Best 5 Corn Tortillas From Masa Harina Recipes

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Masa harina, a finely ground cornmeal, is a pantry staple for making homemade corn tortillas. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced cook, crafting corn tortillas from masa harina is a rewarding and versatile culinary skill. This comprehensive guide will lead you through the steps of creating authentic, delicious corn tortillas using masa harina. We'll delve into selecting the right masa harina, mastering the dough-making process, and providing tips for cooking perfect tortillas. With detailed instructions and helpful insights, you'll soon be enjoying fresh, homemade corn tortillas that are both flavorful and satisfying.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

FRESH MASA CORN TORTILLAS



Fresh Masa Corn Tortillas image

Provided by Rick Martinez

Categories     side-dish

Time 45m

Yield 12 tortillas

Number Of Ingredients 3

1 1/2 pounds fresh yellow or white fine-grind corn masa for tortillas (see Cook's Note)
Kosher salt
Vegetable oil

Steps:

  • Knead the masa, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/3 cup water in a large bowl with your hands until well incorporated and the masa is soft and pliable but doesn't stick to your hands, about 4 minutes. If the masa is still dry or crumbly, add a tablespoon or two more water and continue to mix.
  • Cut and remove the zip top from a gallon freezer bag. Cut the two sides of the bag leaving the bottom intact so that the bag can open and close like a book. If using a tortilla press, trim the cut sides of the bag to fit the flat surface of the tortilla press. (If you don't have a tortilla press, you can use a smooth-bottomed 10-inch skillet to press and flatten the tortillas. Use the plastic in the same way you would use with the press except place it between the countertop or work surface and the bottom of the skillet.)
  • Divide the dough into 12 balls about 1/4 cup each (or 54g.). Arrange them on a rimmed baking sheet and keep covered with a damp kitchen towel until ready to use.
  • Heat a medium cast-iron skillet or large griddle over medium-high heat.
  • Place the prepared plastic bag inside the press so that the folded side of the bag is on the hinged side of the press. Working with one dough ball at a time, open the press and the top side of the bag and place a ball in the center of the press. Fold the bag over the ball and gently press, holding a steady, firm pressure for a few seconds to flatten the ball to a 7-inch round. Open the press and peel the top bag from the dough. Place the dough on your open palm and peel off the remaining plastic.
  • Brush the preheated pan with vegetable oil. Working with one at a time (unless using a large griddle), cook the tortillas for 30 seconds on each side, flipping 3 times, until just starting to brown in spots, 90 seconds total. Stack and wrap the tortillas in a clean kitchen towel and keep warm. Repeat pressing and cooking the remaining dough balls.
  • Serve the tortillas warm.

CORN TORTILLAS



Corn Tortillas image

This is the real thing! A simple mixture of masa harina and water results in the most wonderful corn tortillas you ever tasted. The secret is to use a cast iron pan! You can buy masa harina at Mexican grocery stores or in the ethnic food aisle of large supermarkets.

Provided by jenn

Categories     Bread     Quick Bread Recipes     Tortilla Recipes

Time 1h5m

Yield 5

Number Of Ingredients 2

1 ¾ cups masa harina
1 ⅛ cups water

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl, mix together masa harina and hot water until thoroughly combined. Turn dough onto a clean surface and knead until pliable and smooth. If dough is too sticky, add more masa harina; if it begins to dry out, sprinkle with water. Cover dough tightly with plastic wrap and allow to stand for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat a cast iron skillet or griddle to medium-high.
  • Divide dough into 15 equal-size balls. Using a tortilla press, a rolling pin, or your hands, press each ball of dough flat between two sheets of plastic wrap.
  • Immediately place tortilla in preheated pan and allow to cook for approximately 30 seconds, or until browned and slightly puffy. Turn tortilla over to brown on second side for approximately 30 seconds more, then transfer to a plate. Repeat process with each ball of dough. Keep tortillas covered with a towel to stay warm and moist until ready to serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 145.6 calories, Carbohydrate 30.4 g, Fat 1.5 g, Fiber 3.8 g, Protein 3.7 g, SaturatedFat 0.2 g, Sodium 3.6 mg, Sugar 0.3 g

