Tlacoyos de Frijol con Camarones (Bean-Stuffed Masa Cakes with Prawns)
Oval masa cakes stuffed with refried beans and griddled until golden, topped with garlic prawns, salsa verde and crumbled cheese.
Made with Salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa) and Refried beans (frijoles refritos). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £1.79 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 and salt, then work in the warm water to a soft, smooth dough that does not crack. Cover and rest for 10 minutes. Divide into 8 balls.
10 min - 2
Make your ready made refried beans (see the base recipe) thick by frying for a few minutes in a dry pan if needed. They must hold a shape. Cool slightly.
- 3
Flatten each ball to a disc about 10 cm wide. Put a tablespoon of beans in the middle, fold the dough over to enclose it, pinch to seal and flatten into an oval about 12 cm long and 1 cm thick.
- 4
Heat a dry griddle or frying pan over a medium heat. Cook the tlacoyos for 4 to 5 minutes each side, until firm, speckled with brown and cooked through. Keep warm in a low oven.
10 min - 5
Heat the oil in another pan over a high heat. Fry the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the prawns and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until pink and opaque all the way through.
3 min 30 s - 6
Top each tlacoyo with prawns, a spoonful of your ready made salsa verde (see the base recipe), the diced onion, queso fresco, soured cream and coriander. Serve warm.
Tips
- Make sure the beans are thick and not wet. Loose beans squeeze out of the seam when you press the cakes flat.
- Keep your hands slightly damp while shaping so the dough does not stick or crack.
- Cook on a medium heat so the masa cooks through to the centre without the outside burning.
- Prawns are a modern topping. Traditionally tlacoyos are topped with nopales, cheese, onion and salsa, so skip the prawns for a classic.
Storing and freezing
Cooked plain tlacoyos keep in the fridge for 2 days and freeze for 1 month. Reheat on a hot griddle until steaming hot all the way through. Prawns are best cooked fresh and eaten the same day.
Questions
What is a tlacoyo?
A tlacoyo is an oval masa cake stuffed with beans, or sometimes cheese or fava beans, cooked on a comal. It is a popular street food in Mexico City and central Mexico.
Why is my dough cracking?
The dough is too dry. Knead in warm water a teaspoon at a time until it feels like soft play dough and does not crack at the edges when pressed.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, if the masa harina is plain corn and labelled gluten free. Beans, prawns and salsa contain no gluten. The queso fresco and soured cream contain milk, so leave them off for dairy free.
More made with salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa)
Flautas de Arrachera (Crispy Rolled Steak Tacos)
GFEFNFPuerco en Salsa Verde con Arroz Rojo (Pork in Green Tomatillo Salsa)
GFDFEFHuevos en Salsa Verde (Eggs Poached in Green Salsa)
NFVQuesadillas de Pollo Asado con Salsa Verde (Chicken and Cheese Quesadillas)
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.