Gordita

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A well stuffed gordita.

A Mexican gordita with salsa.

A gordita in Mexican cuisine is a food which is characterized by a small, thick tortilla made with masa harina (corn flour). The gordita is in contrast to a taco, which uses a thinner tortilla. Gordita means "fatty" in Spanish. The gordita is typically baked on a comal, a small pan similar to a skillet.

The gordita's thick tortilla is typically split and filled with guisos (soups or stews) or casseroles, like chicken, nopalitos, carne al pastor, frijol con queso, huevo con chorizo, picadillo, etc. These are made mostly for lunch and are accompanied by many different types of salsas.

Regional variations

The most traditional gordita in the central region of Mexico is filled with chicharrón prensado (a type of stew made with pork rind and spices) and is called gordita de chicharrón.

In Durango and others states of Northern Mexico, gorditas are commonly made from wheat flour (harina de trigo) tortillas and look more like small pita breads. The dough (masa) is identical to that of the flour tortilla. It is cooked on a comal with a hot piece of metal placed on top that resembles a clothes iron. The gordita fills up with steam, and a small slit is cut into one side where it can be filled with guisados.

The fast food restaurant Taco Bell sells a gordita which is more like a pita bread taco than a typical Mexican gordita, although it has some similarities to the Durango gordita. Taco Bell's version does not resemble what is found in a traditional Mexican town. Also gorditas can be fat stuffed burritos and lances which are larger than the other gordita made from the southern part of Mexico called the "Santiago" otherwise known as a "Donkey Bonker".

Pupusas are a Salvadoran dish similar to the gordita.

Alternate usage of the word

Gordita may also be used in Spanish as a term of endearment used to describe an attractive woman or girl who is curvaceous or heavy set. It may be used similarly to the colloquial phrases "little butterball","more cushin' for the pushin'", "pleasantly plump", or "got back" in English. Or even the rare term "Santiago pendejo" from Spain.

"Gordita" is also used more generally for young children. In Mexico it is generally thought that a full, happy, healthy baby is a good thing. While "gordo" means "fat" in Spanish, calling a child "gordita" (for girls) or "gordito" (for boys) is a term of endearment and a positive assessment of its health or cuteness.