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

Step by stepInstructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Toast the ovals on a hot comal for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until freckled with brown spots and cooked through.
- While they are still hot, pinch the edges of each memela to form a slight rim.
- Brush each with asiento, then top with salsa, quesillo strips and a drizzle of crema.
- 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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