Homemade Corn Tortillas Recipe (Tortillas de Maíz)
These authentic homemade corn tortillas are soft, flavorful, and made with only 3 simple ingredients: masa harina, warm water, and salt.
Servings: 12 to 14 tortillas
Ingredients
- 2 cups masa harina (nixtamalized corn flour)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups warm water
Instructions
- Place a comal (griddle or cast-iron skillet) over medium heat and allow it to heat up.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine masa harina, salt, and warm water. Mix with your hands for about 3 to 4 minutes until a soft dough forms. If the masa (dough) doesn’t come together well add 1 tablespoon of water at a time and mix some more.
- Divide the masa into 12 to 14 dough balls. Keep the masa covered with a clean kitchen towel so it does not dry out while you press the tortillas.
- Line both sides of the tortilla press with plastic cut from a freezer bag or produce bag to prevent sticking. Place a ball of masa in the center, close the press, and gently flatten into a tortilla.
- Place the tortilla on the hot comal and cook for 20 to 30 seconds. Flip and cook another 20 to 30 seconds. Flip one final time and gently press if needed to encourage the tortilla to puff. Transfer to a tortilla warmer or towel-lined basket to keep warm.
Video
Notes
Texture of masa: The dough should feel like soft Play-Doh, moist but not sticky. If the dough cracks around the edges, add more warm water 1 tablespoon at a time. If it feels too wet or sticky, sprinkle in a little more masa harina.
No tortilla press? You can flatten tortillas using a heavy skillet, pie dish, or rolling pin between sheets of plastic.
Cooking tip: Your comal should be very hot before cooking tortillas. High heat helps create those beautiful golden spots and encourages the tortillas to puff.
How to store homemade corn tortillas: Keep tortillas wrapped in a clean kitchen towel or tortilla warmer while cooking. Store leftovers in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How to freeze: Stack cooled tortillas with parchment paper between layers and freeze in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 99mg | Potassium: 50mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 41IU | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg