Ancho Tortillas

On a whim I picked up some Masa Harina.  It was cheap.  I thought it might be fun to learn to make my own tortillas.  I can't eat wheat, so why not.

The why is simple - because once I started I can't stop.

Homemade corn tortillas are AMAZING.  I think my stomach would stage a revolution if I tried to put store bought ones in there ever again!

So easy to make too.  Takes no time to whip some up for a meal. 

1 cup masa harina

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 of ancho pepper powder - I love that stuff      I know it's not in most tortilla recipes, but I like the flavor it gives.

2/3 cup hot water

Start with your skillet.  Heat a cast iron or non stick skillet up to medium/high while you prepare the dough

mix until it's the consistency of a fresh can of play doh.  add a little more masa or a little more water if you need.  Humidity in your home can make a huge difference to each batch of dough  You want it to be smooth, soft and silky, but not sticky.

cover is a slightly damp cloth as you press or roll out the individual tortillas.

This batch is for 8, so divide the dough into 8 balls and press out one ball at a time into the thickness you prefer.  I go for somewhere around 1/8" of an inch thick but that may be because that's what my press decided for me.  Use heavy plastic or wax paper when you press.  

I have a tortilla press, but the first batches I did were with a rolling pin.  Tried the plate method but it didn't work for me and I didn't care if they were round.  Tortilla press makes it easy though and they are cheap.  Get a metal one, it will do a better job

Cook your tortillas

I cook one side for 25-30 seconds and then the other for 45-60 seconds and then flip it back and cook the first one again for 20-30 or until it puffs up.  I love to see it puff up.  The ones at the store are flat, I thought they were supposed to be that way.

Supposedly you can store them in the fridge, but I make small batches and people have scarfed them up before they even cool so I don't have any experience with storing them.  

Who needs bread.  I have tortillas!

The nutrition is based on 1 tortilla, though I never eat just one as a serving