Memela

Hailing from Mexico, Memela is a much-loved snack. It is typically made with flour, beans and tortilla.

Memela is a traditional Mexican antojito with roots in Mesoamerican corn-based cooking, though its precise origins are not clearly documented. It is essentially a thick, oval-shaped tortilla made from nixtamalized corn masa, cooked on a comal, which likely evolved from pre-Hispanic flatbreads before being enriched with Spanish-introduced ingredients like cheese and beans.

Regional variations are notable, particularly in Oaxaca, where memelas are often thicker and topped with refried beans, asiento (pork lard), and crumbled cheese, while other states like Puebla have their own renditions. They are a beloved street food and breakfast staple, reflecting the centrality of corn in Mexican culinary identity and the casual, communal pleasure of eating antojitos.