Picaditas Veracruzanas

These delicious masa cakes are topped with flavorful melted lard, salsas, onions, and cheese. Picaditas are for sure a Mexican snack that make you crave one after other.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups of masa harina
• 1 1/2 cup of water (adjust if needed)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cup guajillo salsa
• 1 1/2 cup salsa verde
• 1 1/2 cup queso fresco or your favorite cheese (crumbled)
• 2/3 cup onions (chopped)
• 1/2 cup melted pork lard (or bacon fat)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Make the dough ---
2. 2Combine masa harina, water, and salt in a medium bowl until a smooth and non-sticky dough forms.
3. 3Divide the dough into 20 portions and roll them into balls.
4. 4Cover them with a damp kitchen towel to prevent them from drying.
5. 5--- Make the masa cakes ---
6. 6Heat a skillet or a coat over medium-high heat until smoky hot.
7. 7Use a tortilla press or a heavy dish to press a masa ball between the two sheets of plastic until a thick disc forms (read notes).
8. 8Carefully, remove the corn cake from the plastic sheets and place it on the hot skillet.
9. 9Cook for about 1 minute then flip over and keep cooking for 2 more minutes flipping it one or two more times until brown spots form.
10. 10Place on a flat surface and immediately use a paper kitchen towel to pinch the edges and form a small ridge around the cake then pinch in the middle to form some small barriers as well.
11. 11Keep making the masa cakes in batches of 3-4, cooking, and forming the border until all masa dough balls are used.
12. 12Wrap them in a kitchen towel to keep them warm.
13. 13--- Cook, top and serve ---
14. 14Heat the lard or olive oil in a small pan and set aside.
15. 15In a pan or the same skillet you used to cook the cakes, place a batch of picaditas and drizzle a little bit of melted lard.
16. 16Add salsa (one type on each picadita), onions, and cheese on top, and finish with another drizzle of lard.
17. 17Cook for a couple of minutes just to warm up everything.
18. 18Remove the picaditas from the skillet and enjoy.