Homemade Corn Tortillas Without A Press Food

HOMEMADE CORN TORTILLAS (WITHOUT A PRESS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the masa and salt. Add the warm water and stir with a spatula until evenly combined, switching to your hands once the dough gets too thick to stir. Knead for 4 minutes until the dough becomes less gritty and more smooth. Let the tortilla dough rest for 10 minutes.
• Divide the dough into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-ounce balls (see notes). If you don't have a kitchen scale, aim for 1 1/2-inch diameter.
• Place a dough ball between two pieces of wax paper (parchment or plastic wrap also work, but I find the dough sticks less to wax paper). Roll the dough until it's wide enough to be cut with a 5-inch biscuit cutter. The thinner you roll the tortillas, the faster they'll cook and the greater the yield (this may take some experimenting; you can always re-roll the dough).
• Peel the wax paper off the dough, one side at a time, then place the tortilla back down on one piece of wax paper and press down with a 5-inch biscuit cutter. Peel the excess dough away from the cutter before lifting it, then remove the raw tortilla and set aside on a cutting board or baking sheet (something you can use to move it). At this point, you can either repeat this process with the remaining dough, or roll a couple at a time while the tortillas cook.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat (use anything but nonstick; I used stainless steel). Set down a large piece of foil or a tortilla warmer to store the finished tortillas (something to help them steam and keep warm).
• Drop a tortilla straight down onto the skillet (if it slides too much, the finished tortilla might have a peely appearance). Cook for 30-60 seconds, flip with a spatula, then cook for an additional 30-60 seconds. Times may vary depending on your cookware and the thickness of the tortillas). You can cook 1 or more at a time, depending on the size of your skillet.
• Once the tortilla is cooked, transfer to the tortilla warmer or set down on the foil and close to create a pouch. The steam will keep them from drying out. Add each cooked tortilla to the same stack, closing again as you go.
• Serve immediately (this is when they're besor cool completely before storing in the refrigerator in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag for up to 3 days.

HOMEMADE CORN TORTILLAS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Cut in the lard. Stir in the water. Mix to incorporate. The dough should be slightly wet. Form the dough into a smooth ball, cover with a towel and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Divide the dough into 12 even pieces. Place a little water on the hands and form the dough into golf ball-size balls. Take 2 pieces of waxed paper or plastic wrap from a plastic bag and cut them to the shape of the surface of the tortilla press. Open the tortilla press and lay one piece of waxed paper on the press. Place the masa ball in the center. Place another piece of waxed paper over the masa ball. Gently close the press and press down, until the dough has spread to 6-inches in diameter.
• Heat a cast-iron griddle or a large nonstick skillet on high heat. Working with 1 tortilla at a time, hold a tortilla in your hand, carefully removing the wax paper on each side. Allow the tortilla to rest half on your hand, and half hanging down, and gently lay the tortilla down on to the hot skillet. Start working on pressing the next tortilla. Cook the tortilla on the hot pan for 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side. The tortilla should be lightly toasted and little air pockets forming.
• Heat 2-inches of canola oil in a heavy-bottomed medium skillet until it reaches 370 degrees F. Add the tortillas, 1 at a time and fry, turning once with tongs, until crispy, about 30 seconds. Remove to a baking sheet lined with paper towels and lightly season with salt.

ALMOST-FROM-SCRATCH CORN TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Combine the masa and salt in a bowl; stir in the oil. Slowly stream in the water while mixing with your hand or a wooden spoon until the dough comes together into a ball.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until it is smooth and elastic - just a minute or two. Wrap in plastic, and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or up to a few hours.
• Break off pieces of the dough (you're shooting for 12 to 16 tortillas total), and lightly flour them. Put them between 2 sheets of plastic wrap, and press them in a tortilla press, or roll them out or press them with your hands to a diameter of 4 to 6 inches. Begin to cook the tortillas as you finish pressing or rolling them.
• Put a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Cook the tortillas, 1 or 2 at a time, until brown spots appear on the bottom, about a minute. Flip, and do the same on the other side. Wrap the cooked tortillas in a towel to keep them warm; serve immediately, or cool and store tightly wrapped in the fridge for a few days.