Copitas are my version of Gorditas. Ah, gorditas. I remember when we were haggling with our editor during the prep time before our cookbook came out. She (no, not you Priti, your predecessor) wanted all recipe titles translated literally into English. OMG. So how do you translate Gorditas – “Little Fat Girls”? My husband and I still laugh about that one. Once we told her, she made the decision to call them “Fried Masa Pockets”. We left it at that. I suppose we will always encounter people that cannot accept that there are some things like words, customs, and traditions that cannot be translated or explained from one culture to another. We must simply accept, respect and appreciate our differences.
Anyway, I wanted to share this recipe with you and hope you enjoy it.
Copitas
8 -10 tablespoons masa harina
3 tablespoons flour
Pinch of baking soda
1-cup warm water
shortening for frying
Mix the masa harina with the flour and baking soda in a bowl. Add enough warm water (slowly) to make a firm but moist dough. You might not need the whole cup of water. Pinch off a heaping tablespoon of dough. Flatten dough and carefully bend the edges upwards to form a small cup, "copita".
Repeat the process with the remaining dough. Heat the shortening in a deep frying pan to medium-high heat. Add a batch of the copitas to the frying pan and spoon the hot shortening to the tops of the copitas. Flip the copitas over once to ensure even browning.
This process goes very quickly. Be careful not to fry too long or copas will burn. Remove from hot pan with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Makes about 1 dozen.
Fill with your favorite filling: chile verde, mole, beans and chorizo, whatever you and your family enjoy. Mine were filled with shredded pork and topped with tomatoes, jalapeños, and queso fresco.
Thought it was time to let you guys know what Bob and I look like, so I’m attaching this picture of us. Don’t laugh too hard now. Remember, we all get old! For me, 58 and counting (my blessings).
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Mexican Word of the Day: Wheelchair
My homie was downing a 40 and I said, hey where's mine?
He says don't worry, wheel-chair!
14 comments:
FYI: I love the Mexican word of the day. I like sharing it with my 1 Mexican friend.
I took Spanish in high school, and I never put 2 and 2 together. Little fat girls... brilliant.
So does Copitas translate at all? I know what you mean about some things just don't turn to English.
Can't wait to see what you do for Ben's Event... This might turn into Mama's vs. Papa's
The gorditas conversation is still one of the funniest things that happened during the book edit.
Miss you lots. You should call more often (so should we)!
Teresa its nice to place a face with a name. The Gorditas/Copitas look delish. I recently learned of "Sopes" last year when my dad came down to visit have your heard of those. Your little cups reminded me of them.
They look delicious! I know nothing about Mexican food but I know I would love those!
Wow Teresa! Nice to see you! :)
Those Copitas look awesome! I love anything with pork! and cheese...
Teresa, thanks for posting your picture! I love putting a name with a face!
I love your site already! That recipe looks great. The Mexican Word of The Day, hillarious!
Hi Teresa, Nice to put a face to a name! Little Fat Girls?! :-))) haha. Transalations do sound hilarious! Still, I try descriptive names, rather than direct transalation, for fellow foodies from other cultures!!
Fried Masa Pockets - is still not descriptive enough (what's masa?!)...but I can guess its some kind of 'samosa' :-))).
A cookbook writer, WOW! I've got you beat by a year--59 last month.
Hi Dibs, masa is cornmeal dough like the kind tamales are out of. Hope you try them. Thanks for stopping by.
You have a awesome blog here. I loved that 'little fat girls' translation and I agree that certain things are best left in their original name/form. I will hunt down some vegeterian recipes from your blog to try out Mex-Am cuisine. Thanks for droping by my blog.
Lakshmi
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