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Memelas

This traditional Oaxacan dish — Memelas — sits at the crossroads of tortilla and sope: thick, oval masa cakes toasted on a comal.

⏱ 40 minPrep time
🔥 20 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 AppetizerCategory
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Oaxacan memelas topped with beans, cheese and salsa

This traditional Oaxacan dish — Memelas — sits at the crossroads of tortilla and sope: thick, oval masa cakes toasted on a comal. Each one is pinched around the edges to form a little rim, then painted with asiento and crowned with salsa and quesillo. Street vendors sell them by the stack, and they are impossible to eat just one of.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Mix the masa with the salt and enough warm water to form a soft, pliable dough, and keep it covered so it does not dry out.
  2. Divide the dough into 12 balls and press each into a thick oval about 4 to 5 inches long, leaving the edges slightly thicker than the center.
  3. Toast the ovals on a hot comal for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until freckled with brown spots and cooked through.
  4. While they are still hot, pinch the edges of each memela to form a slight rim.
  5. Brush each with asiento, then top with salsa, quesillo strips and a drizzle of crema.
  6. Serve warm, straight from the comal.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Keep the dough covered at all times — dry masa cracks on the comal. For the most authentic flavor, toast the memelas directly on a well-seasoned comal with no added fat, then brush on the asiento after.

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Recipe details

Prep40 min
Cook20 min
Servings6
CategoryAppetizer
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →