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!
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
I may have missed a post, but which works best, to freeze uncooked but pressed tortillas or fully cooked ones? And do I need plastic film between the tortillas?
Hi Liam,
Great question. 1 packed cup masa is 150 g, and 1 cup warm water is 237 ml. But each color of masa harina is slightly different, and it’s more an art than a science, so start with those measurements, knead well, and add more water or more masa as needed!
Do you have a corresponding weight measurement for the masa and water? If not I’ll do some experimentation but I love to reliably get hydration of doughs right on the money with a scale!
Hi Laurie! It sounds like your masa might need a little more hydration. Try adding a bit more water (a tablespoon at a time). The masa should feel soft and pliable, almost like Play-Doh, and not crack around the edges when you press it. We put together a full guide to help troubleshoot, here’s the link: https://masienda.com/blogs/learn/anatomy-tortilla-puff
I am having a hard time getting my tortillas to stay together. after I press them and take them off the press they fall apart. How can I prevent this?