Tlayudas (Oaxacan Giant Crispy Tortillas)
In short: Large crisp-toasted tortillas spread with black beans, topped with stringy Oaxaca cheese, grilled pork, cabbage, avocado and salsa. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 20 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 650 kcal
The tlayuda is the best-known street food of Oaxaca, sometimes called a Oaxacan pizza, though it is closer to a giant open taco. A very large, thin corn tortilla is toasted on a grill until crisp, spread with beans, covered with stringy Oaxaca cheese and topped with grilled meat, cabbage, avocado and tomato. It is folded in half and eaten with your hands, crunchy outside and melting inside. Vendors grill them over charcoal late into the night.
Instructions
- Rub the pork with the lime juice, garlic, chile powder and salt. Let it marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- Heat a grill or a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Grill the pork for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until cooked through and browned at the edges (at least 63°C/145°F). Rest for 5 minutes and slice thinly.
- Brush each tortilla lightly with oil. Toast it on the grill or in a skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes per side until it is crisp in spots but still bends.
- Spread a quarter of the warm beans over each tortilla, leaving a 2 cm (3/4 in) border.
- Scatter on the cheese. Cover with a lid or an upturned pan for 2 minutes, or slide under the broiler, until the cheese is melted and stringy.
- Top with the sliced pork, cabbage, tomato and avocado, then drizzle with salsa. Fold in half and serve right away.
Tips
- Cannot find tlayudas? Use the largest corn tortillas you can buy, or overlap two regular ones. Crisp them in a 200°C (400°F) oven for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Oaxaca cheese, called quesillo, melts into long strands. Low-moisture mozzarella pulled into strips is the best substitute.
Questions and answers
What is a tlayuda?
A large, thin, partly dried corn tortilla from Oaxaca, about 30 cm (12 in) wide. It is toasted until crisp and used as a base for beans, cheese and meat.
Can I make tlayudas vegetarian?
Yes. Leave out the pork and add more beans and cheese, plus sautéed mushrooms or grilled zucchini for a filling topping. Check that the refried beans are not made with lard.
What is asiento in a tlayuda?
Asiento is the unrefined pork fat left over from making chicharrón. It is spread on the tortilla in Oaxaca for flavor. A little oil and the refried beans make a fine home version.
How long does it take to make Tlayudas (Oaxacan Giant Crispy Tortillas)?
About 45 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tlayudas (Oaxacan Giant Crispy Tortillas)?
About 650 kcal per serving, with 38 g of protein, 58 g of carbohydrates and 30 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 650 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 38 g |
| Carbohydrates | 58 g |
| Fat | 30 g |
| Fiber | 13 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 1200 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
