Giant Tortillas

This may look like a pizza but it is really a tlayuda (tuh-lie-you-duh)--a Oaxacan speciality. In Mexico some 300 million tortillas are eaten each day. There are many types, sizes, etc. of tortillas and one example is the Oaxacan tlayuda pictured above. It is 12 - 14 inches in diameter and is crisp.

The base of a tlayuda is, of course, a tortilla. A tortilla is made by boiling corn kernels in water with a little lime. This mixture is then left to sit and then it is washed and ground. The result is "masa" or dough. This dough is then pressed and shaped into a circle and cooked on a griddle. Once the tortilla is made, it is time to add the toppings.

A tlayuda is delicious but at times it is best not to know exactly what is put on a typical tlayuda. Traditionally the crisp tortilla is topped with lard, then beans, then shredded cabbage, then tomatoes, avocados, quesillo which is like string cheese, and occasionally meat. A tlayuda is best eaten with friends since it is impossible to eat one and have dainty table manners because all the ingredients tend to fall off the tlayuda while you attempt to eat it.

Tlayudas are a typical Oaxacan food and can be found in restaurants and food stands around the city. Everyone seems to have their favorite and claims that this place makes the best tlayudas in the entire state of Oaxaca. Tlayuda stands normally do not open until evening and stay open far after midnight.

Care to come visit Oaxaca and try one for yourself?