Tortilla Surprise Food

HOMEMADE TORTILLAS

Steps:

• In a bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Stir in the vegetable oil, then slowly pour in the hot water, stirring gently. When the dough comes together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead it gently a few times to smooth it out.
• Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Pinch off a piece of dough slightly smaller than a Ping-Pong ball and roll it into a 5-inch circle. It should be extremely thin.
• Cook on the dry skillet for about 1 minute on the first side, until it starts to brown a little, then flip it and cook for about 30 seconds on the second side. Remove and stack onto a kitchen towel, then repeat with the rest. As you stack the tortillas, wrap them in the kitchen towel while you cook the next ones.

HOMEMADE CORN TORTILLAS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine masa harina and water; mix well with your hands. When dough forms, begin kneading in the bowl. Continue adding water, a tablespoon at a time, until dough becomes smooth and thick; it should be the consistency of Play-Doh. Roll dough into a ball slightly smaller than a golf ball (1.5 oz or 40 g). Set aside on a baking sheet, covering with a damp kitchen towel to prevent it from drying out.
• Preheat a comal or skillet over medium heat. Meanwhile, cut freezer bag along either side to create a large plastic sheet; prepare the tortilla press by covering the bottom plate with half the sheet. Place a tortilla ball in the center of the bottom plate and flatten slightly with your hand; then cover the ball with the other half of the plastic sheet. Lower the press firmly so that the dough is sandwiched between the two plates. Open the press, flip the circle of dough (still sandwiched in plastic), and press again. Remove the flattened tortilla: it should be about 6 inches in diameter and an even thickness throughout.
• Test the comal by splashing a few drops of water on the surface; they should sizzle immediately. Remove raw tortilla from plastic and gently place onto the center of the comal. Watch for the edge of the tortilla to begin to dry out and turn opaque, 1 minute. Flip and cook the other side until the tortilla turns opaque and blistery, 1 more minute. Flip back to the first side and let it cook for a final 30 seconds. It will puff up like a balloon when it's cooked through. If the edges of the tortilla look grainy and dry, mix 1 tablespoon of water into the dough; make another dough ball and repeat the process of pressing and cooking.Once you've made your first "perfect" tortilla, you know the consistency is correct. Turn the rest of the dough into dough balls, lining them up on the baking sheet and keeping them covered with a damp towel throughout the pressing and cooking process.
• Line a basket or bowl with a dry towel and store the cooked tortillas in a stack, covering as you go. Wrapped up, they should stay warm for about an hour. (Alternatively, microwave the tortillas for 30 seconds.) Use cooked tortillas for Chef Cámara's Baja-Style Fish Tacos and Tinga de Pollo Tacos. For her Egg-Stuffed Tortillas and Deep-Fried Cheese Quesadillas, you will need to begin with uncooked tortillas.

CLASSIC TORTILLA SOUP

Steps:

• For the soup: Heat a heavy saute pan over medium-high heat. Cook the garlic, tomatoes, onion and New Mexico chile in the pan. Using tongs, turn the vegetables occasionally during cooking to ensure charring on all sides. Remove the vegetables once slightly blackened on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the peel from the garlic. Add the charred vegetables to the blender with the tortilla pieces and 2 cups chicken broth. Blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a large saucepan and add the remaining 4 cups chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• For the tortilla strips: In a medium, heavy skillet, pour enough oil to reach a depth of 1/2 inch. Heat over medium-high heat until very hot but not smoking. Add the tortilla strips in batches and fry until golden and crisp, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.
• To serve: Ladle the soup into 6 individual serving bowls. Serve with sour cream, avocados, cheese, tortilla strips, cilantro and lime wedges on the side.

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.

TORTILLA BANANA SURPRISE WRAPS

Steps:

• Remove stems & puree strawberries with 1 tbsp powdered sugar. Set aside.
• Combine room temp low-fat cream cheese with 1 tbsp powdered sugar & set aside.
• Peel & halve the bananas, then split each half again -- but lengthwise.
• Begin to assemble the tortilla wraps by 1st placing 2 banana quarters side-by-side in the center of ea flour tortilla.
• Fold the 2 side edges of the tortillas over to encircle the banana halves.
• Fold the open ends in slightly & then the entire end back over any exposed tortilla edges to form a wrap with all edges on 1 side.
• Place the wraps (exposed edges down) in a dry skillet & brown the tortilla over med heat, turning several times. (The 1st browning will "seal" the edge side & keep the tortillas in a uniform shape as you continue to brown.).
• Transfer tortillas to dessert plates. Spoon 1/4 of the strawberry puree over each tortilla & 1/4 of the cream cheese in the center. Serve warm.
• NOTE: This dish was created for a friend & written to be low-fat. You can dress it up by adding choc chips &/or nuts to the inside of the wrap w/the bananas or other options your imagination might envision.

TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, vegetable oil and salt in a bowl. Pour over 150ml warm water and knead to bring the mixture together. Remove from the bowl and knead on a lightly floured work surface for around 5 mins until you make a soft, smooth ball of dough. Cover with a clean tea towel and rest for at least 15 mins before rolling out.
• Cut the dough into 6 equal pieces (about 75g each). Roll out each ball of dough as thinly as possible on a floured work surface. They should make rounds about 20 cm wide, 2mm thick.
• Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Cook the tortillas for 1-2 mins on each side until golden brown and toasted. Wrap them in foil and cover in a tea towel to keep warm, while you cook the rest. Keeps for two days well wrapped, or cool, wrap and freeze for up to three months.