Sure, you may have had quesadillas before – but do you really know them well enough to be able to distinguish between good ones and bad ones? If you’ve never tried Mulitas, then you’re missing out on one of the best kinds of Quesadillas available in Mexican cuisine.
These delicious treats are made with fresh cheese and your choice of meat, served as appetizers at many restaurants in Mexico City and other parts of Mexico.
This delicious cheesy and meaty combination is what makes Mulitas the people’s favorite. They are fried in a pan which enhances their flavor. Moreover, they are just like quesadilla sandwiches and they carry a lot of protein inside them.
Although, the food fillings vary from one food stall to another. In this article, I am going to tell you more about the origin and the making of Mulitas. Stay hooked till the end of the article to get an insight!
What are Mulitas
Mulitas are often described as the taco sandwich or the “quesadillas placed on steroids”. This is a popular Mexican dish that contains a crispy tortilla, filled with a variety of food.
Food like chunks of grilled meat, salsa, or guacamole topping and cheese are used as fillings in the Mulitas. Note that the fillings may vary according to different people and different food stands.
Mulitas means a little mule, which refers to the fact that the food is in a wrap and is transferred from a street seller to the customer. It is highly recommended by experienced people that one should top every mulita with a tortilla and then drizzle it up with some lime juice.
Origin of Mulitas
Mulitas originated from Mexico and are almost similar to another food type, Quesadillas, except for the fact that they consist of two layers of tortillas.
It is a Mexican version of grilled cheese that consists of meat in the middle. Meat enhances the taste and flavor of the dish and makes it more attractive. One can easily find them on the streets of Mexico as it is a common food that people love to relish!
But, if we broadly look at the origination of Mulitas we come to know that it is largely unknown. Many people believe that Mulita is a variant of tacos.
Long before the Spaniards emerged in Mexico, Tacos appeared in present-day Mexico and paved their way into the people’s hearts.
Mulita, which is believed to be a variant of Tacos, is a Mexican dish that consists of tortillas, salsa or guacamole, and meat. It is also a type of tortilla sandwich.
One tortilla is put as the base while the other one is put on the top and fillings such as cheese, meat, and many others are filled in.
Since they are easy to make and are liked by people all around the United States of America, Mulitas can be found in many locations like Hawaii, Los Angeles, and Seattle. In fact, it is believed to be one of the best things to order from a Taco truck.
People of South America often like the dish and wish to prepare it in the comfort of their homes. Hence, we have provided the recipe of Mulita at the end of the article. We hope it helps you!
Mulitas Vs Quesadilla
Mulitas and Quesadillas are very similar to each other, but they have a few differences too. They both are Mexican dishes and have a lot in common.
But, to look at the differences between the two, we will have to look at them in more detail.
Ingredients Difference
Mulitas consist of corn tortillas with steak and cheese as the filling. It uses two tortillas, one on the bottom and another on the top.
Whereas, Quesadilla is made up of flour tortillas and meat, beans, and many more food items that can be used as a filling for the same.
Origin of both dishes
Mulitas originated from Mexico and are believed to be a variant of the Taco Dish.
Whereas, Quesadilla is also Mexican except for the fact that it’s a Mexican version of grilled cheese with meat as the filling.
Flavor
Mulita is believed to be the tastiest snack and it has a cheesy taste to them. Meat is used as a filling between two tortillas.
Quesadilla has a mellow and buttery flavor which is similar to Monterey Jack. The texture and malleability of Quesadilla resemble that of Mozzarella.
Mulitas Recipe
Mulita dishes can be easily made in the house.
The authentic recipe of a Mulita takes approximately two hours to be ready. The preparation of Mulita takes about 50 minutes and it should be cooked for another 30 minutes. Then, it should be kept to rest for approximately 25 minutes. After that, your dish will be ready to serve!
Ingredients
- 2 cups of hot water (approximately 480 ml)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons of oil
- Masa Harina (approximately 270-280 grams)
- 2 avocados
- Serrano Chilli Pepper (1 to 2)
- Around 40 grams of Onion (should be finely diced)
- 2 tablespoons of Cilantro (should be finely chopped)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt, depending on taste
- 1 large onion or according to taste, should be finely sliced
- Jalapeño Peppers (2 or according to your preference), finely sliced
- Fresno Peppers (2 or according to your preference), finely sliced
- Oil, as per the requirement
- Chuck Steak (approximately 450 grams)
- Kosher Salt, according to your preference
- Any steak seasoning, according to your preference
- 2-3 tablespoons of oil or as per the requirement
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Chihuahua, Oaxaca, or Mozzarella Cheese, shredded, according to your preference
Directions
To make a Mulita in the way it should be and is made by street vendors, you will have to follow a set order of steps. The steps for the same are mentioned below:
- First of all, you will have to cut the steak. Slice the steak in the form of thin strips before you put it for marination.
