Huaraches de Carnitas (Sandal Shaped Masa Pork Tacos)
Long oval masa cakes crisped on the griddle and covered in beans, pork, salsa roja and cheese, a Mexico City street food favourite.
Made with Salsa roja (cooked red salsa) and Refried beans (frijoles refritos) and Carnitas (slow cooked pork). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.60 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the masa harina, salt and warm water into a soft dough. Rest for 10 minutes. Divide into 4 balls.
10 min - 2
Shape one ball into a thick sausage, push a little refried beans (see the base recipe) along the middle, fold the dough over to seal, then flatten into an oval about 20 cm long and 1 cm thick.
- 3
Cook each huarache on a dry griddle or frying pan over a medium heat for 3 minutes a side, until it is set and lightly freckled.
6 min - 4
Heat a little oil in a frying pan and fry each for 2 minutes a side until crisp outside and golden. Drain briefly.
- 5
Meanwhile warm the salsa roja (see the base recipe) and crisp the carnitas (see the base recipe) in a hot dry pan for 3 minutes until steaming hot.
3 min - 6
Top each huarache with carnitas, a generous spoonful of salsa roja, queso fresco, onion and coriander. Eat straight away.
Tips
- Keep the oval at least 1 cm thick. Thin huaraches turn into crackers.
- Seal the bean filling well, or it will push out as the masa fries.
- Moisten your fingers if the dough cracks at the edges while pressing.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten fresh. The cooked bare huaraches keep in the fridge for 2 days and reheat in a dry frying pan until hot through.
Questions
Why are they called huaraches?
The long oval shape resembles a huarache, a traditional Mexican leather sandal. The dish is most closely linked to Mexico City street markets.
Can I use shop bought masa?
Fresh masa from a tortilleria is excellent if you can find it. Otherwise masa harina plus water, as here, works well.
Can I leave out the cheese?
Yes. They are just as good without queso fresco and become dairy free.
More made with salsa roja (cooked red salsa)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.