How to Make Gorditas
How to Make Gorditas
January 6, 2025
Gorditas, aka thick corn tortillas with a pocket stuffed with fillings, are one of our favorite ways to cook with masa harina. Their golden, lightly charred crust yields to a fluffy, molten masa center. Stuff them full of whatever leftover guisos or ingredients you have lying around and you have the perfect handheld (if messy) meal for next-to-nothing. Taco Bell could never.
There’s more than one way to make gorditas, but for our purposes, let’s keep it simple.
1. Make Your Masa
Mix equal parts masa harina and warm water until it feels like Play Doh. (Some people like to add lard or salt, and to that we say: you do you, boo.)
2. Press Your Patty
Roll a racquetball-sized ball of masa and flatten it into a thick disc using your hands or a tortilla press lined with plastic.
3. Get it Crispy
Cook each patty on a heated and lightly oiled comal until each side is golden and crisp. Remove the patty from the skillet and let it cool slightly.
4. Stuff it Good
Use a knife to split the gordita halfway around the edge, creating a pocket. Stuff it with whatever filling you like: refried beans, beef picadillo, sautéed mushrooms, potatoes with chorizo, etc.
5. Gild the Lily
Add whatever toppings you’d like: we’re partial to shredded lettuce, queso fresco, crema, and salsa. Provecho!
All Comments
Hi Danielle! You’ll want to cook them for 4–6 minutes on medium heat, flipping often. To check for a raw center, press lightly—if it feels dense or squishy, it needs more time. You can also tear one open; the masa inside should look fluffy and cooked, not sticky. Let us know if you have any additional questions. 😊
For gorditas, pupusas, and other thick masa-based dishes, how long should they be cooked on the comal? How can I tell if the interior masa is fully cooked or still raw?
Hola Nat! Puede ser que las gorditas estaban muy gruesas o que necesitaban más tiempo en el comal. Prueba haciendo la masa un poquito más hidratada y dándoles una forma gruesa pero no tanto, para que se cocinen bien por dentro. Cocínalas a fuego medio con poquito aceite y voltéalas varias veces para que queden bien parejitas. También puedes taparlas un ratito para que el vapor ayude a cocerlas por dentro. Inténtalo y nos cuentas cómo te va!
Trate de hacer gorditas con la masa en el comal que compre de aquí también y no se cocinaron bien de adentro y afuera estaban muy crispy. No se que hice mal
Hi Mike! Thanks so much for the kind words! To achieve a crispy layer on your gorditas, use medium heat so they crisp without burning. Make sure they’re thick enough to puff, and let the masa rest 10-20 minutes after mixing to hydrate fully. Flip gently to keep the crispy exterior intact. Let us know if this helps!