Xalapan Molotes are corn-based pastry filled with different ingredients and served as an appetizer or snack from Mexican Cuisine.
When it came to selecting some dish starting with X, I had to think of using either an adjective or some word starting with X on the city or some other reference.
I had them bookmarked when Priya Suresh had posted it and she used the city name for the dish. Xalapa or Jalapa is the capital of the Mexican state of Veracruz and this is popular street food from that area.
Molotes is a pastry made with corn masa, sometimes blended with mashed potatoes as well, with different fillings. These molotes look very much like the empanadas. The filling again can vary from meat to vegetarian options including cheese as well. The outer layer is rolled into a circle, with filling placed on the half side, and sealed to form a half-moon shape, and deep-fried. I kept my filling to a simple potato onion mix. Served with tomato chili sauce, it was a delicious snack.
Xalapan Molotes is my choice for X in the A to Z International Street Foods. If you are interested to know the Flatbread for X, check this post.
In this A to Z International Street Foods:
A for Arancini
B for Bunny Chow
C for Chatamari
D for Dürüm
E for Empanada
F for Fataa’ir Farmaajo
G for Gilgeori Toast
H for Hua Juan Bao
I for Imqarrun il-Forn
J for Jasuben's Pizza
K for Khachapuri
L for Lángos
M for Mofo Anana
N for Nachos Supreme
O for Okonomiyaki
P for Panelle
Q for Qamdi
R for Rustico
S for Sabich
T for Toshka
U for Usal Poha
V for Vyprážaný syr
W for Waffle Savory Sandwiches
Step By Step Pictures for making Molote
Xalapan Molotes | How to make Molote
For the outer layer
1 cup Corn Flour / Masa Harina
1 cup All Purpose Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 cup Water Warm
Cooking Oil for deep frying
For the Filling
2 nos Potatoes (boiled)
1 no Onion (diced)
2 nos Dry Red Chillies
2 nos Green Chillies
Salt to taste
1 /2 tsp Oregano
Preparation of the filling:
For the Filling
Microwave slashed potatoes for 5 mins, soak in water and peel the outer skin. Allow to cool.
Take the onion, green chillies, dry red chillies, salt, oregano and potato in a food processor, mix everything as bit smooth thick paste, keep aside.
For the outer layer
Combine the cornflour, flour, salt and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
Slowly add the water and mix until a dough forms. The dough should be sticky, not dry.
Cover with a damp cloth and allow to rest for 30 minutes.
Make small balls of the dough.
Grease a plastic sheet or a baking paper, take a ball and flatten them with your fingers a slightly thick round disc.
Making Molotes:
Place the filling in the centre of the tortilla, then fold tortilla over, creating a half-moon/semi-circle shape. Press the ends together with a fork to create a seal.
Heat a kadai or pan with oil, deep fry these molotes until golden.
Serve with sauce.
Xalapan Molotes | How to make Molote
Ingredients
For the outer layer
- 1 cup Corn Flour / Masa Harina
- 1 cup All Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 cup Water Warm
- Cooking Oil for deep frying
For the Filling
- 2 nos Potatoes boiled
- 1 no Onion diced
- 2 nos Dry Red Chillies
- 2 nos Green Chillies
- Salt to taste
- 1 /2 tsp Oregano
Instructions
For the Filling
- Microwave slashed potatoes for 5 mins, soak in water and peel the outer skin. Allow to cool.
- Take the onion, green chillies, dry red chillies, salt, oregano and potato in a food processor, mix everything as bit smooth thick paste, keep aside.
For the outer layer
- Combine the cornflour, flour, salt and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
- Slowly add the water and mix until a dough forms. The dough should be sticky, not dry.
- Cover with a damp cloth and allow to rest for 30 minutes.
- Make small balls of the dough.
- Grease a plastic sheet or a baking paper, take a ball and flatten them with your fingers a slightly thick round disc.
Making Molotes:
- Place the filling in the centre of the tortilla, then fold tortilla over, creating a half-moon/semi-circle shape. Press the ends together with a fork to create a seal.
- Heat a kadai or pan with oil, deep fry these molotes until golden.
- Serve with sauce.
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Priya Suresh says
Thank you Valli, i still remember the taste of this molotes. Since these molotes are extremely filling, we even skipped our dinner that day. I love Xalapan molotes very much. Love that you dished out this excellent street food for X..
Harini says
This sounds like a corn version of samosas, right, Valli? I shall bookmark these for the future A-Z series 🙂
Sandhiya says
Molotes looks good. As said by Harini, it looks like the corn version of samosa. It must be delicious with those yummy potato filling.
Vaishali Sabnani says
Very interesting..a must try recipe,the shape reminds me of Gujiya. the filling of samosas..what a fusion..fantastic Valli.
srividhya says
As you said it is more like empanadas. Love the filling and great pick for X. I am bookmarking this as it will come handy 🙂
Pavani says
Those look so similar to empanada. Corn meal in the dough sounds different. They look very inviting.
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
Lovely and brilliant find for the letter X. I so feel it more like savoury gujjiyas.
simplytadka2 says
Looks similar to gujiya and empandas.. perfectly done.
Gayathri Kumar says
Looks like a sister to our samosa. Anything with potatoes is welcome at my place. These pastries look so yum and I would definitely make this for Sruti..
cookingwithsapana says
The crispy corn flour covering filled with potatoes must have tasted absolutely amazing. This looks like another version of empanadas and I love the yellow color corn gave to the covering.
mayurisjikoni says
A very tempting pastry Srivalli. The corn meal must have made the pastry crispy. Lovely yellow color too of the molotes.
manjulabharathkumar2016 says
Xalapan - wow another amazing find valli , the pastry sounds very interesting with cornflour. I am always in for potato filling for any savory looks so delicious and perfectly shaped .. Sounds similar to empanadas but so different ..
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
This is so similar to the empanadas. Love the corn flour pastry sheet covering. It should have a very distinct flavor.
Suma Gandlur says
So similar to empanadas and also sound like spicy somas. Somas and samosas wrapped in one.
Padmajha PJ says
This dish is so new to me!The moment I saw potato and onion as filling I thought of potato masal!!