Chochoyotes or corn masa dumplings are a delicious add in for your favorite soups, stew and chili. My favorite way to enjoy them is in a simple salsa verde or chile rojo sauce with a little added chicken broth. And for a more complete meal, try adding in some spicy shrimp or shredded chicken.
It seems as of late that when I start to develop a new recipe, I end up with two or more recipes on one blog post. After a while you develop your own style of cooking and this is how I cook on a daily basis. I try to incorporate sauces, salsa’s and marinades I may have had leftover from a previous recipe. In today’s blog post, that was the case. I had a good amount of tomatillo salsa I had prepared the day before ready in the refrigerator. And I also had a small amount of chile marinade leftover from a previous recipe.
I like to break down the recipes individually and in the order I prepare them. There is a method to my madness, lol! You first want to prepare the masa for the chochoyotes/dumplings. While the masa is resting, prepare the tomatillo salsa. And then while the salsa is simmering and becoming more flavorful, prepare the chile marinade for the shrimp. When you are ready to bring it all together, shape the dumplings and cook them. Keep them warm on low and finally cook the shrimp.
But, wait, there’s more Chochoyotes!
I enjoy traditional recipes, but I also enjoy changing it up in my own kitchen! These tasty masa dumplings can be finished in various ways. Below find my delicious Sopa Tarasca, a black bean soup, with the chochoyotes happily nested in there. Great combination!
Masa For Chochoyotes
Ingredients
- 4 cups masa harina
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3 tablespoons manteca or shortening
- 2 1/3 cups really hot water
For Red Chile Version
- Add 1 1/2 tablespoons chile pasilla or chile ancho powder
For Cilantro Version
- Add 1/4 cup cilantro finely chopped
Instructions
Directions
- Add dry ingredients to a large bowl. Cut in the manteca until crumbly. If preparing both varieties, divide the masa equally in to separate bowls.
- In one bowl add the cilantro. In the other bowl add the chile power. Working one bowl at a time, gradually add in the hot water until dough forms. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 30 minutes.
- To make chochoyotes, roll out about 24 small masa balls from each. Use your thumb to make indentation in masa ball and form into a little cup. Keep them cover in plastic while you do this so they don't dry out.
- Once ready, the masa dumplings can be added to simmering, sauce, salsa or broth. Cook for 20 minutes. When ready, they should float to the top.
Notes
The Tortillas From the Masa with Cilantro
For Tomatillo Salsa-Tomatillo Broth For Chocoyotes
Ingredients
6 large tomatillos
3 serranos or 2 jalapeños
1 small sweet onion, quartered
2 cloves garlic
Small handful cilantro, I left it whole
3 cups chicken broth
Olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, crushed
1 teaspoon Mexican oregano, crushed
Salt and pepper to taste
*2 bay leaves
Tips~ If you wanted to eliminate the chicken broth and prepare a pure salsa base, just add a few more tomatillos. Adjust the heat level by adding more chile peppers, if you like. You will still need to add some water if using it to cook the chochoyotes.
Directions
1. Remove husk from tomatillos and rinse under lukewarm water. Transfer to a medium pot. Remove stems from chile peppers. Add the tomatillos, chile peppers, onion and garlic to a pot of simmering water. When it comes to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Using a slotted spoon, add salsa ingredients to the blender. To the blender, add 1 cup chicken broth and salt to taste. Blend on high until smooth, set aside. Preheat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan to medium for 2 minutes. Add the salsa from blender, cumin, oregano, cilantro, bay leaves, salt and pepper to taste. Add the remaining 2 cups of chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and continue cooking for 10 minutes or until it thickens and reduces slightly.
3. If adding the chochoyotes, you want to carefully drop them in while the salsa is simmering. They need to cook for 15 to 20 minutes. For this recipe, I added 12 dumplings. The dumplings will plump up when you cook them. I served 3 per person and topped the dish with 3 large shrimp. Remove the cilantro before serving.
