You’re craving Mexican food, but you don’t want to eat at a restaurant. Huaraches are the perfect solution for those days when you just can’t get out of the house. They’re easy to make, and they taste delicious!
Huaraches Food is here to help with your cravings. We offer a variety of huarache dishes that will satisfy any appetite, and all recipes come from authentic Mexican cuisine. Our site also provides cooking tips and videos so you can learn how to make these tasty dishes yourself!
What Is Huaraches Food?
Huaraches food is a Mexican dish that features fried masa dough called huarache, topped with different ingredients. Huaraches are a type of traditional Mexican food that is eaten primarily in the morning hours. Huaraches are often served as an appetizer or snack.
These dishes generally consist of doughy pieces of masa, topped with beans and fresh cheese (which has been sautéed until it becomes crispy on the outside).
They are often served on wood, which has been covered in raw mesquite bark. This gives the diner something akin to wear as he sits down.
The word “huarache” comes from the Nahuatl word for sandal (huārachi). The name of the dish comes from the similarity between its shape and that of sandals. The name of these dishes comes from the word “huarache,” which is Spanish for sandal or moccasin.”
Huaraches are typically eaten for breakfast but can, depending on region and family custom, be eaten at other times of the day. Huaraches can be made with either cornflour or wheat flour dough, which is then deep-fried in lard to make it crispy outside while remaining soft inside.
Toppings typically include beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato salsa, and avocado slices, among other things like beefsteak tomatoes or pork rinds. It is usually served topped with Mexican cream, crumbled fresh cheese, and salsa.
Huaraches are traditionally made using nixtamalized masa Harina which is corn treated with an alkaline solution. It is the most common calcium hydroxide or “cal” (also known as “slaked lime”) to increase the bioavailability of essential amino acids, particularly lysine.
What results in a dough that can be used for the traditional corn tortilla but has greater strength and digestibility than untreated corn masa Harina? Nixtamalization requires grinding the dry corn kernels into masa flour before adding water to form a dough.
The process is usually done by machine, but it can also be done by hand. Traditionally this was once an extremely labor-intensive process due to the hard, dry kernels requiring a good deal of chewing/crushing before forming a dough. In modern times this has been streamlined, and a machine can churn out fresh masa dough in mere minutes.
Homemade Huaraches Food Recipes
Huaraches Ingredients
- 1 can of Masa Harina
- 1 cup of warm water
- Kosher salt, to taste
- 3 cups refried beans, heated
- Vegetarian meat substitute, seasoned with an adobo spice mix to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
- 2 cups Mexican blend cheese or vegan cheese, shredded
Huaraches Instructions
Step 1: Make The Masa Dough
In a large bowl, add in the tablespoon of salt and slowly add in warm water. Mix until combined, and dough becomes sticky and moist but not runny.
You always need more than 1 cup of water to achieve this texture – it wants to be your typical “dough” feeling.
Add in an additional tablespoon or two if necessary. Slowly add in the Masa Harina and mix until combined. Cover dough with a towel and set aside for 1 hour to rest.
Step 2: Make The Huarache Shapes
Once your dough is ready, it’s time to make the huarache shapes! Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a nonstick pan. Add approximately 1/2 cup of masa dough and spread and flatten with a fork to achieve a 5-inch circle.
Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown and well cooked. Keep the cooked huaraches stacked in between parchment paper or towels, so they stay soft and warm while you cook the rest.
Step 3: Assemble Huarache
Once all your huaraches are cooked, add a line of refried beans down the center of each one. Add a line of seasoned meat substitutes onto the beans. Top with a sprinkle of cheese and roll up burrito style.
Serve immediately with sour cream or guacamole.
Toppings To Serve With Huaraches
- Sliced avocado
You can add sliced avocado to your huaraches, then drizzle with lime juice, chili powder, and sprinkle with salt.
- Mexican crema or sour cream
You can also top your huaraches with Mexican Crema or sour cream. Garnish the tops of the huaraches with chopped cilantro leaves if you like.
