Our Best Recipe For Homemade Tortillas Using Masa Harina
Our Best Recipe For Homemade Tortillas Using Masa Harina
December 27, 2022
A bag of our masa harina (also known as masa flour or nixtamalized corn flour), plus water, a trusty tortilla press and a can-do attitude are all you need to make perfect corn tortillas at home. While a homemade loaf of sourdough takes hours (if not days) to achieve, homemade tortillas can be ready in mere minutes!
Check out the recipe below for perfect homemade corn tortillas and if you meet any trouble on your road to "puff" perfection, check out these tips to help you find your groove.
Tortilla-Making Tips:
Tortilla-Making Tips:
- Not getting a puff? For additional hydration during the tortilla cooking process, we recommend using a spray bottle/mister to lightly hydrate each side of the tortilla (to prevent dryness and cracking). If you don't have a mister, just fill a little cup with water and use your fingers to flick droplets of water onto your tortilla.
- *Warm water (~100 degrees F, or the hot setting on your faucet) is recommended for mixing your masa, in order to begin blooming the natural flavor of the masa and to fully activate the small bits of pericarp (corn skin) in the masa flour (which help the masa bind, naturally).
- Water can be substituted with other liquids such as stocks, broths, juices etc., depending on the desired flavor. Salt and/or spices may also be added. Masienda respects tradition while encouraging creativity for all cooks.
- Want to make tortillas ahead of time? While best enjoyed fresh for tacos, leftover tortillas are great for other applications such as enchiladas, quesadillas, tostadas, and totopos (chips). To store tortillas, make sure they have cooled completely. Then place them in an airtight container, or tightly wrapped in plastic, in your refrigerator for up to a week. Storing warm tortillas before they’ve cooled, may cause condensation which can lead to mold.
All Comments
Hi Jim! Thanks for your comment. We recommend using warm water (around 100°F, or the hot setting on your faucet) when mixing your masa. This helps bloom the natural flavor of the corn and fully activate the small bits of pericarp (corn skin) in the masa harina, which helps the masa bind naturally. The exact temperature isn’t as important as achieving a masa consistency that feels smooth and pliable, like Play-Doh. As for the recipes, both will work, but we’d recommend following the recipe on our website, as it’s our most up-to-date version. For the most consistent results, we also suggest using the gram measurements whenever possible. Let us know if you have any other questions—we’re happy to help!
Hi Suzanne! If you take a look at the recipe above, we’ve included the measurements by weight as well: 1 cup of masa harina = 120g. A packed cup simply means gently pressing the masa harina into the measuring cup so it’s full and level, rather than leaving it loose and fluffy. For the most consistent results, we recommend following the gram measurements whenever possible. Let us know if you have any other questions!
The instructions on the package says 1 packed cup masa, 1 cup warm water…Just what do you mean by Packed cup
Good Morning,
I just purchased three bags of your masa harina and am trying to learn how to make corn tortillas. I understand that water temperature is very important; however, I have not found any instructions on the packages or on your website advising the water temperature you recommend. What is your recommendation for water temperature?
Please permit me one additional question. I notice that the above recipe for corn tortillas is different from the recipe on the masa bags for the same size and quantity of tortillas (10 6 inch tortillas). Which one should I follow?
I will appreciate your help and look forward to your reply.
Hi AZD! If your tortilla is sticking to the liner and not releasing easily, your masa likely has a bit too much moisture. Next time, try using slightly less water and aim for a Play-Doh-like texture before pressing. That should help the tortilla release much more cleanly. Let us know if that does the trick!