Easy step-by-step photo tutorial and video to enjoy homemade corn tortillas. You only need 2 ingredients. If you want to learn how to make corn tortillas from scratch, you have arrived at the right place. This step-by-step tutorial will guide you all the way to making your own corn tortillas at home.
Course Breads
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword flour tortilla, homemade corn tortilla chips, how to make homemade corn tortillas
1-¼cupsof warm waterthis may vary depending on air humidity and other wheatear conditions. Have some extra tablespoons of water to add as needed.
YOU WILL ALSO NEED:
2piecesof round plastic cut out from a bag.freezer bags are ideal for this purpose.
Tortilla press or a Glass pie dish
Instructions
Make the Masa Dough
Use a large bowl to combine the masa-harina (corn flour) and water. Mix well until the water is absorbed evenly and the dough forms a ball.
Preheat a cast iron skillet or heavy pan on medium flame. The skillet has to be ready when you start pressing the tortillas.
After kneading the dough, form a small ball the size of a golf ball. Using a tortilla press or a heavy dish (pie dish as I do), place the ball of dough about 1 ½ inches in diameter between the two plastic pieces and press to form a 6-inch round tortilla.
Making the Tortillas
Open the tortilla press or remove the heavy dish if using it to press the tortillas, peel the top plastic off. Lift the tortilla from the tortilla press, holding it from the bottom part. If the dough is too dry, the edges of your tortilla will look cracked and you will need to add a little water.
Somehow when using the tortilla press, my tortillas come out very thin. Some people in the South of Mexico eat thicker tortillas, and some grandmas still make them by hand.
Lift the plastic with the pressed tortilla, place the dough in your hand closer to your fingers and carefully peel the plastic off the dough. If the dough doesn’t come out so easily, then the dough could be a little too wet. Add some more masa-harina to the dough mix again until it becomes easy to handle.
Cooking the Tortillas
Place the tortilla on the skillet and cook for about 30 -40 seconds. The edge will begin to dry out. Turn over and continue to cook for about 40-45 seconds until brown patches form. This time will vary depending on how thick your tortilla is and the temperature of your griddle.
Turn over again and cook for another 15 seconds. The cooking time is about 1:45 minutes total. Cook until the tortilla begins to puff. Tap lightly with your fingertips to allow even puffing.
Wrap with a napkin or clean towel, and serve. Tortillas keep warm when placed in a basket made of natural fibers.
Video
Notes
You do not need a tortilla press to make tortillas; many women in Mexico and other Central American countries shape the tortillas by hand. But here is a little trick I often use, a glass pie dish. Like in the picture below.
Traditionally, salt is not added to the dough for making tortillas. That will be your personal choice.We are looking for a soft dough consistency; it should not stick to your hands. If it does, add a little more masa-harina. If it looks dry, breakable, or crumbly, add more water. Cover with a moistened towel to prevent the dough from drying.