- Sliced fresh jalapeno peppers
Sliced fresh jalapenos make a nice topper for your huaraches. They add crunch and heat (very optional – I love jalapenos).
- Salsa or Pico de gallo salsa
Top your huaraches with any kind of salsa or pico de gallo salsa.
- Shredded cooked chicken, beef, or pork
Top your huaraches with some shredded beef, chicken, or pork that has been braised in a rich tomato sauce and seasoned with garlic and onions (you can add cheese to this mixture too – we like pepper jack).
- Chopped fresh cilantro
You can add chopped fresh cilantro leaves to your huaraches as a garnish. Also, very nice if you want to add some kick and flavor.
- Mexican queso fresco or shredded mild cheese (such as Monterey Jack)
Top your huaraches with Mexican queso fresco or shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
- Grilled Peppers and Onions
Slice a red onion in half, then slice into thin strips. Slice two or three green bell peppers the same way. Toss both in a bit of oil, salt, and pepper. Grill them on a hot griddle until they’re slightly charred and tender. Serve with the huaraches.
- Sliced black or green olives
Top your huaraches with sliced black or green olives. Add some sliced jalapenos, too, if you like!
- Sour cream and fresh chopped cilantro
You can add sour cream to the top of your huaraches or drizzle on top and then sprinkle with chopped cilantro leaves.
- Pickled jalapenos rings
Top your huaraches with pickled jalapeno rings (you can add these to the salsa or pico de gallo too). These add a nice crunch and flavor along with some heat. Very good!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Huaraches have a lot of calories?
A regular Huarache usually contains 300- 400 calories, but you can also order it with no cheese or cream to make it healthier. They can be a healthy option if you hold the cheese and crema. Usually, they come with beans and salsa on top, so order them without those two ingredients to make them healthier. Or hold the cheese and crema for fewer calories.
What’s the difference between Huevos Rancheros and Huaraches?
Huevos Rancheros is similar to Huaraches, but the eggs are on top of a tortilla instead of a masa base. It’s usually cut into wedges, whereas Huevos Rancheros can be eaten with a fork and knife.
What’s the difference between red and green salsa?
Chuy says that there isn’t a big difference in taste, but more of a visual difference because the red salsa is spicier than the green one. The green salsa is usually used with their Huaraches, but they both taste good.
Do they have vegan options?
Yes, they have plenty of vegetarian options on the menu. You can order their tacos with a cactus filling, or if you want to eat it like a sandwich, you can get two corn tortillas filled with beans instead of the masa base.
What sauces condiments do you offer?
Tomato salsa; Spicy tomato salsa verde; Pico de gallo salsa Fresca; Guacamole fresh guacamole mashed avocado & roasted garlic pico de gallo taco condiment mix); Bean based salsas:
- Black bean chipotle pesto sauce
- White bean feta pesto sauce
- Black bean roasted corn pesto sauce
- Red chili enchilada sauce
Is Huachines gluten-free?
Huaraches are usually prepared with white corn masa, but you can also order them with wheat flour. If you want to make them gluten-free, just order them with wheat flour.
Do I have to fry my huarache dough?
Huarache dough is not fried before cooking, so you do not need to fry your own. Huaraches are usually made with “Masa Harina” or “Masa Maizena.”
Do the Huaraches come with rice and beans?
No, Huaraches always come with just three corn tortillas. You can order them as a side dish if you want to have more food. Their tacos also come on a complimentary house-made corn tortilla.
Conclusion
Huaraches food is a traditional Mexican dish consisting of a thick corn tortilla with beans, cheese, and salsa. Huaraches food can be eaten as an appetizer or main course for lunch or dinner. It’s important to know that the flavor profile varies depending on what type of bean you use in your huarache recipe!
We recommend using our special combination: fried peppers and onions with chorizo sausage crumbled up inside to make it taste better! We hope you can cook your Huaraches food after reading our reviews in 2022.
