Bacon Serrano Gorditas

It's true, the term Gordita roughly translates as "little fat one" and they are typically served up as hefty masa cakes that are much thicker than conventional tortillas.

But I like them best when they are a bit thinner than the conventional sizing, and this Bacon Serrano Gordita recipe is a good example of that style.

Instead of cutting them open and adding the fillings after they've been cooked, we're going to add the bacon and serrano directly to the masa dough.  Sound crazy?!

How To Make Bacon Gorditas

It's a good trick to have in your arsenal but keep in mind that you are the master of your Gorditas -- if you want them thicker then go for it!  I just prefer them when the filling-to-masa ratio is high and adding the fillings directly to the masa dough makes it easy to control this.

Gorditas are typically made with lard and this helps keep them moist as they cook -- and it definitely makes them taste better!

Lately, I've been substituting bacon drippings for lard more often (see Flour Tortillas Made With Bacon Fat) and these Gorditas are a great way to add that trick to your repertoire.

As usual, I'll be taking full advantage of the oven in this recipe, but you can always cook the bacon (and tomatillos) any way that you prefer.

The tomatillos are for the homemade Salsa.  Dipping Gorditas in homemade Salsa is a real treat so don't skip this step!

I had every intention of making a traditional Salsa Verde with this batch, but lately I can't get enough of the Tomatillo-Chipotle Salsa so I switched at the last moment.  The Tomatillo-Chipotle Salsa is a smoky delight that combines well with the corn flavor, but Salsa Verde would be an equally good option if that sounds more appealing to you.

The bacon needs about 20 minutes in a 350F oven to fully cook and while that is usually a bit longer than I roast tomatillos, it's close enough!

Here's what this batch looked like after 20 minutes:

The parchment paper is helpful with clean-up and it also makes it easy to pour the bacon fat into a container.

You'll get about 2-3 tablespoons of fat from 4-5 pieces of bacon.  This recipe calls for using 2 tablespoons but you can always back off a little if you want a lighter version.

If you have leftovers you can add it to a Mason jar and store it in the fridge.

You're going to need some Masa Harina too!

It's the quickest way to get masa dough in the house.  Sure, you could make your own masa dough, or if you're lucky you can buy freshly made masa from a local Hispanic market, but Masa Harina is the solution for most of us.

Lately, I've been using Bob's Red Mill, but Maseca is an equally good option (see comparison of Masa Harina brands).

In a mixing bowl combine:

2 cups Masa Harina
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder

Add 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings along with 1 cup warm water.

Combine as much as you can with a spoon and then dump it on a work surface.

Next we'll add the remaining 1/2 cup of water incrementally until a cohesive dough is formed.

It can take some fiddling to get the consistency right so don't fret if your first batch comes out wonky.  Just keep in mind that you can always save it by using these masa shortcuts:

If the dough is crumbly you need a bit more water.  If the dough is sticky then it has too much water and the remedy is a light dusting of Masa Harina.

Finely chop the bacon and a single serrano pepper.  Add them to the masa dough and combine well.

You can substitute a jalapeno and still get a good result, but I used a serrano because they are smaller and that makes it more efficient to add their flavor and heat to the masa dough.

I usually flatten the Gorditas down to about 1/4" thickness using a baking dish:

And that is starting with about this much masa dough:

You'll know if you have the dough consistency right when you peel off the plastic.

If it peels off easily with no sticking then you've nailed it.

Note that you can use plastic wrap to surround the dough balls, but I find it easiest to use a Ziploc bag with the top cut off and the sides cut open.  I usually leave the bottom part of the Ziploc connected.

Okay, time to cook them!

You can see all the various cooking methods in the original Gorditas post, but the jist is that I like them best when they are cooked first in a dry skillet and then shallow-fried to make them semi-crispy.

So yes, you'll need two pans but I think it's worth it.

It depends a little on how thick they are, but typically they'll need about 2-3 minutes per side in the dry skillet (or until light brown spots are forming).

And then about 1-2 minutes in a thin layer of oil to crisp them up.

Sometimes I will only cook one side in the oil but it depends a little on how much oil is in the pan.

You'll get 5-6 Gorditas from this recipe but before you eat them you still need to finish the Salsa.  Dipping the Gorditas in the Salsa is a real treat so no skimping!

Simply add the roasted tomatillos to a blender along with:

2 chipotles in adobo (stems and seeds removed)
2 peeled garlic cloves

And then give it a whirl.  If it doesn't combine readily you can add a splash of water.

And now it's time to eat!

If all went according to plan you've got some scrumptious, hearty Gorditas that are moist, semi-crispy, and packed with real flavor.

And of course, dipping them in some homemade Salsa is the killer final touch.

So good!

These Bacon Serrano Gorditas are a real treat but don't forget that you are the Gordita master -- if you prefer them thicker then feel free to go full Gordita.

Just keep this version in mind if you want a skinny fat one.  Would that be called a Gordita Flaca?!

Buen Provecho.

Our latest post is this delicious Roasted Tomato and Tomatillo Salsa.