Masa–Sweet Potato Shells with Fillings

There are many variations on the Mexican theme of a fried masa base with an array of toppings. One of the classic instances in Veracruz is garnachas. I found a fascinating interpretation at the Hotel Doña Lala in Tlacotalpan. Rosa María Castro Chisanto, the head cook, is known for her version of garnachas consisting of shallow oval shells topped with a rich, complex filling that contains refried beans, cubed potatoes, some cooked meat (crumbled chorizo or other sausage, or shr