If you’ve never heard of huaraches before, don’t worry — they aren’t exactly an everyday kind of shoe.
They’re actually a type of Mexican sandal, traditionally worn by people who live in rural areas.
Huaraches have been around since at least the 17th century, when Spanish explorers brought them back from Mexico.
Huaraches were originally used as footwear during farming seasons to protect feet from rocks and other hard surfaces while walking on dirt roads.
What Are The Ingredients In A Huaraches Recipe?
The main ingredient in most huarache recipes is corn flour (masa).
Corn flour isn’t just any old grain product though; it’s ground up dried corn kernels that contain more nutrients than regular white rice.
The corn kernel itself has proteins and minerals like copper, zinc, magnesium, and phosphorus. It also contains vitamins B1, B6, C, E, D3, and K.
Another key ingredient in all huarache recipes is water.
Water helps bind the ingredients together so they can be formed into a solid mass, which then gets molded into different shapes.
Without enough water, the mixture will dry out too quickly, making it difficult to work with.
But there are other important things to know about how to make huaraches.
For example, corn masa is usually mixed with salt to help bind the dough together.
Salt is added because without it, the corn won’t hold its shape well once it starts drying out.
A pinch of baking soda may be added as well, but it should be noted that this makes the finished huarache slightly less healthy.
If possible, opt for a corn masa mix instead of buying pre-mixed bags.
Other ingredients include sugar, spices, herbs, or even chocolate chips!
Chocolate chips are often added to huaraches because they help give the final product some extra flavor.
Sugar is another good addition if you want your huaraches to taste sweeter.
Some huarache recipes call for cinnamon, vanilla extract, honey, or molasses, among many others.
Finally, a lot of huarache recipes involve soaking the corn masa in warm water first.
Soaking corn masa in hot water causes it to expand and become softer.
You can soak the masa overnight or use hot water straight away.
Either way, allow the masa to sit until it cools down completely before beginning to mold it into shoes.
How Do You Make Huaraches?
The first step in making your own pair of huaraches is gathering all of the necessary materials.
You’ll need about one cup each of fine white flour and regular whole wheat flour (or half-and-half), two cups of water, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and 1 tablespoon honey.
If you want to use milk instead of water, it will add another flavor dimension to this delicious treat, but only if you don’t mind a slightly sweeter taste.
Mixing everything together should take about five minutes.
Once mixed, let it sit until it thickens up a bit.
You can also substitute some of the liquids with vegetable broth or even just plain water.
I like using more liquid than what’s called for because it makes the mixture less sticky after it cools down enough.
The final product should be stiffer than a pancake batter so that when you roll out the dough into circles, there isn’t too much sticking to itself.
It should look something like this:
After rolling out the dough, cut it into small pieces roughly four inches wide and three inches long.
Make sure not to get any scraps!
These little pieces will become the uppers of your shoes.
Next, spread the bottom layer of dough onto a baking sheet, then cover it with plastic wrap.
Let it chill in the refrigerator for several hours (at least overnight).
When it has hardened, peel off the top layer, flip over the bottom layer, and repeat.
After peeling off the last layer, you’ll have a nice flat piece of dough ready to go.
Cut these squares into strips and separate them into individual triangles.
Then, fold the triangle in half lengthwise, creating a V-shape.
Now, stick those triangles together, lining up the edges along their sides and pinching where you meet.
Finally, flatten the edges of the huarache by pressing them lightly against the side of the bowl.
Repeat this process until you run out of dough.
Now comes the fun part: putting on the huarache.
First, remove the foot from the container and place it directly onto the folded edge of the huarache.
Hold both ends of the huarache together and pull them firmly toward you.
Don’t force it, though.
Once you’ve got it snugly lined up, pinch the seam between the two halves of the huarache shut.
It’s important to keep all of the layers sealed tightly together so that no air gets trapped inside.
Put the whole thing in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
Remove it from the oven and put on the second set of huaraches.
Repeat the same steps again, except this time bake it for 30 minutes.
Take it out of the oven and allow it to completely cool before wearing it.
For best results, wear them immediately after removing them from the oven.
This recipe is simple and easy to follow, but it takes a lot of patience.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of stepping out of the shower and hearing the crunch of dried grass underfoot as you walk through your yard.
And once you try a batch of homemade huaraches, you won’t ever go back to buying store-bought ones again.
What Is The History Of Huaraches?
The word “huarache” comes from two Nahuatl words meaning “footwear” and “sandals.”
The huarache was first introduced into Europe in 1620 by missionaries traveling between Mexico and Spain.
It was also popularized among European settlers in America because it could be easily transported across borders.
