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How To Make Tortillas: Corn Tortilla 101

January 21, 2020
All the best tips and tricks for how to make tortillas at home. Homemade corn tortillas are a lot easier than you think and taste absolutely incredible! #corntortillas #howtomaketortillas #homemadetortillas #tortillarecipe #corntortillarecipe
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A basket filled with corn tortillas on a wooden table.

Have you ever wondered how to make homemade tortillas? Whether it’s for wrapping around your favorite taco filling, homemade quesadillas, or just snacking right off the griddle, making a corn tortilla is a lot easier than you’d think and sooooooo much better than store bought.


homemade tortillas from scratch

There are two different ways to make a corn tortilla recipe.

The first is to use fresh corn masa, which is simply nixtamalized corn that has been finely ground with warm water into a dough.

If you’re like nixta-what?! Read up on this ancient process of softening and getting nutrients from the hard corn—super interesting.

This post is about making homemade tortillas made from masa harina which is the masa dough mentioned above that has been dried and ground into a corn flour (corn meal that you use to make corn bread is not the same thing and won’t work).

Scroll down for my three favorite masa harina flours.

Masa harina and salt in a bowl with a measuring cup on a white table with a jar of kosher salt next to it.

masa harina 101: the most important part of a corn tortilla recipe

Seeing that it only takes three ingredients to make homemade corn tortillas— masa harina, hot water, and salt—the masa harina that you use is pretty important.

Here are my top three picks:

  1. Masienda’s Chef-Grade Masa Flour Masienda sources traditional maize from Mexico to produce a superior masa harina. Plus by supporting them, you are supporting their efforts to protect valuable native varieties of corn that exist nowhere else in the world.
  2. Gold Mine Masa Flour This has the convince of being available on Amazon, is organic and comes in white, yellow, or blue corn varieties.
  3. Bob’s Red Mill Masa Harina Flour Bob’s Red Mill is a great option for picking up at your local grocery store. This organic masa harina is widely available in stores (and also on Amazon as well).

the tools

The nice thing about making your own tortillas is you don’t need very many ingredients or tools but there are two pieces of equipment you do need to be successful.

  • A Tortilla Press. These are very inexpensive and can be found at any Latin market or online. If you really don’t want to buy one you can use a glass pie plate.
  • A Comal or Cast Iron Skillet for cooking the tortillas. A nonstick skillet also works.
Woman making corn tortillas with a tortilla press.

the method

This is the process I use to make corn tortillas. Don’t worry if your first ones don’t turn out great, it takes practice. Just keep trying an pretty soon you’ll get the hang of it.

mixing the dough

  1. Place 2 cups masa harina flour in a mixing bowl and toss with a teaspoon of salt.
  2. Slowly mix in 2 cups boiling water with a wooden spoon. As a general rule I like to use equal parts masa harina and water but this will depend on the type of masa harina you use and how dry it is in your kitchen.
  3. The masa is ready when it is soft but neither sticky or crumbly. You can always add more masa harina or water as needed. Roll some dough into a golf ball-sized piece. It should be smooth and not crack when you roll it. If it sticks to your hands, add more masa harina. If it cracks add more water. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest while you heat up the comal.

heat the pan and prepare the tortilla press

  1. Heat a cast iron skillet, comal, or non-stick frying pan over high heat. Don’t add any vegetable oil or fat.
  2. Cut a large, gallon-sized resealable plastic freezer bag (Ziploc) in half so it is in two pieces. Line the tortilla press with the bag (you can also use plastic wrap). If you really love making tortillas you can use the same pieces of plastic many times, just wipe clean and reuse.
Blue tortilla press on a wooden table.

