Freshly-made Tortillas for Cinco de Mayo

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, my son and I made some tortillas at home. If you love tacos, give these a try! 

I prefer using white corn, but you can also make them with flour or yellow corn. You can get the Maseca white corn at any international grocery store... sometimes at and too.

These tortillas have an amazing flavor. After they're cooked, you can use them for tacos, burritos or enchiladas or fry them for chips or tostadas. The next day we heat ours up for breakfast and chilaquiles (at my house these are pieces of fried tortillas cooked with chorizo and eggs.)

Recipe:

Maseca masa (corn flour)           2 cups
Warm water                             2 cups

Equipment:

• Tortilla press
• Plastic circles (2) (Plastic wrap will not work. I cut mine from the plastic grocery bags. They will work just fine).
• Flat nonstick pan

Put corn flour in bowl and add half the water and mix by hand until water is incorporated. Continue to add water in stages until the flour forms a ball. The water may vary depending on climate and moisture in the air.

Heat the pan to medium-high heat. If your stovetop runs 1 to 10, try setting it on 8. Press the ball into the center of the plastic circle on the tortilla press. Place the second plastic circle on top. Using the press machine, press lightly and consistently.

Carefully pull the plastic away so the tortilla is resting on your hand and lay it into the pan. You will see the dough start to cook. After approximately 1 minute, flip the tortilla using your hands. Another 30 to 45 seconds, and you are done.

Hold tortillas in a towel to keep them warm. Stack them as you go, just like you would do with bread.

After you try these, you may never buy pre-made tortillas again!