These masa harina recipes range from dinner to bread and dessert. It’s the unsung hero of Mexican cuisine, responsible for tamales, tortillas, and more.
Plus, it’s a super versatile ingredient with a long shelf life, and it’s easy to store.
Maybe you’ve made tamales before or used masa harina in biscuits. But did you know you can make snacks and desserts too?
I love the flavor it lends to pancakes, and cornbread just isn’t the same without it.
Try these masa harina recipes and let me know which one you like best.
13 Easy Recipes With Masa Harina From Biscuits to Tamales
1. Masa Harina Biscuits
These biscuits are incredibly easy to make and can be served with a variety of toppings.
Enjoy them with butter and jam for breakfast, or throw on some ham and cheese for lunch.
You can even top them with eggs, bacon, and sausage for an extra hearty start to the day.
Regardless of how you enjoy them, I guarantee you’ll be hooked after just one bite.
2. Masa Harina Thumbprints with Cajeta
Thumbprint cookies are typically buttery cookies filled with fruity jam.
But this masa harina version with cajeta is too good to miss.
The cookies are deeply flavorful and not overly sweet. And that cajeta (a type of dulce de leche) is so good, you’ll want to eat it with a spoon.
3. Corn Tortillas
There’s nothing quite like a warm, fresh corn tortilla. And when they’re homemade with masa harina, they’re even better!
Masa harina is a type of flour made from ground corn that’s been soaked in lime water. This gives it a unique flavor that’s perfect for tortillas.
And believe it or not, they’re pretty effortless to make.
Fill them with beans, cheese, and salsa, or use them for tacos and enchiladas.
4. Sopes
Sopes are thick, corn cake-like tortillas. They’re deep fried and topped with plenty of yummy ingredients.
Choose from meat, vegetables, and cheese, and make them as spicy or mild as you please.
I like them with chorizo sausage, chipotle chicken, and refried beans. Yum!
5. Masa Harina Cornbread
Masa harina cornbread is super tender and explodes with incredible corn flavor.
It’s lightly sweet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add cheese, jalapeños, or herbs to the mix!
6. Mexican Gorditas de Maiz
If you’re looking for a delicious and authentic Mexican dish, these gorditas de maiz are just the ticket.
This traditional recipe features masa harina, oil, and salt and can be filled with various tasty fillings, including cheese, beans, vegetables, and meat.
The resulting gorditas are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The combination of flavors is simply irresistible.
Serve with a dollop of sour cream or salsa on top. Delish!
7. Mexican Empanadas with Masa
Mexican empanadas with masa are the perfect way to get your daily dose of carbs and protein.
Filled with beans or meat, these babies are super crispy on the outside and wonderfully fluffy in the middle.
And because they’re small, they make terrific appetizers. Serve them with some salsa and sour cream on the side.
8. Masa Torpedoes
Speaking of terrific appetizers: you need to try these crunchy masa torpedoes!
They’re kind of like jalapeño poppers and mozzarella sticks; only the coating is a dough made of masa flour, salt, garlic powder, and chili powder.
When cooked, the cheese oozes out, and the peppers offer the perfect amount of spice.
9. Red Chile Jackfruit Tamales
Chili and jackfruit might not be traditional, but these tamales speak for themselves.
The jackfruit provides a meaty texture that pairs perfectly with the spicy red chile sauce. And the masa dough is nice and light.
I like to serve these tamales with a dollop of sour cream and some chopped green onions, but they’re also great on their own
10. Pupusas
Pupusas are a type of Salvadoran flatbread stuffed with a variety of fillings.
The most common pupusa filling is cheese, but they can also be made with refried beans, chicharrones (fried pork), and more.
They’re usually served with a side of curtido (pickled cabbage and onions) and a dollop of salsa roja.
11. Blueberry Masa Harina Pancakes
These pancakes are a fun twist on a classic breakfast dish.
Blueberry masa harina pancakes have a unique, sweet, and savory flavor.
You’ll add cilantro for a fresh taste that pairs surprisingly well with the sweet berries.
Masa harina offers an excellent savory base that binds the ingredients together.
These pancakes are best served with maple syrup and butter.
12. Atole With Masa Harina
Atole is a traditional Mexican drink made with masa harina. It’s creamy, slightly sweet, and often flavored with vanilla or cinnamon.
Atole can be served hot or cold and makes an excellent accompaniment to breakfast dishes such as pancakes or waffles.
While it may not be the most widely known beverage, those who try it become instant fans.
13. Beef Chili with Masa Harina
This beef chili is the perfect comfort food for a cold winter’s night. It’s hearty and filling and has a tasty kick of heat.
The masa harina brings a unique flavor you won’t find in any other recipe.
And if you’re looking for something a little different, try topping it with a fried egg.
I guarantee you’ll be hooked after just one bite!
13 Best Ways To Cook With Masa Harina
These masa harina recipes range from dinner and bread to dessert. It’s the unsung hero of Mexican cuisine, responsible for tamales, tortillas, and more.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prep a delicious masa harina recipe in 30 minutes or less!
I bought Instant Corn Masa Flour. What can it be used for or in exchange for something else?
Hi Paula! Instant Corn Masa Flour is very similar to masa harina. So the two can sometimes be used interchangeably.
The key thing to know is that Instant Corn Masa Harina has a coarser texture, which means it usually needs more liquid.
I recommend sticking with recipes specifically made for Instant. For example, tamales and other thicker dough-based recipes work well with the coarser texture. Where recipes like tortillas, arepas, and sopes work better with smooth dough, which you get by using masa harina.
This pancake recipes specifies Instant: https://magnoliadays.com/blueberry-masa-harina-pancakes/
So does this recipe for Sopes: https://mexicanmademeatless.com/how-to-make-sopes-and-gorditas/
Hope this helps!