Corn
Tortillas
Masa
harina is the staple of Mexican cooking. Traditionally corn is left on the
stalks to dry and then kernels
are boiled in water mixed with a powder called
"cal" to loosen the outer shell. In rural areas, corn is ground
by
hand on a stone plate-like base with a mini-stone rolling pin called a "metlapil"
to crush the kernels.
Nothing quite compares to a freshly made corn tortilla
rolled up with a piece of butter.
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups masa harina
1 ½ teaspoons Fleur
de Sel, ground
½ cup butter,
softened
2 cups water, warmed
to 110°
1.
In an extra large bowl, use a wooden spoon to stir the flour,
masa harina and
Fleur de Sel. Cut butter into flour with two
knives. Stir in
the flour until just moistened.
2. Take golf-ball size pieces of
dough and roll out lightly on a
floured
breadboard. Turn the tortilla over so both sides are
well-floured. Set
on a piece of waxed paper, roll out thinly.
3. Place a tortilla-size bowl over
the rolled dough and cut
around the edge
with a knife. Peel the tortilla off the paper
and fry on a
well-oiled 13-inch griddle. Turn and fry on the
second side.
Tortilla will puff up and have little brown specs.
4. Wrap in foil to keep warm or
place in a tortilla warmer.
Makes
6 tortillas