Memelas with Queso Fresco and Charred Tomato Sauce

Name: Memelas with Queso Fresco and Charred Tomato Sauce
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 16
Cuisine: Global
Ingredients: 16 servings Garnish: chopped fresh cilantro; 59 milliliters chopped fresh cilantro; 473 milliliters masa harina (masa mix) such as Maseca or Quaker; 473 milliliters 10 ounces queso fresco (Mexican fresh cheese) or feta, crumbled; 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste; 2 fresh serrano chiles or 1 jalapeño chile; 454 grams tomatoes (4 medium); 1 Tbsp vegetable oil; 315 milliliters warm water; 2 Tbsps chopped white onion

Memelas with Queso Fresco and Charred Tomato Sauce might be just the hor d'oeuvre you are searching for. This recipe serves 16. One serving contains 111 calories, 4g of protein, and 5g of fat. This recipe covers 6% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. It is a good option if you're following a gluten free and vegetarian diet. If you have garnish: cilantro, onion, salt, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes roughly 45 minutes.

Instructions

Preheat broiler.

Equipment you will use

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.

Ingredients you will need

Vegetable

Tomato

Chili Pepper

Equipment you will use

Baking Pan

Aluminum Foil

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).

Ingredients you will need

Tomato

Chili Pepper

Onion

Salt

Equipment you will use

Blender

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.

Ingredients you will need

Tomato Sauce

Sauce

Cooking Oil

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

Fry, stirring, until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in cilantro and salt to taste.

Ingredients you will need

Cilantro

Salt

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.

Ingredients you will need

Masa Harina

Dough

Water

Salt

Equipment you will use

Wooden Spoon

Bowl

Divide dough into 16 pieces and roll each into a 1 1/2-inch ball.

Ingredients you will need

Dough

Roll

Roll balls into 3-inch-long logs.

Ingredients you will need

Roll

Transfer logs as formed to a plastic-wrap–lined tray and cover with more plastic wrap.

Ingredients you will need

Wrap

Equipment you will use

Plastic Wrap

Heat a well-seasoned large cast-iron griddle or skillet over moderately high heat until hot.

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

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.)

Ingredients you will need

Tortilla

Dough

Equipment you will use

Ziploc Bags

Rolling Pin

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.

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

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.

Ingredients you will need

Dough

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

Sprinkle about 2 tablespoons cheese on each memela and top with 1 to 2 tablespoons tomato sauce.

Ingredients you will need

Tomato Sauce

Cheese

Heat filled memelas, 4 at a time, on hot griddle until bubbling, about 3 minutes.

Equipment you will use

Frying Pan

Serve hot.

·Sauce may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Ingredients you will need

Sauce

Add cilantro just before using.·Memelas may be prepared, without adding filling, 4 hours ahead, cooled completely, then chilled in a sealed plastic bag.

Ingredients you will need

Cilantro

Equipment you will use

Ziploc Bags