form the corn tortilla

  1. Roll masa into a ball. Start with a small walnut-sized ball and work your way up to a bigger one. The smaller the tortilla, the easier it is to work with. You can divide the dough all at once or do it one at a time.
  2. Place dough in the middle of the tortilla press on top of the plastic. Fold the top half of the plastic over the dough ball, then close the tortilla press gently. Press down to make a 1/4-inch to 1/8-inch thick tortilla. 
  3. Gently lift the lid of the tortilla press. Remove tortilla inside the plastic bag. Hold tortilla in your right hand and lift the top of the plastic with your left hand. Flip tortilla onto your left hand and then remove plastic from the bottom. 

cook the tortillas

  1. If your pan is smoking or too hot set the skillet over medium heat instead of high heat.
  2. To cook the tortillas, carefully but swiftly flip tortilla onto the hot comal. Don’t touch! Let cook for 30 seconds. Flip with a metal spatula (or your fingers) and cook on other side for 30 seconds or until it starts to get toasty with golden brown spots. Repeat, flipping two more times.
  3. Remove to tortilla warmer and repeat with remaining dough. 
A tortilla cooking on a black pan on the stove

what about flour tortillas?

Homemade flour tortillas are also super delicious but are pretty different from making the corn version.

As the name suggests, they are made with wheat flour, salt, and baking powder and rolled out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface.

Check out my flour tortilla post for step-by-step instructions.

how to make the most of your tortilla recipe

So you’ve made this tall stack of beautiful corn tortillas, now what?

  • Of course you have to eat a few right away, because there’s nothing better than a warm, fresh tortilla right out of the pan.
  • Then keep a few in a tortilla warmer or clean kitchen towel to wrap around your favorite Mexican tacos.
  • To Store Them: spread them in a single layer on the counter to cool.
    • Once cool, stack and store in a plastic bag for 3 days in the refrigerator or 1 month in the freezer.
  • To Reheat Them: Rewarm one at a time on dry, hot comal or skillet until soft and pliable.
Overhead shot of a corn tortilla cooking in a black pan on the stove top.

the best easy tortilla recipes

Now that you’ve mastered the basic corn tortilla recipe here are a few variations I love:

  • Himalayan Pink Salt Tortillas
  • Sprouted Lentil Turmeric Tortillas
  • What about a Flour Tortilla Recipe?
Yellow turmeric tortillas in a tortilla warmer on top of a white and blue towel.

mexican food fans unite!

If you make Mexican recipes at home on a regular basis, check out my Ultimate Mexican Pantry Guide to see what you need to have on hand.

you’ve got homemade corn tortillas and I want to see them!

Once you’ve got that perfect tortilla technique down, I want to see it! Tag all your tortilla creations @holajalapeno or #holajalapeno on Instagram whether it’s tacos or quesadillas, I want to know how it goes.

Fresh masa in a white ceramic bowl with a black rim on a white table.
Print

How To Make Tortillas: Corn Tortillas 101

Stacks of tortillas in a cooler on top of blue and white towels.

★★★★★

4.7 from 6 reviews

All the best tips and tricks for how to make tortillas at home. Homemade corn tortillas are a lot easier than you think and taste absolutely incredible!

  • Author: Kate Ramos
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 15 tortillas 1x
  • Category: Side
  • Method: stove top
  • Cuisine: Mexican
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Scale

Ingredients

2 cups masa harina

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups hot water

Instructions

Mix dough. Combine masa harina, water, and salt in a large bowl. Mix with your hands to make sure it the dough is thoroughly moist. Knead for a few minutes to incorporate the water into the flour.

If it is too wet, add more flour, if it is too dry, add more water. You want the dough to be soft, but not sticky. If it cracks when you try to roll a ball of dough, add more water and mix again. 

Cover with plastic wrap while you prepare the press and pan. 

Prepare the tortilla press. Cut a large, gallon-sized resealable plastic bag in half so it is two pieces. Line the tortilla press with the bag (you can also use plastic wrap). 

Heat pan. Place a dry comal, cast iron skillet, or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. 

Roll dough into balls. Form a walnut-sized piece of dough into a ball. Start with this size and work your way up to a larger piece of dough which will make a larger tortilla. 

