How to make Tortillas!

Step 1

Mix masa harina, flour, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix warm water and oil in a smaller bowl and pour this into to the masa harina and knead a for a minute or two, right in the bowl incorporating all the flour from the edges of the bowl. Dough should be soft, but not sticky and should feel like fresh play-dough.   If it feels dry, crumbly or very firm, add a little more water, so it’s soft and pliable. If wet or sticky, add a little more flour. Form a ball and cover with a wet kitchen town (or plastic wrap) and let sit 30 minutes.   Do a tester, see notes.  Roll the dough into a 12 to 16-inch log. Slice it in half,  then half again, and into thirds or forths so you have 12-16 pieces roughly the same size.  Roll into balls. Cover with a kitchen towel.

Step 2

Heat a dry, cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Lower heat to medium.

Step 3

Working one tortilla at a time, center each ball of dough between 2 pieces of thick plastic (see notes),  or parchment. Press in a tortilla press, or use a glass pie plate (glass allows you to see what you are doing without having to lift the plate) to flatten the disc to about an 1/8 inch thick.

Step 4

Place the tortilla in your palm, remove one side of the plastic, flip into your other palm, remove other side of the plastic, and place this in the hot dry skillet. Cook each side 30-45 seconds, then flip back to the first side until it puffs or you see bubbling- indicating it is cooked through. Wrap in a towel. (Wrapping in the towel will soften them up and make them more flexible.)

Step 5

Mix flour, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl. Add the oil and mix into fine crumbs using your fingers. Add hot water and stir and kneed a for minute or two, right in the bowl until very smooth and form a ball. Cover with a wet kitchen town (or plastic wrap) and let sit 30 minutes (or up to 3 hours).  Do a tester, see notes. On a floured surface, roll the dough into a 12-inch log. Slice it in half,  then half again, and into halves or thirds so you have 8 or 12 pieces roughly the same size.  Roll into balls. Cover with a kitchen towel.

Step 6

Heat a dry, cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Lower heat to medium.

Step 7

Working one tortilla at a time (see notes),  center each ball of dough between 2 pieces of thick plastic (see notes),  or parchment. Press in a tortilla press, or roll out on a floured surface,  or use a glass pie plate (glass allows you to see what you are doing without having to lift the plate) to flatten the disc to  1/8 inch thick.

Step 8

Place the tortilla in your palm, remove one side of the plastic, flip into your other palm, remove other side of the plastic, and place this in the skillet. Cook each side 30-45 seconds, then flip back to the first side until it puffs or you see bubbling- indicating it is cooked through. Wrap in a towel. (Wrapping in the towel will soften them up and make them more flexible.)

Step 9

Mix masa harina and salt in a medium bowl. Mix sourdough starter, warm water and oil in a smaller bowl. Pour this into to the masa harina and kneed a for minute or two, right in the bowl until very smooth and pliable and form a ball. If crumbly or dry add a little more water, until soft and pliable. If wet and sticky, add a little more masa. Cover with a wet kitchen town (or plastic wrap) and let proof on the kitchen counter 4-6 hours. (70-80 F)

Step 10

After it proofs, massage the dough, is there wetness to the touch? Add more masa or flour, if the dough feels wet.   PLEASE Do a tester before dividing, see notes, adding a little more flour. You want it soft, pliable but not sticky or wet feeling.

Step 11

Roll the dough into a 12-inch log. Slice it in half,  then half again, and into thirds so you have 12 pieces roughly the same size.  Roll into balls. Cover with a kitchen towel.

Step 12

Heat a dry, cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Lower heat to medium.

Step 13

Working one tortilla at a time, center each ball of dough between 2 pieces of thick plastic (see notes),  or parchment. press in a tortilla press, or use a glass pie plate (glass allows you to see what you are doing without having to lift the plate) to flatten the disc to a diameter of 4 to 6 inches or 1/8 inch thick.

Step 14

Place the tortilla in your palm, remove one side of the plastic, flip into your other palm, remove other side of plastic, and place this in the skillet. Cook each side 30-45 seconds, then flip back to the first side until it puffs or you see bubbling- indicating it is cooked through. Wrap in a towel. (Wrapping in the towel will soften them up and make them more flexible.)

Step 15

Mix masa harina and salt in a medium bowl. Add oil and hot water and stir with a fork .  Kneed a for minute or two, right in the bowl until very smooth and form a ball. Cover with a wet kitchen town (or plastic wrap) and let sit 2o minutes (or up to 3 hours).  Do a tester, see notes. Roll the dough into a 12-inch log. Slice it in half,  then half again, and half again so you have 16 pieces roughly the same size.  Roll into balls. Cover with a kitchen towel.

Step 16

Heat a dry, cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Lower heat to medium.

Step 17

Working one tortilla at a time (see notes) , center each ball of dough between 2 pieces of thick plastic (see notes),  or parchment. press in a tortilla press, or use a glass pie plate (glass allows you to see what you are doing without having to lift the plate) to flatten the disc to a diameter of 4 to 6 inches or 1/8 inch thick.

Step 18

Place the tortilla in your palm, remove one side of the plastic, flip into your other palm, remove other side of the plastic, and place this in the skillet. Cook each side 30-45 seconds, then flip back to the first side until it puffs or you see bubbling- indicating it is cooked through. Wrap in a towel. (Wrapping in the towel will soften them up and make them more flexible.)