- Make the marinade by whisking together ⅓ cup of olive oil, sugar, cumin, vinegar, soy sauce, and minced garlic. You can whisk this all together in a large bowl.
- Now you will have to place the steak in the marinade to coat it thoroughly. Then, cover it in plastic wrap and marinate it for 30-60 minutes.
- The next step is to make carne asada. For this, you will have to heat oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Once the oil has warmed up, remove the steak from the marinade and add it to the skillet. Stir-fry it for 5 minutes.
- Assemble all the Mulitas. Now, brush the tortilla with oil on both sides. Place one tortilla in the large skillet and sprinkle cheese onto it. Add a layer of carne asada and sliced onions on top of it. Add cheese and then place a tortilla above it.
- Cook the tortilla bottom until it turns golden brown. Then turn it upside down and cook the other side for 1-2 minutes until it turns golden brown too. Now, remove it from the skillet.
- Peel the top tortilla and add mashed avocado, cilantro, and diced tomatoes.
- Repeat the same process with the remaining cheese, tortilla, and filling.
- It’s ready, now serve it with your favorite toppings!
Additional Tips For Preparing Mulitas
To enhance the taste of the Mexican dish, i have some pointers which will help you.
Given below are some additional tips and techniques to make your Mulita taste better.
Meat Cut to use
You could use Flank Steak or Skirt Steak as any of the two would work well with your Mulita. If you use central cuts like rib-eye or sirloin steak, you can even skip the marination process.
You can cut the uncooked steak into thin slices which are perpendicular to the grain. However, marinating your steak before cooking the Mulita will make it even softer and tender. It will also enhance the flavor of Mulita. Could be anyway one of the two, beef or pork. Mulita can also be made with sausages cut into small pieces. They work as a good filling in the Mulita dish and enhance its flavor.
Cheese
The choice of cheese should be made very carefully, it is essential to choose a good quality melting cheese like Chihuahua or Oaxaca. If you don’t have any of these then you can substitute Mozzarella or Monterey Jack for the same.
Tortillas
Tortillas are best made from scratch. You can make them in any size of your choice. There is no necessity to make them perfect, as imperfection adds to their charm. You can also buy them from the store if you wish to make your Mulita quickly.
Tortilla Press
It might look like it’s imperative to have a tortilla press to make the Mulita, but it’s not necessary. If you don’t have a tortilla press you can make a small ball of “masa harina” and place it between two plastic sheets and then squish it with a large skillet or a casserole dish.
Mulitas Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Hot Water
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Oil
- 275 gr Masa Harina
- 2 Avocados
- 1 Serrano Chilli Peppers
- 40 gr Onions
- 2 tbsp Cilantro Finely Chopped
- 1 Whole Lemon Juiced
- 2 Jalapeno Peppers Finely Sliced
- 2 Fresno Peppers Finely Sliced
- 450 gr Chuck Steak
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 100 gr Oaxaca or Mozzarella Cheese
- 3 tbsp Oil
Instructions
- First of all, you will have to cut the steak. Slice the steak in the form of thin strips before you put it for marination.
- Make the marinade by whisking together ⅓ cup of olive oil, sugar, cumin, vinegar, soy sauce, and minced garlic. You can whisk this all together in a large bowl.
- Now you will have to place the steak in the marinade to coat it thoroughly. Then, cover it in plastic wrap and marinate it for 30-60 minutes.
- The next step is to make carne asada. For this, you will have to heat oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Once the oil has warmed up, remove the steak from the marinade and add it to the skillet. Stir-fry it for 5 minutes.
- Assemble all the Mulitas. Now, brush the tortilla with oil on both sides. Place one tortilla in the large skillet and sprinkle cheese onto it. Add a layer of carne asada and sliced onions on top of it. Add cheese and then place a tortilla above it.
- Cook the tortilla bottom until it turns golden brown. Then turn it upside down and cook the other side for 1-2 minutes until it turns golden brown too. Now, remove it from the skillet.
- Peel the top tortilla and add mashed avocado, cilantro, and diced tomatoes.
- Repeat the same process with the remaining cheese, tortilla, and filling.
- It’s ready, now serve it with your favorite toppings!
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