Our Best Recipe For Homemade Tortillas Using Masa Harina

White masa harina being pressed on a tortilla kit

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:
  • 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, tostadas, migas, 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. 
  • Want to mix your masa ahead of time? Masa benefits from a little rest (10-20 minutes, covered with a damp cloth) to fully hydrate, but if you want to make your masa in the morning, for example, and press and cook tortillas later in the day, it's best to tightly wrap it in plastic or in an airtight container and store in the fridge. Leaving mixed masa at room temperature for too long can cause fermentation. We don't recommend storing mixed masa for longer than a day or two — with masa harina, you can mix up a fresh batch in minutes.
  • Can the same masa be used for tamales? Masa for tamales typically incorporates fat, a flavored liquid such as stock, salt, and a leavening agent. Check out our best recipe for tamales from masa harina.
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All Comments

MASIENDA |

Hi Tom! Yes! You can, but we always recommend mixing your masa fresh when possible for the best texture. If you do make it a day ahead, keep it tightly covered in the fridge, then let it come to room temp and give it a quick knead before cooking. Add a splash of water if it feels a little dry.

TOM |

Can the masa be prepared a day before cooking?

MASIENDA |

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!

MASIENDA |

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!

SUZANNE |

The instructions on the package says 1 packed cup masa, 1 cup warm water…Just what do you mean by Packed cup

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