Corn Tortillas - The Macgyver Method

So in this entry I present to those of you who want to make corn tortillas without a tortilla press ("tortilladora") my "Macgyver Method". I eventually came across a tortilladora at the Scoop-and-Save in Fredericton. They come in two sizes and cost between 15-35 dollars and they are made of metal. Still, a tortilladora is not necessary to make good corn tortillas so if you want to save your cash or can't find one, this method is for you. Here is what you'll need:



* Note: I used plastic wrap but waxed paper works well too.
Step 1: Mix the Maseca with water to form dough. The amount you use is up to you but on the back of the package it gives you the directions as to how to use for a serving of 16-18 tortillas, 2 cups of Maseca with 1.5 cups of water. The recipe also calls for a quarter teaspoon of salt. Mix and knead the dough until it is moist, if it is too dry you can add a little bit more water. After I do this, I separate the dough into 16 equal balls of dough and cover them so they do not dry out. Maseca can be purchased at both Wal-mart and the Scoop-and-Save.

Step 2: I wrapped my cutting board with plastic wrap and then take another sheet of plastic wrap and set it aside. I take my first ball of dough and place it on top of the plastic wrap in the center.



Then I cover the ball with like other piece of plastic wrap like this:



Step 3: Now take your rolling pin and flatten the ball of dough into a thin disc. This can be quite difficult as it can be hard to keep the thickness and shape of the tortilla even so often times they fall apart. This takes a lot of practice.



This can be tricky so often times I would opt to use a plate or anything flat and heavy to act as a makeshift press. Place the plate on top of the ball and with your hand in the center, press down to flatten the ball evenly.



Step 4: Cooking the tortillas takes the least amount of time and is super easy. I used a regular non-stick frying pan but any frying pan or griddle should work fine. They only take a about a minute to cook on each side using medium heat and should look lightly toasted. Be careful peeling your dough tortillas off of the plastic wrap though because they are quite delicate. I sometimes use a spatula to help me pry the tortilla from the plastic.



Enjoy!