-high heat 2 minutes. Add 6 masa cakes to each griddle. Fry until masa cakes are heated through and golden brown, about 4 minutes per side.
• Arrange masa cakes on platter. Spoon some tomatillo salsa over. Garnish with radishes. Serve with remaining salsa.

GORDITAS DE PILONCILLO (SWEET FRIED MASA CAKES)

Steps:

• Combine the piloncillo, cheese, and canela in a bowl and knead in the masa until uniformly distributed. Add a bit of water if it feels too dry or a little masa harina if it's too sticky. Shape the dough into 12 even balls.
• Place enough lard in a heavy pot to reach a depth of least 3 inches and heat to about 365°F. (You can check the temperature by dipping a wooden spoon in the fat; once it steadily bubbles, it's ready.) While this heats, flatten the masa rounds between your hands (you can dampen your hands very lightly so they don't stick or press down on top with a piece of plastic wrap) to about ⅛ inch thick. Slide them into the hot fat and bathe them with a spoon so they are covered with fat at all times, and turn often, frying until they are golden on all sides and make sure not to overcrowd the pan. Drain on paper bags or towels and enjoy warm. (You can keep them in a warming oven for 15 minutes.)