Panamanian Tortillas (Thick Corn Cakes)
These traditional Panamanian tortillas are thick, flavorful corn cakes that stand apart from their thinner Mexican counterparts. Made with a simple masa dough, they are pan-baked until golden and puffed, offering a deeply satisfying texture. Perfect for breakfast or as a hearty side dish.
Simple Tasty Recipes
Ingredients for 5 Servings
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1 cup
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1 cup
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1/4 tablespoon
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1 tablespoon
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1 pinch
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1 tablespoon
Time
Goes Great with
Method
- Mix the water, instant corn tortilla mix, salt, rice flour, and sugar (if using) with a spoon.
- Knead with wet hands in a bowl until it forms a mixture called 'masa'. Keep your hands wet to prevent sticking; if it starts to stick, just get your hands wet again.
- Take bunches of the masa and form them into circles. Make sure the edges are pinched with no creases or cracks, and that the thickness is consistent (about 1 or 2 cm thick).
- To bake, put some of the vegan margarine in a pan and spread evenly. Heat the margarine on medium-high.
- When the margarine is heated, place the masa circles in the pan and let bake.
- Flip them every 2 or 3 minutes to evenly cook without burning. They will start to puff up and get golden.
- It should take about 10 minutes to cook thoroughly, but make sure not to overdo them. Repeat the steps until all the circles are baked through.
Notes:
If you make the masa beforehand, it will keep in the fridge for 2 or 3 days. For the more adventurous cook, try deep-frying or grilling instead of baking.
Serving info: Total recipe: 381g · Yields 5 portions · Portion size: 76g
| Nutrient | Per 100g | Per Portion | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy (kcal) | 143 | 109 | 5% |
| Carbohydrates (g) | 24.5 | 18.7 | 7% |
| ↳ of which sugars (g) | 0.3 | 0.2 | - |
| Dietary fiber (g) | 2.1 | 1.6 | 6% |
| Protein (g) | 2.8 | 2.1 | 4% |
| Total fat (g) | 3.9 | 3.0 | 4% |
| ↳ Saturated (g) | 0.9 | 0.7 | 4% |
| ↳ Monounsaturated (g) | 1.6 | 1.2 | - |
| ↳ Polyunsaturated (g) | 1.2 | 0.9 | - |
| ↳ Trans (g) | 0 | 0 | - |
| Sodium (mg) | 491 | 374 | 16% |
| Calcium (mg) | 42 | 32 | 2% |
| Iron (mg) | 0.8 | 0.6 | 3% |
| Potassium (mg) | 66 | 50 | 1% |
| Vitamin C (mg) | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Vitamin B12 (µg) | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Ingredient data sources
- Instant corn tortilla mix (Masa harina) — 114g — Cornmeal, degermed, enriched, yellow — USDA
- Rice flour — 8g — Rice flour, white, unenriched — USDA
- Vegan margarine — 14g — Margarine-like, vegetable oil spread, 60% fat, tub, with salt — USDA
- Salt — 4.5g — Salt, table — USDA
- Sugar — 0.5g — Sugars, granulated — USDA
⚠️ = estimated or sourced outside the listed databases.
% Daily Value based on FDA 2020 Daily Values for adults (2,000 kcal diet).
Goes Great with
25 mins
