Tlayuda, a signature Oaxacan antojito!

Tlayuda is a signature Oaxacan antojito (snacks made of corn dough).  Tlayuda (or clayuda) is a large well-cooked tortilla spread with asiento, black bean paste, quesillo, sliced avocados, shredded lettuce or cabbage, tomato and decorated with a beautiful big radish and then toasted on a comal or grill.  Asiento is the small pieces rendered pork that have settled in the bottom of the pot after cooking chicharron (pork rind double fried until crisp).  Quesillo is Oaxacan string cheese.   It is a long ribbon of cheese that is wrapped into a ball.

I was at the Friday market in Ocotlan which is about a 45 minute drive from Oaxaca City.  I just could not resist ordering a Tlayuda with the works from these two ladies. Their table was filled with tempting food but the Tlayuda was what I was after.  It hit the spot.

At one of the entries of the market, women were lined up with bags filled with Tlayudas.  A much finer ground corn meal is used in making the Tlayudas than what we find in our corn tortillas.

A stack of the Tlayudas for sell in the Benito Juarez market right in the heart of the historic center of Oaxaca City.

At one of my favorite restaurants in Oaxaca, Origen on Calle Hidalgo 820.  Before ordering, our waiter brought was a basket of beautiful Tlayudas along with a spicey, creamy pepper spread.  Tlayudas certainly are addictive!