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Homemade Tortillas

Simple, delicious and fresh, if you haven't tried making your own tortillas you should.
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 cups masa harina*
  • one large pinch of salt
  • 1 1/2 cup warm water or 1/2 cup vegetable broth and 1 cup warm water

Instructions

  • Place masa harina in a bowl and mix in salt
  • Add 1 1/4 cups water to masa and mix until well combined.
  • Check the consistency of the dough, you are looking for grainy version of play-dough.
  • Add additional water as necessary to create a grainy play-dough texture. (For me, 1 1/2 cups of liquid is perfect.
  • Cover mixture and allow it to sit on the countertop for at least 30 minutes prior to forming tortillas.
  • When you are ready to cook the tortillas, begin heating a cast iron pan on medium heat.
  • Roll the masa mixture into a log and cut mixture into 4 equal pieces.
  • Cut each of the 4 pieces into 3 equal pieces, and form each piece into a ball.
  • Open your tortilla press and place a piece of parchment across the two flat surfaces of the press. Make a fold in the center of the parchment where the hinge of the press is.
  • Place a ball of masa on the press, and close and latch the press.
  • Open the press and carefully peel the pressed masa round off of the parchment paper and place it in the heated pan. Cook for 30 seconds, then turn tortilla over and cook for another 30 seconds. if tortilla doesn't have any brown-black spots, cook for another 10-30 seconds to create some light browning/ blackening. You may notice the tortilla puffing up as it cooks. This is normal. The tortilla will deflate when it's removed from the heat.
  • Remove tortilla from the pan and place it on a plate.
  • Continue with remaining masa balls, creating a stack of tortillas.
  • Serve immediately, or cover plate with plastic wrap and reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until tortillas are heated through.
  • Unused tortillas can be refrigerated or frozen for later use. Just reheat in the microwave prior to eating.

Notes

* I have always used Bobs Red Mill brand, because it's easy for me to find at the places I shop. However, I understand that Maseca is supposed to be the brand of choice. I planning to try that brand in the future and will report back my results . . .