When it comes to Mexican cuisine, it’s impossible not to mention huaraches. After all, it’s one of the dishes that has stirred passions within the country. The typical recipe has been present since the 1930s when Carmen Gómez Medina introduced it.
Since then, it has been a star in a gastronomy that has been praised worldwide. Why not give it a try? Today, we’ll even tell you about the best way to prepare it. You’ll surely be eager to find out if it’s as good as we describe.
Origin and History of Huaraches
As mentioned, huaraches originated around the 1930s. Its creator was Mrs. Carmen Gómez Medina, a food vendor native to Mexico City:
· Gómez Medina used to experiment with new recipes to attract more customers. That’s when she started working with beans and corn to create a longer tlacoyo.
· The cook didn’t stay in one place but sold her Mexican dishes in various markets in Mexico City.
· Unlike huaraches, tlacoyos include ingredients such as tomatoes, grasshoppers, avocado, or lettuce. Also, tlacoyos have a softer and more brittle tortilla compared to huaraches.
· They were called huaraches because of their peculiar shape resembling typical sandals. Carmen made some holes in the tortilla to give them that characteristic form.
Gradually, Gómez Medina’s customers spread the word, and huaraches became more popular. Almost 90 years later, they are now part of traditional Mexican cuisine.
Ingredients and Preparation of Huaraches
The recipe for huaraches requires 1 kg of corn masa, 2 tablespoons of lard, 1 cup of refried beans, salt, and water. The preparation is as follows:
· In a bowl, mix the corn masa with half a cup of water and a tablespoon of salt. Knead until it reaches the desired consistency.
· Take the masa to make small balls the size of an apple. Flatten each ball to proceed to place the refried beans inside. Then, reshape the balls filled with beans and flatten them again. However, this time, give them an elongated shape.
· In a hot skillet, add a bit of lard. Let it heat and then place the huarache, cooking it on both sides.
Once fried, remove it, and then cook the other huaraches. As for the green sauce, you’ll need 3 green chilies, 1 jalapeño, 9 tomatoes, half an onion, 2 garlic cloves, and salt:
· Roast the chilies and tomatoes in a pan without oil until they turn golden.
· Then, place the mentioned ingredients in a blender with onion, garlic, half a liter of water, and salt. Blend them until you get a sauce with the desired consistency.
· Pour the green sauce over the huaraches when serving, then add the proteins and toppings.
You can also top the huarache with cilantro, onion, or grated cheese. Now, just enjoy this delicious dish from traditional Mexican cuisine. You can also add other proteins like chicken, pork, chorizo, or beef.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of corn masa
- 2 tablespoons of lard
- 1 cup of refried beans
- Salt to taste
- Water
- For the green sauce:
- 3 green chilies
- 1 jalapeño
- 9 tomatoes
- 1/2 onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- Salt to taste
Procedure:
- In a bowl, mix the corn masa with half a cup of water and a tablespoon of salt. Knead until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Form balls the size of an apple with the masa and flatten them. Place refried beans in the center and reshape the balls, this time giving them an elongated shape.
- In a hot skillet, add lard and heat it. Cook each huarache on both sides until golden and crispy. Repeat the process with the remaining huaraches.
- For the green sauce, roast the chilies and tomatoes in a pan without oil until golden. Then, blend the roasted chilies and tomatoes with onion, garlic, half a liter of water, and salt until you get a sauce with the desired consistency.
- Pour the green sauce over the huaraches when serving. You can add proteins like chicken, pork, chorizo, or beef.
- Personalize your huaraches with toppings like cilantro, onion, or grated cheese.
Varieties of Huaraches and Authentic Flavors
Like any dish in local gastronomy, huaraches don’t have a single way of preparation. Various recipes with their ingredients and preparation techniques can be found. For example:
· Sonoran Huaraches. Prepared with chopped pork rinds and beef tongue birria, along with red sauce. The latter is made with tomatoes, onion, and arboreal chili. The Sonoran style is one of the most appreciated in Mexican cuisine.
· With chicken milanese. These are usually prepared with cherry tomato sauce and epazote added when cooking the chicken. A spicy tomatillo sauce can also be added, and it’s a recipe that serves for both breakfast and lunch.
· Huaraches with beef. It’s a classic in traditional Mexican cuisine, including 1 pound of beef cut into strips. It’s important to marinate the meat beforehand with half an onion, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
· Campechano Huaraches. A recipe with beef and sausages cooked in a skillet before being added to the tortilla. The authentic recipe includes both red and green sauce, covered with cheese, onion, and cilantro.
In reality, there is a wide variety of recipes, and this happens with many Mexican dishes. After all, each region, town, or city tends to add some ingredient or preparation method of its own. This is what makes Mexican cuisine so diverse.
Homemade Huarache Recipe and Serving Tips
Thinking of experimenting with huarache recipes? You’ll surely treat your family or friends to a good taste. In this regard, we want to give you some tips for when you decide to make this dish:
· When serving, start by placing the huarache tortilla and then pour the sauce. Then, add proteins such as beef, pork rinds, or chorizo, and then add the toppings. The most common ones are usually grated cheese, onion, and cilantro.
· Experimenting with various proteins is something you should always do when preparing them. After all, this way, you can enjoy varied flavors in the huarache recipe. You can try with eggs, pork chop, chorizo, ribs, and many others.
· It is usually recommended that the tortillas be grilled instead of fried. This is because it reduces the calories, and you can enjoy a Mexican snack that is also very healthy.
· Mexican huaraches are considered healthy due to their ingredients. Beans are low in fat and cholesterol, and corn provides fiber to the body. Also, it is recommended to accompany them with lean proteins such as chicken or beef. This will turn it into a great source of protein.
What are you waiting for to try such an emblematic and delicious recipe from traditional Mexican cuisine? You already have all the tips. Even if cooking is not your thing, you can try it, as the preparation of this dish is straightforward.
Enjoy the Authentic Flavor of Huaraches
Would you like to try some delicious huaraches? You can always try the recipe we’ve provided. However, there’s another option—visit Barrigas Restaurant, the best place to enjoy authentic Mexican flavor with its various dishes.
If cooking is not your thing, this is the solution. On our website, you can find more information about our menu and our location. We have locations in different areas of Ciudad Juárez. Still not convinced that we are the best option for huaraches? Visit us and see for yourself.
