Como Usar la Prensa Para Hacer Tortillas de Maíz
Nothing beats a homemade corn tortilla. If you have never used a tortilla press (tortilla maker) before they’re simple to use and inexpensive. They are a great addition to your Mexican kitchen.
Time to make some tortillas! Yeah…!
First, You need some dough
Obviously, you are going to need some tortilla dough called masa to make tortillas. The first option, make the dough. You can prepare it using corn flour for tortillas which you should be able to get at almost every supermarket.
Follow the directions on the package to prepare the dough. The second option, buy the dough. You can buy prepared dough at a local Mexican market. If you are really lucky, you might find masa prepared from ground corn, not corn flour.
If you do have the opportunity to buy ground corn masa buy it. Your tortillas will have a hearty more traditional taste.
Now you have some dough, Let’s get started
Besides the dough and press, you will need 2 squares of waxed paper or plastic to keep your tortillas from sticking to the press.
Most cooks in Mexico cut up plastic grocery bags for the plastic squares although I generally use waxed paper.
Cut 2 squares of waxed paper just large enough to cover the base plate of the press.
Place 1 square of butcher paper on the base plate. On top of the butcher paper place one ball of dough the size of a golf ball.
Place the other square of butcher paper over the dough.
Lower the top plate onto the dough.
Firmly press down on the handle.
The tortilla after the first press.
Grab both sheets of butcher paper with the tortilla in between and flip it over.
Press the tortilla a second time. Notice how the tortilla has extended and is more evenly shaped.
Gently peel the tortilla away from the waxed paper. Your tortilla is now ready to cook.
Cooking the Tortillas
heat a comal or griddle to medium-hot. Place a tortilla on it and cook until it starts to lift.
Flip the tortilla until it starts to lightly puff which indicates that it is fully cooked.
The finished product. Keep fresh tortillas warm by wrapping them in a cloth towel or tortilla warmer.
Provecho!
madeinmorelia says
A tortilla press is very nice to have and homemade tortillas are very tasty. We created a company who sells tortilla presses and give recipes for delicious tortillas. The profit of the presses will be donated to the indigenous people of Mexico, so you help yourself and the Mexican community!
Doug says
My Mexican girlfriend taught me to use a quart-sized Ziploc bag, cut open on both sides. The bag bottom acts as a “hinge” that keeps everything from sliding around, and the plastic has just the right weight and slipperiness to use 1 bag for the entire batch.
Douglas Cullen says
That’s a great tip!
Maria G Serrano says
How do I clean for the first time
Tan says
Ok
Tan says
Ok
Divya says
Well, I am convinced to buy one for my grandma. But I have a dought, do we need to put a lot of pressure on the upper lid to make the dough round?
Chris says
You don’t need much pressure at all! Most of these presses are cast iron and the weight does most of the work for you.
Avnee says
I am looking for big Rotis for Tawa size.
can you tell me whats the diameter of this Tawa size roti maker?
David Callistini says
Hi thanks for the instruction, we just started making corn tortillas , and settled on using the hard plastic cutting sheets , like the one shown in your pics, my kids cut them to shape of the press and they work great, additionally once one side is peeled off, that empty plastic sheet is used as sort of a spatula to peel and plop the uncooked tortilla on the skillet.
Glen Spencer says
Hello Mr D my name is Glen, I’m in the process of making another wooden tortilla press made too many mistakes on the first one, I’m wondering the gap size between the plates should it be 1/16 or 1/8, my first one was 1/8 and when I put them in the skillet after I press them out they never puff up so I was using a spatula to do it and even then it worked maybe three times out of 10 anyway thank you for your guidance on this