How To Make Corn Tortillas Using A Tortilla Press

You often ask 'how do I make my own tortillas?' Well... here goes, our three simple steps for how to make your own corn tortillas. 

How to make homemade corn tortillas

The homemade corn tortilla recipe below is quick and easy to make, and a wonderful addition to a huevos rancheros breakfast - Mexican spicy tomato sauce with eggs - or a classic Mexican dinner (see recipe for Mexican Birria here).

How to make corn tortillas soft

Avoid dry corn tortillas by making sure you knead the dough thoroughly before pressing. Corn flour absorbs water relatively slowly, so it can take up to half an hour of kneading to make sure the water is fully incorporated into the dough. While your tortillas are waiting to be cooked, cover them in a damp tea towel to make sure they don’t dry out further.

Find more Mexican recipes here, or browse our collection of Mexican ingredients.

Ingredients for Corn Tortillas Serves: 4


Equipment for Corn Tortillas


Method for Corn Tortillas

  1. Mix together the masa harina and hot water, and knead until it forms a dough. Divide into 10 equal size pieces and roll into balls.
  2. Prepare two sheets of baking parchment or polythene food bags, the same size as the tortilla press. Sandwich the ball of dough between the two sheets and place in the centre of the press. Press the tortilla.
  3. Fry the tortillas one by one in a dry hot pan or 'comal'. Do not use any oil. Cook for 1 ½ minutes on each side until slightly blistered and cooked through. Either keep warm in an oven wrapped in baking parchment. Alternatively leave to cool and reheat later.
  4. To reheat the tortillas, brush with water and fry one at a time in a dry pan.
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How To Make Corn Tortillas Using A Tortilla Press



9 comments

  • I also use my tortilla press for dim sum. Chinese purists wouldn’t do this because they insist a proper hand rolled pasta sheet for dim sum should be rolled out thinner on the edges than the middle. Saves a lot of time though.

    agee on

  • Hi Carmen, yes you can – that’s a great idea.

    Holly at Sous Chef on

  • Can you use the Mexican tortilla press to make roti’s and naan

    Carmen on

  • Thanks for all the info and tips 👍😊

    Angie on

  • Just to second Nick’s comment. He’s spot on – use hot water from a freshly boiled kettle.
    I use the tortilla press for naan bread, flour tortillas and corn tortillas too. It was a birthday present and it is so so nice! Make sure to keep them warm after you cook them and let them steam through too

    Dan on

  • This is an excellent buy and very good value, excellent price for one kg. of masa harina
    Enjoy and have fun making tortillas for tacos, quesadillas etc.

    Chonette Perez on

  • Very important to use hot water for making the masa, I wouldn’t call it frying use a comal or pancake griddle for cooking the tortillas, pad them slightly with a wooden spoon and they will inflate, full instructions and history in Mexican Roots, A culinary journey through time (Raices Mexicanas)

    Chonette Perez on

  • Couple of extra tips here -

    Use hot water to mix with

    Add a good squeeze or two of lime juice to the water

    Rest the dough at room temperature for 30 mins before pressing

    Enjoy !

    Nick Milner on

  • Hi

    Can you use the tortilla press for chapatis

    Thank
    Bina

    Bina patel on

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