In fact, in 1845, President James K. Polk declared that all American citizens must wear huaraches if they wanted to enter Texas after its annexation by the United States.
However, many states didn’t require this until the late-1930s.
Since then, huaraches have become increasingly common throughout North America.
Today, there are even companies dedicated to selling huaraches online.
And although most Americans associate huaraches with being Mexican, Native Americans wore similar shoes before Europeans came along.
For instance, the Navajo tribe has long used moccasins called tansy bags to walk through the desert.
There are several different styles of huaraches available now, but they usually share some basic characteristics.
These include having one or more straps wrapped around the foot, and often including a decorative design on top.
Some types of huaraches can even come with interchangeable parts, allowing for customizations based on your style preferences.
How Did Huaraches Get Their Name?
The word “huarache” comes from two words: “huarango” (pronounced “wah-rahng-goh”) which means “to walk barefoot,” and “achita” (pronounced ah-chay-ta) which means “sandal.”
The combination is what gives this style of sandals its name.
As time passed, farmers began wearing these shoes year round instead of just during harvest season.
And because of that, huaraches became more popular than ever before.
It was no longer necessary for them to be only worn during the summer months for protection purposes.
Today, huaraches can still be found all over Latin America, especially among those living in rural parts of countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Ecuador.
In fact, some huaracheros even wear them out into town and use them to work construction sites and do farm labor.
There are many different styles of huaraches today, including toe-shoes, thonged sandals, flip-flops, and others.
Each one has its own unique design and use.
What Are The Different Types Of Huaraches?
There are two main styles of huaraches:
- Traditional huaraches — these are usually made out of woven strips of leather (or sometimes canvas) that cover the entire foot except for three toes, which remain uncovered for easy removal.
- Tennis shoes-style huaraches — these are basically tennis shoes with thick soles that form a “V” shape at the front and sides.
The first style is more common than the second because it can be easily modified to fit your needs.
If you want to wear tennis shoes-style huaraches but still keep the original look, just remove the top part of the shoe and replace it with a pair of regular white sneakers.
You can also use this technique if you want to wear huaraches year round: Wear one set of huaraches indoors and another set outdoors. Then flip between pairs depending on what season you’re wearing them.
To make traditional huaraches, start off by making a small ball of dough using either cornmeal, flour, or any other suitable ingredient.
The thickness of the dough should depend on how many layers you want to create.
For example, thinner layers will produce thicker sandals, while thicker ones will result in thinner ones.
You could even try adding herbs like oregano and cumin into your mixture to add flavor.
Step 1: Making the Corn Masa Dough
Start off by mixing together all dry ingredients in a bowl, including salt, pepper, sugar, baking powder, and dried chiles.
Mix well until everything has combined evenly.
Step 2: Adding Water
Next, slowly pour water over the dry ingredients so that you only stir once or twice.
When the water starts to turn grainy, stop stirring and let sit for about 10 minutes.
Add additional water if needed to reach a moisture content of 75 percent or higher.
Once the dough reaches its desired consistency, knead it briefly to smooth out any lumps.
Divide the dough into 4 equal parts and roll each piece into balls.
Place the balls onto a flat surface and flatten them slightly until they resemble a circle.
Wrap up the circles and place them inside plastic bags — you may need to reroll them a few times if they stick together too much.
After letting the dough rest overnight, cut out pieces of dough and bake them on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 3: Putting It All Together
When the cookies are done cooking, peel away the paper and return them to the oven for 5 minutes to finish drying out.
Remove them again and transfer them to cooling racks to cool completely.
Now comes the fun part!
Once the cookies are cooled down, grab a sharp knife and carefully slice through the middle of each cookie to separate it into two halves.
Next, take one half and fold it inward so that it forms a U shape.
Repeat this step with the remaining halves.
Then, grab one side of the folded edge and pull it toward the center, creating a V-shaped opening for your foot.
Finally, put the open end of the V on top of your foot and tie it closed with string or shoelaces.
Congratulations!
You now have yourself a pair of authentic huaraches!
What Are Some Popular Huaraches Toppings?
These days, however, huaraches have become more than just shoes that help farmers get through rocky terrain — many urban-dwelling Mexicans wear them as casual attire.
Some even use them as flip flops!
Since there are so many ways to customize your own pair of huaraches, it can be difficult to know what to put inside them.
Here are some common ingredients that often go into making up your own custom huarache concoction.
- Salsa
- Tortillas/corn tortilla chips
- Chips (like potato chips)
- Chorizo sausage
- Nuts
- Cheese
- Peanuts
- Dried fruit
- Pickles
- Spicy sauce
- Pineapple
- Jelly beans
- Bacon bits
- Hummus
- Jam
- Hot sauce
- Rice
- Bean dip
- Guacamole
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
Filling ideas
You could also make your own filling without any added extras.
