Lick the Traditions of Mexico with Tlayuda - Henderson Style

A tlayuda is a showcase of local Oaxacan ingredients. Traditionally, the tortilla base was spread first with asiento, a kind of unrefined pork lard and refried beans. Then it’s topped with strips of quesillo, a stringy Oaxacan cheese, and a variety of ingredients like lettuce, avocado, tomato, strips of meat, usually beef, chicken, or pork, and salsa.

Tlayuda is all about balance in preparation textures and flavors. The tortilla is toasted, yet still pliable; it is topped such with each bite something of everything can be tasted; and the final dish is often folded and heated to melt the cheese and bring everything together.

It represents more than one dish, the tlayuda is a symbol of all the cuisine from Oaxaca and the ingenuity of the Mexicans in making use of whatever is available in their area. It’s a staple at celebrations and gatherings alike, where the preparation and consumption of Tlayuda take place in the company of others.

This comes open faced, with the ingredients on top of the tortilla, or folded in half and served as a sort of sandwich. Whether enjoyed at a family gathering, in a local market, or from a street food stall, Tlayuda bursts with flavors it can transport anyone to the state’s rich gastronomic history.

This was the international fame it received in the last couple of years, finding its place in chefs’ menus around the world. This has been the result of the different interpretations of tlayudas which have cropped up from the creative hands of chefs from around the world.

Some played with other types of cheese, and some others did their magic with the toppings, adding ingredients like seafood or unusual vegetables. These will not be traditional, but they show what Tlayuda can do to be tamed by various palates and cuisines.

Tlayuda, with all of its colorful flavors and historical baggage, is yet another testament to the culinary richness of Mexico. It’s a dish it can tell something: a story about people and their relationship to the land and everything comes from it. Whether one were to enjoy it in its traditional form or through a more contemporary interpretation, the tlayuda indeed promises to be a singular gastronomic experience in taste and flavor from Oaxaca, an impression of its rich cultural heritage.

Let us not forget, as we go on this journey around the world through food, so to say, every dish has its story, history, and culture attached. Tlayuda is just such a dish, a culinary tradition, standing the test of time as it evolved, adapted, but never lost its essence. The next time you go to a Mexican restaurant or even into your own kitchen, take this gastronomic trip with your taste buds by discovering a huge tradition: the Mexican Tlayuda.