Toasted Corn Tortilla Strips Food

BAKED CORN TORTILLA STRIPS FOR MEXICAN SOUPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cut tortillas first in half, then crosswise into 1/8-inch strips. Place in a bowl and toss with oil until fully coated. Arrange tortilla strips in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until strips are crisp and lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool.

SEASONED TORTILLA STRIPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Stir oil and all spices together.
• Brush one side of all the tortillas with oil/spice mixture.
• Make 3 stacks of 4 tortillas and cut the tortillas into 1/4-1/2" strips.
• Put strips in a single layer on a couple of cookie sheets sprayed with Pam.
• Bake until golden and crisp, about 10-15 minutes.
• (If pans are on different oven racks switch their positions about halfway through baking.).
• Remove from oven and sprinkle with salt.
• Cool completely in pans.

BAKED TORTILLA STRIPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Stack 2 tortillas; slice in half. Cut crosswise into 1/2-inch strips; place on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss with olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer; bake until golden brown and crisp, turning halfway through, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool.

CHEF JOHN'S CORN TORTILLAS

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.

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.

TOASTED CORN TORTILLA STRIPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread tortilla strips in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until crisp and just beginning to turn golden, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and let stand until cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

BLACK BEAN, CHICKEN AND CORN SOUP WITH TOASTED TORTILLA STRIPS

Steps:

• In a large pot, saute the olive oil, onions and garlic until the onions are transparent (about 5 minutes).
• Next, add the remaining ingredients (except for the cilantro and limes).
• Stir well and allow soup to simmer for 20-30 minutes until ready to serve. Before serving, stir in the cilantro, lime juice and zest to keep their flavors.
• Garnish with sour cream, parmesan cheese and toasted tortilla strips.
• Toasted Tortilla strips: Cut tortillas into 1/2 inch wide strips.
• Place the tortilla strips on a large baking sheet (single layered) and spray them with pan spray, or you may baste them with melted butter.
• Season with salt and pepper and place them in a 375 degree oven. Bake until golden and crisp (about 10 minutes).
• Make sure to turn strips over halfway through the baking process.