Tortillas De Masa Harina Recipes

CORN TORTILLAS FROM MASA HARINA

Steps:

• Cut 2 10-inch squares of thick plastic from a gallon-size Ziploc freezer bag and set aside to line an 8-inch tortilla press.
• Place the corn flour in a large bowl. Slowly add 2 1/4 cups hot tap water, kneading it in with your fingers. Once all the water has been added, knead until dough is smooth, 3 to 5 minutes. The masa should be very soft but not sticky, about the consistency of Play-Doh. If it is too dry, work in more water, 2 tablespoons at a time. If it is too wet, continue kneading until it dries out a bit or knead in additional corn flour. Masa dries out very quickly, so once it is at the right consistency, keep it covered with a damp kitchen towel.
• Heat a pancake griddle or a heavy nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. The goal is a steady medium-low heat.
• Pinch off about 2 ounces masa and roll into a ball about 1 3/4 inches in diameter. Flatten lightly between your palms to make a 2 1/2-inch round. Place one sheet of plastic on the bottom of the open tortilla press and place the dough in the center. Cover with the other sheet of plastic and press the lever gently but firmly to flatten the dough. Don't crank the lever down as hard as you can because the tortilla will be too thin.
• Flip the tortilla (still in the plastic) and press lightly again into an even 6- to 6 1/2-inch round. Place the tortilla (still in the plastic) in your left palm. Use your other hand to peel off the plastic, then invert the tortilla onto your right palm and peel off the other plastic. Gently release the tortilla onto the cooking surface.
• Watching carefully, cook just until one of the edges begins to appear dry, 15 to 25 seconds. (If you overcook the tortilla at this step, it will not cook properly.) Flip the tortilla and cook on the second side just until it is speckled with brown spots, 1 to 2 minutes, rotating it once. Flip the tortilla back to the first side. The tortilla might begin to puff at this stage. When it is just beginning to brown on the bottom, flip again, back to the second side, and move to a cooler part of the cooking surface, toward an edge. Let the tortilla finish cooking there until most of it appears translucent when held up to the light, 30 to 60 seconds.
• Stack cooked tortillas in a basket lined with a large napkin that you can fold over the top, which will let them continue steaming, keeping them soft and pliable. If not using immediately, store cooked tortillas in the refrigerator, well wrapped. To reheat, place directly on a hot surface or wrap in a damp towel and heat in the microwave for a few seconds.

MASA HARINA CORN TORTILLAS RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In medium bowl, mix masa harina and salt.
• Slowly add water until dough becomes smooth and firm, not sticky.
• Turn dough out onto board and divide it into 12 equal portions. Roll into balls.
• If you have a tortilla press, follow the tool's instructions for flattening the tortillas.
• By hand, place a tortilla ball between two sheets of wax paper. Use rolling pin to roll dough out into a thin tortilla shape.
• To cook, place one tortilla at a time in a large ungreased frying pan. Cook over moderate hot heat for about one to two minutes on each side, or until each side is lightly browned.
• When finished cooking all tortillas, wrap them together in aluminum foil and place in warm oven (about 300 degrees F) for 5 minutes.

TORTILLAS DE HARINA - FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Mix dry ingredients.
• Make a "hole" in the middle of your "mountain" of flour.
• Add oil and water and start mixing.
• When the dough is firm enough, knead it a bit on a flat surface.
• "break" pieces off the dough (about the size of a golf ball) by squeezing it with your thumb and index finger (like you're choking it).
• Make several round balls (called "testales"), and placed them on a floured surface (cookie sheet works great).
• Let the testales rest for about 30 minutes covered with a damp towel.
• Place a testal on a floured surface. Flour your rolling pin and roll. Whatever technique you use for rolling... just spread them enough so they are bout 6 inches in diameter.
• Cook your tortillas on a "comal", flat griddle or skillet at medium heat (mine was on 6 on an electric stove). You don't need to oil the skillet (there's enough oil in there).
• Just like with pancakes, the 1st one is never good, but the rest are delicious.
• You can pile up the uncooked tortillas, they won't stick.
• My process is usually: flatten, place in comal, flatten another one, turn the one in the comal, flatten another one, remove the one from the comal and repeat!
• It takes about 1 minute to cook on the 1st side (you will see some bubbles appear on the surface, this is normal), then you turn and it takes about 30 seconds on the second side.
• Eat them warm, but to freeze or refrigerate, make sure you cool them spread out on a flat surface before bagging them.

TORTILLAS DE MASA HARINA

Steps:

• Cut a thick plastic food-storage bag into two squares to fit the tortilla press.
• Put the masa harina in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and slowly add 3 cups warm water, mixing on low speed. Begin to knead the masa by hand until it feels like soft dough and is slightly warmer than your body, 5 to 8 minutes. Cover the masa and let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Divide the masa into 30 balls of equal size.
• Heat a well-seasoned comal or cast-iron skillet over moderately high heat.
• Arrange the two plastic squares on the bottom plate of the tortilla press. Place a ball of masa between the squares, press slightly, then open the press, flip the tortilla over, and press again to form a thin, even tortilla. Place the tortilla, still between the plastic, on your left hand (if you are right handed, or vice versa). Peel off the top sheet of plastic. Invert the tortilla onto the closely spaced fingers of your right hand (not on your palm) and remove the other plastic sheet. Carefully slide the tortilla onto the comal or cast-iron skillet and cook for several seconds or until the tortilla begins to dry on the outer edges. Using a thin spatula, flip the tortilla and cook slightly longer on the other side, then flip again. The tortilla should start to puff, the two layers separating by steam. Do not overcook the tortillas or they will be dry and hard. Immediately transfer the tortillas to a kitchen towel. Cover and keep warm until served.