Jul 13 2026
Restaurants›AyAyAy! Mexican Cuisine›Memelas De Birria Recipe

Memelas De Birria Recipe

Inspired by AyAyAy! Mexican Cuisine
Time2h
Serves4

Two corn masa cakes, braised birria, refried beans, crema, queso fresco, salsa

Jump to Recipe

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Corn Masa Cakes

Braised Birria

Refried Beans

Toppings

Method

Corn Masa Cakes

  1. 1

    Make the Masa Dough

    In a large bowl, combine masa harina and salt. Gradually add water, mixing until a smooth dough forms.

  2. 2

    Shape the Cakes

    Divide the dough into equal portions (about 8 pieces) and flatten each piece into a round cake about 1/4 inch thick.

  3. 3

    Cook the Cakes

    Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook each masa cake for about 2-3 minutes on each side until lightly golden.

Braised Birria

  1. 4

    Prepare the Chiles

    Remove stems and seeds from guajillo and ancho chiles. Soak them in hot water for about 15 minutes until soft.

  2. 5

    Blend the Sauce

    In a blender, combine soaked chiles, garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, and a little beef broth. Blend until smooth.

  3. 6

    Cook the Meat

    In a large pot, heat a bit of oil over medium-high heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper, then brown it on all sides. Remove the meat and set aside.

  4. 7

    Combine and Simmer

    Add the blended sauce, beef broth, bay leaves, and the browned beef back into the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer for about 3 hours or until the meat is tender.

  5. 8

    Shred the Beef

    Once cooked, remove the beef from the pot and shred it with two forks. Return the meat to the pot to absorb the flavors.

Refried Beans

  1. 9

    Sauté Onion and Garlic

    In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic, sauté until softened.

  2. 10

    Mash the Beans

    Add cooked pinto beans to the skillet and mash them with a fork or potato masher. Cook until heated through, adding salt to taste.

  3. 11

    Serve

    Remove from heat and set aside for serving.

Assembly

  1. 12

    Assemble the Memelas

    On each masa cake, spread a layer of refried beans, then top with braised birria. Drizzle with crema, sprinkle with queso fresco, and add salsa to taste.

  2. 13

    Serve

    Serve the memelas hot, allowing everyone to enjoy them with their preferred toppings.

More from AyAyAy! Mexican Cuisine