Just mix together whatever you like best to create your own personal masterpiece.
Here are some examples of how to fill your huaraches, based on the items listed above:
- Mix salsa, cheese, and chorizo sausage to form a paste. Add peanuts, pineapple, pickles, and jellybeans for extra texture and flavor.
- Slather rice between two pieces of bread to add a sweet touch.
- Combine hot sauce and mayo, then stuff it into the middle of tortillas.
- Add bacon bits to peanut butter, spread on top of banana slices, and wrap up your sandwich.
- Make hummus out of chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, and tahini. Spread it onto tortillas and top off with fresh avocado.
- Smear bean dip over tortillas and top off with sliced tomatoes and lettuce.
- Put peanut butter on bananas, roll them up in a piece of bacon, and serve.
- Spread guacamole on tortillas, then cut open each side and place jalapeños in the center for a spicy kick.
How Do You Eat Huaraches?
You can buy ready-made huaraches online if you want to skip the hassle of making your own.
But if you really want to make your own, there are several recipes out there that will help get you started.
(And, no, we won’t tell you how to make them.)
But even though it might be easier to just grab a pair of shoes off a shelf than go through all the steps involved in making huaraches yourself, it’s still fun to try!
And once you learn the basics, you can start experimenting with different flavors and ingredients.
Here are a few ideas for using up leftover corn tortillas and homemade flour tortillas.
What Are Some Common Huaraches Mistakes?
So what makes these shoes so special that we should talk about them here instead of at your local running store?
Well, there are plenty of reasons why this type of shoe has become so popular lately.
One reason is that huaraches go well with just about anything you wear, including jeans, shorts, skirts, dresses, and even swimsuits.
Another is that they can be easily found online and shipped directly to you.
But if you want to make sure that you get the best-quality pair possible, it helps to know how to properly care for them.
If you take good care of your huaraches, then you won’t need to buy a new pair anytime soon!
Here are some of the most common mistakes that could prevent you from enjoying your favorite style of shoe:
- Not washing your huaraches often enough.
- Wearing old shoes out of season.
- Not cleaning your soles regularly.
- Overly tight lacing.
- Storing your huaraches incorrectly.
What Are Some Tips For Making Huaraches?
In recent years, huaraches have become popular among urban dwellers looking for something different than just sneakers or flip-flops.
But if you want to wear these shoes outside of the country, you might be surprised that there are several things you should know about how to properly care for your huaraches.
- It’s best not to wash your huaraches too often.
- Don’t leave your huaraches out in the sun all day.
- It’s okay to use nail polish on your huaraches.
- You shouldn’t wear your huaraches inside the house.
- You need to take good care of your huaraches so they last longer.
How Can You Make Huaraches Healthier?
These days, huaraches are mostly associated with the Mayan culture.
The Mayans created their own version of huaraches that use a thicker mixture of corn flour (masa) instead of grasses like those found in modern-day versions.
These Mayan huaraches tend to be more durable than their European counterparts.
While it may seem like there isn’t much variety when it comes to making your own huaraches, there really is quite a bit of room for creativity here.
You can either buy pre-made huaraches online, find someone willing to share their secret recipes, or just go out and create something yourself!
Equipment
- 1 Pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups masa harina
- ½ cups water
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ lb beef steak
- onion sliced
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp pepper
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- salt
Instructions
- The meat is placed in a pan with hot oil. Add salt, pepper, cumin, garlic, and other seasonings.
- Cook the beef for about 5 minutes at medium heat, or until no longer pink.
- Once the meat is thoroughly cooked, combine in the onions and sauté them until they are tender and transparent (about 10 minutes).
- In a basin, mix the masa harina, salt, and water.
- To make a dough that is smooth and non-sticky, knead it for two minutes.
- Over medium heat, preheat a comal or griddle.
- The dough should be divided into 10 pieces, each of which should be kept under a damp towel.
- Make a log with your hands that is 15 x 3.5 cm (about 6 inches long) and 1 inch thick on a smooth surface.
- Use a heavy dish to flatten the log after placing it between two sheets of plastic.
- Shape the masa into the classic sandal shape using your hands. Make sure it is a little thick but not too thick (like a tortilla).
- Flip the huarache onto your hand after removing the top sheet.
- Place the huarache onto the hot griddle after removing the final sheet.
- After one minute, carefully flip it over and cook for an additional one to two minutes.
- Continue the procedure until all of the masa dough has been used, and to keep the huaraches warm and soft, keep them wrapped in a kitchen towel.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.