Panuchos Yucatecos (Stuffed Fried Tortillas with Chicken)
Puffy fried masa cakes stuffed with refried beans and topped with shredded chicken, pickled onion and habanero salsa.
Made with Habanero salsa and Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Refried beans (frijoles refritos). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.82 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
Put the chicken, garlic, orange juice, oregano, a pinch of salt and enough water to cover into a pan. Bring to a simmer and poach for 15 to 18 minutes until cooked through with no pink. Lift out, cool slightly and shred.
16 min 40 s - 2
Mix the masa harina, salt and warm water into a soft dough that does not stick to your hands. Rest it covered for 10 minutes.
- 3
Divide into 8 balls and press each into a thick disc, about 10 cm across and 5 mm thick, between sheets of baking paper. Cook in a dry hot pan for 1 minute each side until just set.
2 min - 4
Make a small slit in the edge of each disc with a knife to open a pocket. Fill each with a spoonful of refried beans from your base recipe and gently press flat.
- 5
Heat the oil in a frying pan over a medium high heat. Fry the stuffed panuchos for 1 to 2 minutes each side until golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper.
3 min - 6
Top each panucho with shredded chicken, lettuce, tomato, avocado and pickled red onions from your base recipe. Serve with your ready made habanero salsa (see the base recipe) on the side.
Tips
- The dough should feel like soft play dough. If it cracks at the edges, add a splash more warm water.
- Cook the discs dry first so they puff slightly and form a pocket for the beans.
- Keep the oil hot but not smoking, or the outside burns before the beans warm through.
Storing and freezing
Eat straight away while crisp. Keep leftover shredded chicken in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat until steaming hot.
Questions
What is the difference between panuchos and salbutes?
Panuchos are stuffed with beans before frying. Salbutes are plain puffed masa discs fried and topped without a filling.
Can I use shop bought tortillas?
You can fry two small corn tortillas sandwiched with beans, but fresh masa discs puff and fry better. Masa harina is in the world foods aisle.
Can I use turkey?
Yes. Turkey is the traditional filling in Yucatan. Poach turkey breast for 20 minutes until cooked through and shred it the same way.
More made with habanero 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.