Camarones Enchilados
Ingredients
12 large shrimp, peeled and cleaned
salt and pepper
3 guajillo peppers
4 chile de arbol
1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
S&P to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
1. After you clean the shrimp, season lighlty with salt and pepper. Chill until ready to use. Fill a small saucepan with water and heat to medium.
2. Remove stems and seeds from guajillo peppers and tear into smaller pieces. If chile de arbol have stems, remove those as well. Add the dried peppers to a skillet and heat to medium heat. After a few minutes they will begin to toast and become aromatic. Turn and cook for just another 30 to 40 seconds.
3. Transfer peppers to saucepan with water that has been heating. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for another 5 minutes. Drain almost of the water, reserving about 1/4 cup. Transfer peppers and water to the blender. Add garlic, cumin, vinegar, salt, pepper and oil. Blend on high until smooth. Taste for salt.
4. Pour chile sauce over the shrimp. Stir to coat evenly and chill for 20 minutes. When ready to cook, you can use some small wooden skewers and add a few shrimp or you can cook the marinated shrimp as is. In a large skillet, preheat 2 tablespoons of olive to medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Lay the shrimp flat in hot oil. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from heat and serve over Chochoyotes en Salsa Verde. Yields 3-4 servings. Garnish with queso cotija and cilantro.
Chochoyotes Enchilados~Red Chile Masa Dumplings
For this tasty recipe, I prepared my easy version of a Tex Mex Enchilada Sauce and added the chile infused chochoyotes. Top with some shredded jack or muenster cheese, corn and green onions. Wow! It was like enjoying the flavors of cheese enchiladas and tamales all in one! click onto picture for full recipe for the sauce.
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[…] these I became curious if there was a Mexican version of dumpling soup and found a recipe for Chochoyotes from La Piña en la Cocina. I’m so intrigued! I can’t wait to try her […]
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The love and work you put into your meals shows.
Gracias Norma….I am eager to learn all the dishes I never was able to ask my parents about or experience while growing up.
Thanks for this awesome recipe 🙂
I really love sharing what I learn along the way Gaby. One of my favorite recipes to date!
Is that corn masa or flour masa? You say “masa harina” I know harina as flour. I would asume it is corn masa?
Masa harina is made from corn flour. Same one you use to prepare corn tortillas.
This was such a delicious meal. My daughter found it too tart so I added a little bit of sugar. My son and I enjoyed the natural tarty flavor though ?! Will definitely be making it again.
So happy to hear you tried the recipe Ida! I agree that tomatillos can be very tart. But with just the right amount of seasoning, very delicious as well.Thank you for sharing your feedback on the recipe.
Great !!!!these are tastefully recipes!!!
Thank you
🙂
Thanks for following along.!
Thank you for sharing, I will be making this for my familia, looks so flavorful ???
Pure comfort foods right here. I can’t wait to prepare them again!
¡ Me encanta ! These were positively amazing and delicious, cooked them in a simple caldo de verduras and it completely transformed a simple soup into a hearty stew. You are awesome for sharing – thank you!
Karen, that sounds so delicious! I am really looking forward to preparing the chochoyotes again soon! Thanks for the feedback!
Omg! So I have been following you on instagram for a while and always thought your name was Pina, as in Pina en La Cocina. Now I know it’s Piña en La Cocina! Lol And your name Norma. This recipe just made me your super fan! ????????????
Sonia, Siri misspoke lol
Thank you Luis! My dad gave me the nickname of Piña or piñita when I was a baby! Believe it or not, I had very light colored hair that used to stand staight up! Lol!
I’m so excited to try this recipe! Every week I have tried 2 of your recipes and it seems to take my dad and brother back to some of their childhood experiences! Your amazing thank you for sharing.
Samantha! This is so wonderful to hear! I love that your dad and brother experience these feelings when they taste my recipes. That is the whole purpose of putting most of these recipes out there. Thank you!
Tried them in a posole style soup, they tasted great. I would try to make them smaller next time.
They do grow once cooked, I agree. Make them a little smaller. Thank you!