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Bocoles
Filled masa cakes
Bocoles: Huasteca thick griddled masa cakes split and filled with black beans and cheese
Bocoles are breakfast across the Huasteca, the green hill country shared by Veracruz, San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas, where they come off the comal at dawn to be split open and stuffed. The masa is enriched with fat (traditionally pork lard; vegetable shortening here keeps them vegetarian) so the cakes are tender and slightly crumbly. Fill them with beans, cheese and salsa, or with scrambled egg. If you keep a vegetarian kitchen, note that ranch-style fresh cheese is usually set with animal rennet; a vegetarian queso fresco or feta does the same job. Chef's tip: cook them slowly over a medium-low heat so the thick centre cooks through before the outside burns.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the bocoles
- 10 ½ oz masa harina
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water
For the filling
- 9 oz refried black beanswarmed
- 5 ½ oz queso fresco (vegetarian)crumbled
- ¾ cup salsa roja
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rub the 2 ⅛ oz vegetable shortening, softened into the 10 ½ oz masa harina and ¾ tsp salt with your fingertips, then add the 1 ½ cups warm water gradually and knead for 3 minutes into a soft, smooth dough.
5 minStep 2: Divide into 8 balls and pat each between your palms, or press lightly, into a cake 9 cm across and 1.5 cm thick. Smooth any cracks at the edges with a wet finger.
8 minStep 3: Cook on a dry comal or heavy pan over a medium-low heat for 6–7 minutes a side, until firm, golden-brown and hollow-sounding when tapped. Cooking them too fast over a high heat leaves a raw, pasty middle.
14 minStep 4: While still hot, slit each bocol along one side to make a pocket, like a pitta.
3 minStep 5: Fill with the warm 9 oz refried black beans, 5 ½ oz queso fresco (vegetarian) and a spoonful of ¾ cup salsa roja and serve at once.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 16 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 26 g
- Fibre
- 9 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bocoles take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of refried black beans?
- Kidney or pinto beans, same amount.
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