🇵🇦 Panamanian Cuisine

Tortillas Panameñas

Thick Corn Fritters

Prep Time 10 min

Servings 8

Difficulty Easy

Calories 201 kcal

Thick, golden corn cakes fried until crispy outside and tender inside — nothing like Mexican tortillas, these are Panama's beloved fried corn fritters.

Ingredients

2 cups pre-cooked corn flour (masarepa)
1 cup grated white cheese
1 cup warm water
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

1 Mix corn flour, cheese, sugar, and salt in a bowl.
2 Add warm water gradually, kneading until a smooth, firm dough forms.
3 Divide into 8 portions and shape into thick patties about 1cm thick.
4 Fry in oil over medium heat for 3-4 min per side until golden and crispy.
5 Drain on paper towels.
6 Serve hot, plain or with butter.

Did You Know?

Panamanian tortillas are completely different from Mexican tortillas — they are thick, fried corn cakes, and confusing the two will earn you a stern correction.