45-Second Corn Tortillas Premium PD Recipe

Thin homemade corn tortillas are easy to make with my quick-mix, sure-thing recipe and the right tools for the job. For years I attempted a technique without a press to assist those who were ordering tortillas by mail. Then I dove all in with the top-rated tortilla press and created a sure-thing dough hack that makes forming tortillas a breeze. I’m grateful the Protective Diet community demanded an easy way to make thin tortillas for delicate baked chips. Even living in San Diego, surrounded by tortillerias I became excited to make them from scratch. Keep in mind “from scratch” means simply mixing a pantry staple in a bowl and with a little practice you will be an expert tortilla maker cranking out hot stacks! Then I moved to Utah and added a grain mill to my workplace for wellness to increase organic ingredient quality. It took me two years to perfect the measurement and technique with whole untreated corn to produce light puffed tortillas and crunch-tastic chips. Join us in PD-Ed for new and improved tortilla tips with shortcuts in lesson #326. I will introduce my sure-thing gram measurements with commercial masa harina and fresh milled whole corn and water. My recipe focus is on ingredient quality, savings, efficiency, and simple techniques to produce delicate corn tortillas and oil-free baked chips to enjoy as our starch-energy on a Protective Diet.

Equipment:

Ingredients:


Commercial Masa Ingredients:

  • 270 grams or 2 cups masa harina, maseca, or instant masa (ingredients: corn with hydrated lime)
  • 270 grams or 2 scant cups boiling water

Fresh Milling Ingredients:

  • 270 grams organic whole dried dent corn (blue, yellow or white)
  • 200 grams boiling water

Directions:

  1. Read Notes and watch PD-Ed Class #326 for advanced measurements and tortilla shortcuts along with encouragement and community support
  2. Also, see class #266 for visual tips, cast iron skillet seasoning, and perfectly baked tortilla chip advice
  3. In a mixing bowl, weigh grams of commercial masa harina (or weigh whole dent corn and mill it on finest setting)
  4. Heat several cups water to a boil in a tea kettle or on the stovetop
  5. Return flour-filled mixing bowl to scale and add grams of boiling water (accuracy makes perfect dough – use a spoon to remove water if you over poured)
  6. Mix vigorously with a Danish dough whisk or fork
  7. Use your hands to bring the warm dough together and knead on the counter for the length of your favorite song, or set a timer for three minutes for perfectly puffed tortillas)
  8. Roll dough out into a thick log and cut into 16 pieces
  9. Preheat skillet, pan, or Comal on stovetop set to high heat
  10. Using tortilla press, press dough nugget between plastic bag
  11. Open press, turn tortilla slightly and press again for even tortillas
  12. Remove thinly pressed tortilla from the plastic
  13. Using hands, carefully place onto the preheated skillet and set a stopwatch for 15 seconds, then flip
  14. Allow to cook another 15 seconds on second side then flip back to the first side
  15. Cook another 15 seconds; and allow to puff ( if puff isn’t happening press center or cracks with a spatula or towel to build steam to puff; cook for a couple of seconds
  16. If serving soft, remove cooked tortilla from pan and wrap in a towel to keep warm
  17. Tortillas are cooked in 45 seconds on high heat, think 2 flips and a tap, then wrap
  18. If baking into tortilla chips, lay out on baking sheets and add salt or follow Breville Airfry instructions in PD-ED CLass #326

Notes & Pro Tips:

  • Salt is not traditionally added to dough when making corn tortillas at home
  • Mixing the dough using boiling water is also not traditional, but using my technique produces a no-fuss tortilla dough with sure-thing results
  • Trust my method; it will produce the perfect tortilla dough texture without adjustments
  • If you use hot tap water your dough will be too wet and you will have to add more flour, mix, and test
  • Kneading is an important step for puffing tortillas
  • Dough needs more kneading or is too dry if tortilla has cracks around the edges and doesn’t puff
  • Dough is too moist if it sticks to the plastic when pressing
  • If delays happen and divided dough pieces become dry roll with wet fingers before placing onto the press
  • Instant masa harina or maseca is found at most grocery stores and international markets (contains corn, hydrated lime and occasionally folic acid)
  • Hydrated lime is a mineral that makes the dough swell
  • Instant masa harina or maseca that is made from white corn produces the thinnest tortillas
  • Masa harina is also made from yellow, blue, or purple corn
  • Bob’s Organic Masa Harina is a hardier, more flavorful yellow corn and makes a thicker tortilla
  • In PD-Ed Class #266 I review seven brands of masa harina including white, yellow, and blue
  • Azure Standard sells organic yellow and white masa harina, I find the yellow more flavorful
  • Azure Standard sells organic blue dent corn as well as yellow and white for milling
  • Blue corn contains anthocyanin and is my favorite
  • Dent corn when stored properly, will stay fresh for twenty years
  • Dent corn is named after the little indention that forms on the kernel when it is dried
  • Learn more about dent corn in PD-Ed Lesson #306 A Deep Pantry Saves Us Money & Time While Improving Food Quality
  • I always weigh whole corn or whole grains and mill directly into the recipe
  • The grain mill I use creates fine flour quickly so I can measure grains and mill directly into a recipe making milling convenient and pleasurable for everyday recipes
  • Refrigerate tortillas up to a week in an airtight container or freeze for several months
  • Warming cold tortillas is demonstrated on the stovetop in Lesson #266
  • Practice makes perfect—by your second or third batch you will be a pro

Serving Suggestions:

Responses

  1. I did it! Thanks Julie! Hand-made Fresh Corn Tortillas! Oh my I am so excited to eat them tonight. My husband, Jared, said ” These are the best tortillas I have ever had. And you better make a second batch because the kids are going to Love them.”. So exciting, and it was easy! I don’t know why I was so reluctant to try. It’s a keeper! Just follow the recipe!

  2. Trust the recipe! Make sure you set your timer – 45 seconds is the key! Measure everything and trust the dough to make perfect tortillas. I used the blue dent corn and milled it fine… so good. Happy belly!

  3. I’ve been scared of making these for the longest time and now I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to attempt them. They are so easy and so flippin’ delicious! Julie’s Notes & Pro Tips (and the video) made it super easy. My teenage son couldn’t believe his taco wasn’t falling apart yet he loaded it with the good stuff!

  4. I don’t know what to say except PERFECTION! These tortillas are even better than fresh ones I have purchased from a tortilleria! I made a dozen for 3 adults…clearly not enough as we fought over who got the last one!

  5. So much fun to make! They are in the oven now becoming tostadas and tortillas. I can’t wait to try them. I will come back here to leave my thoughts after they come out of the oven…
    …I usually bake two trays of tostados and tortillas for 14 minutes total, flipping the racks halfway through. These needed longer as they were still warm and pliable when I put them in the oven. They needed an extra 7 minutes, so 21 minutes in all, but MAN! THESE ARE DELICIOUS!!! Thank you Julie Marie!

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