CORN TORTILLAS FROM MASA HARINA



Corn Tortillas From Masa Harina image

In Mexico, masa for tortillas is always made from nixtamal, dried corn that has been treated with an alkali, like ash or slaked limestone (called cal in Mexico), that softens its texture and vastly improves its nutritional profile. Nixtamalization also changes the flavor and aroma of corn in ways that are addictive and indelible but almost impossible to describe.

Provided by Julia Moskin

Time 1h

Yield 15 tortillas

Number Of Ingredients 1

12 ounces nixtamalized corn flour, like Maseca

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.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 82, UnsaturatedFat 1 gram, Carbohydrate 17 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 1 milligram

MASA HARINA CORN TORTILLAS RECIPE



Masa Harina Corn Tortillas Recipe image

Make your own delicious soft-shell corn tortillas for tacos or snacking with this easy masa flour recipe.

Provided by Elizabeth Yetter

Categories     Side Dish     Bread

Time 1h5m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 3

2-1/2 cups masa harina
1-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1-1/2 cups warm water

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 86 kcal, Carbohydrate 18 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Fiber 2 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 0 g, Sodium 133 mg, Sugar 0 g, Fat 1 g, ServingSize 12 tortillas (serves 12), UnsaturatedFat 0 g

ALMOST-FROM-SCRATCH CORN TORTILLAS



Almost-From-Scratch Corn Tortillas image

Here is a relatively easy project that can deliver what may be the best tortillas you've ever had: Masa harina mixed with water and a little fat, left to rest for a while, then pressed and griddled. The recipe makes 12 to 16, enough for a taco party.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories     breakfast, brunch, dinner, easy, lunch, project, appetizer, main course, side dish

Time 1h

Yield 12 to 16 tortillas

Number Of Ingredients 5

1 1/2 cups masa harina
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, lard or butter
About 1 cup hot water, or more as needed
Flour for kneading

Steps:

  • Combine the masa and salt in a bowl; stir in the oil. Slowly stream in the water while mixing with your hand or a wooden spoon until the dough comes together into a ball.
  • Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until it is smooth and elastic - just a minute or two. Wrap in plastic, and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or up to a few hours.
  • Break off pieces of the dough (you're shooting for 12 to 16 tortillas total), and lightly flour them. Put them between 2 sheets of plastic wrap, and press them in a tortilla press, or roll them out or press them with your hands to a diameter of 4 to 6 inches. Begin to cook the tortillas as you finish pressing or rolling them.
  • Put a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Cook the tortillas, 1 or 2 at a time, until brown spots appear on the bottom, about a minute. Flip, and do the same on the other side. Wrap the cooked tortillas in a towel to keep them warm; serve immediately, or cool and store tightly wrapped in the fridge for a few days.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 63, UnsaturatedFat 2 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 2 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 43 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Tips:

  • Choose the right masa harina. Look for a brand that is made from 100% corn and has a fine texture.
  • Use warm water. This will help the masa harina to hydrate properly and form a smooth dough.
  • Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic. This will help to develop the gluten in the dough and make the tortillas strong and pliable.
  • Let the dough rest before rolling it out. This will allow the gluten to relax and make the tortillas easier to handle.
  • Roll the tortillas out thinly. This will help them to cook evenly and develop a crispy texture.
  • Cook the tortillas over medium heat. This will help to prevent them from burning.
  • Flip the tortillas frequently. This will help them to cook evenly on both sides.
  • Serve the tortillas warm. This is when they are at their best.

Conclusion:

Making corn tortillas from masa harina is a relatively easy process, but there are a few things you need to keep in mind to ensure that they turn out perfect. By following the tips above, you can make delicious, authentic corn tortillas that will be the perfect addition to your next Mexican meal.

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