Molotes Oaxaqueños de Pollo (Oaxacan Fried Masa and Potato Rolls)
Crisp oval masa and potato fritters stuffed with chicken, topped with lettuce, crema and green salsa.
Made with Salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa) and Shredded chicken (pollo deshebrado). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.49 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, mashed potato, salt and water into a smooth soft dough, kneading for 3 minutes. Cover and rest for 10 minutes.
10 min - 2
Mix the pollo deshebrado (see the base recipe) with 4 tablespoons of the salsa verde (see the base recipe) until thick and not wet. Season.
- 3
Divide the dough into 10 balls. Flatten each in your palm, add a heaped teaspoon of filling, then close the dough over it and roll into a 10 cm oval, tapering the ends.
- 4
Heat the oil to 180 degrees in a frying pan. Fry the molotes in batches for 3 to 4 minutes, turning, until golden and crisp. Drain on paper.
4 min - 5
Top with lettuce, crumbled queso fresco and soured cream, and serve with the rest of the salsa verde for spooning over.
Tips
- Seal the filling well so it cannot leak into the oil.
- The mashed potato makes the dough tender, but it should not be wet. Add a spoon of masa harina if it sticks.
- Keep the oil steady at 180 degrees. Too cool and the molotes turn greasy.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Keep fried molotes for up to 1 day and re-crisp in a hot oven. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
What is a molote?
A molote is a fried masa roll, typically stuffed with potato and chorizo or chicken, topped with lettuce, crema and salsa, from Oaxaca and Puebla.
Can I bake them?
Brush with oil and bake at 220C (200C fan, gas 7) for 20 minutes, turning once, for a lighter version.
What other fillings can I use?
Chorizo and potato is the classic. Mushrooms or beans work for a vegetarian molote.
More made with salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa)
Tamales de Pastor (Pastor Pork Tamales)
GFDFEFChiles Rellenos de Queso en Salsa Verde (Cheese Stuffed Poblanos)
NFVCamarones en Salsa Verde (Prawns in Green Salsa)
GFDFEFHuaraches de Birria (Masa Huaraches with Birria and Salsa Verde)
GFEFNFSee every dish made with salsa verde (cooked tomatillo 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.