Press dough into tortillas. Place dough in the middle of the tortilla press on top of the plastic. Fold the plastic over the dough ball then close the tortilla press gently. Press down to make a 1/4-inch to 1/8-inch thick tortilla. 

Gently lift the lid of the tortilla press. Remove tortilla inside the plastic bag. Hold tortilla in your right hand and lift the top of the plastic with your left hand. Flip tortilla onto your left hand and then remove plastic from the bottom. 

Cook tortillas. Carefully but swiftly flip tortilla onto the hot comal. Don’t touch! Let cook for 1 minute. Flip with a metal spatula and cook on other side for 1 minute. 

Remove to tortilla warmer and repeat with remaining dough. 

Notes

  • If you aren’t using them right away, spread them in a single layer on the counter to cool.
  • Once cool, stack and store in a plastic bag for 3 days in the refrigerator or 1 month in the freezer.
  • Rewarm one at a time on dry, hot comal or skillet until soft and pliable.

Keywords: corn tortilla

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @holajalapeno on Instagram and hashtag it #holajalapeno

In support of this small business, ¡Hola! Jalapeño earns revenue in a few different ways. Several sponsored posts are published each month. I also earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products I link to— there are a few of those links in this post. I only feature items I genuinely love and personally use on a regular basis. This commission is an arrangement between the retailer and ¡Hola! Jalapeño (readers never pay more for products). This income allows me to run the site. Thank you for reading!

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Kate Ramos
Kate Ramos

 

12 Comments

  • Avatar
    Reply Alejandra Graf January 21, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    there is no better thing than eating a freshly made tortilla!al

    ★★★★★

    • Avatar
      Reply Kate Ramos January 22, 2020 at 4:40 pm

      I could not agree more Ale!

  • Avatar
    Reply Sonila January 21, 2020 at 5:37 pm

    Wow this seems like the best tortilla manual ever written. I love tortillas but I never tried to make them myself, might definitely give them a try now.

    ★★★★★

    • Avatar
      Reply Kate Ramos January 22, 2020 at 4:40 pm

      Thank you so much Sonila! Let me know how it goes.

  • Avatar
    Reply Yisney January 21, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    ¡Wow! what a practical way to make tortilla. Thanks for share this recipe.

    ★★★★★

    • Avatar
      Reply Kate Ramos January 22, 2020 at 4:39 pm

      You are so welcome! I hope you get a chance to give them a try!

  • Avatar
    Reply Blanca January 21, 2020 at 6:14 pm

    There’s nothing better than homemade tortillas! Can’t wait to make some!

    ★★★★★

    • Avatar
      Reply Kate Ramos January 22, 2020 at 4:39 pm

      Seriously. Nothing better!

  • Avatar
    Reply Ryan March 5, 2020 at 10:01 am

    You are taking to long to flip the tortillas. You want the Comal extremely hot to sear the outside of the tortillas. You should flip the tortillas 2-4 times. Each flip should be at 15 second, 30 second, 45 second and finally back to 15 second intervals. On the 45 second flip your tortilla should puff up. This will ensure that the tortillas will have the correct texture. If they don’t puff then you probably need to add more water in the dough. It should be tacky but not sticky.

    ★★★

    • Kate Ramos
      Reply Kate Ramos March 5, 2020 at 1:08 pm

      Hi Ryan, Thanks for the tip. The method I’ve described works for me, but I’m excited to give yours a try. Always something new to discover, right? Thanks for letting me know.

  • Avatar
    Reply Amy Smith December 20, 2020 at 12:46 am

    Home made corn tortillas take my Pastel Azteca to another level!
    I would LOVE one of those Green Tortlla Presses you have pictured. Could you share the source?

    ★★★★★

    • Kate Ramos
      Reply Kate Ramos December 20, 2020 at 8:12 am

      Hi Amy! I got it at my local Latin market and yes, homemade tortillas in a Pastel Azteca would be crazy good!

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