MASA TORTILLAS RECIPES

Steps:

• First gauge how 'wet' your masa dough is.  If it sticks to your hands you'll need to add some masa harina to dry it out.  I added 1/4 cup masa harina to 2 cups of masa dough.  Combine well using your hands.
• Separate the dough into golfball sized rounds, this will make the tortillas approximately 4 inches across.
• Flatten the dough balls using a tortilla press or a flat bottomed casserole dish.  Be sure to line each side of the dough ball with plastic or ziploc pieces.  The tortillas should peel off the ziploc easily; if not then you might need to add some masa harina to the dough.
• Heat a skillet or comal to medium heat.  Add a tortilla and flip after 10 seconds. Then cook each side for 1-2 minutes or until light brown spots are forming.  Alternatively, you can skip the quick flip and just cook each side for 1-2 minutes.
• Serve immediately, keeping them warm in a tortilla warmer or kitchen towel.

Steps:

• Add masa harina to a large bowl. Sprinkle in salt and add hot tap water. Stir mixture with your fingers until dough starts to pull together.
• Knead for a few minutes to smooth it out until texture resembles modeling clay or putty. Add more water if dough is too dry and more flour if too wet.
• Place a damp towel and over the dough to keep it from drying out. Let rest for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Cut a zip-top bag into 2 rounds the same size as your tortilla press. Place 1 round on the bottom of the press.
• Place a clean kitchen towel over a pie dish for holding the cooked tortillas later.
• Pull off a little piece of the dough, enough to roll into a 1 1/2-inch or 1-ounce ball. Remove the top round of plastic, place dough ball in the center of the bottom round, and press down lightly. Cover dough with the top piece of plastic.
• Fold the tortilla press over, apply pressure to the lever arm until tortilla flattens to your desired thinness.
• Peel off the top piece of plastic. Line up the index finger of your dominant hand with the edge of the tortilla; flip it over into your other hand. Carefully peel off the plastic.
• Gently slide tortilla, palm-up, into a hot, dry pan over medium- to medium-high heat. Cook first side for 30 to 45 seconds. Turn over and cook second side for 1 minute. Flip and press once or twice with a spatula until tortilla puffs up slightly. Cook for 30 seconds more. Flip one last time and cook for 5 to 10 seconds.
• Quickly transfer tortilla to the pie dish and fold the towel over to wrap it up. Repeat pressing and cooking the rest of the tortilla dough, stacking and wrapping as you go.
• Leave the stack of tortillas wrapped until soft and supple, at least 15 minutes.