Servings 6-8 Tortillas
Tortillas are a staple in Costa Rica. They can be eaten with every meal alongside rice and beans. Tortillas are gluten and dairy free which makes them perfect for the anti-inflammatory diet. In Costa Rica you can easily go to the supermarket and buy corn flour tortillas, however, many people make them at home. It is tradition for parents and grandparents to teach their kids and grandkids this recipe. Homemade tortillas tend to be a little bit thicker and a bit larger in diameter. I think the homemade version of tortillas are filled with a little bit more love as well. Try making and patting out your own tortillas at home! There is an instructional video below if you are a bit nervous about making them for the first time.
Ingredients:
2 cups of corn flour
1 1/2 cups of water
1 tsp of salt
Olive oil as needed
Instructions:
1. Place 2 cups of corn flour into a bowl.
2. Add 1 tsp of salt to the bowl.
3. Add 1 1/2 cups of water to the bowl.
4. Use your hands to mix together the dough for the tortillas. The dough should have a similar texture to molding clay, but just slightly more sticky and soft.
5. Roll a ball about one each in diameter and make sure that it does not have any cracks in it.
6. Place this ball of dough in the middle of a cut plastic bag. Push the palm of your hand down over the ball flattening it softly. Now you will start the patting process. You take your dominant hand and pat the dough from the middle of the circle outward. As you pat from the middle outward, you cup the outer part of the tortilla to help make a circular shape.
7. Turn on the burner to a medium temperature and place a little olive oil in the pan.
8. Peel the tortilla from the plastic bag and place it in the pan. Watch and flip the tortilla until it turns golden brown.
9. Remove the tortilla from the pan and let it cool on a plate.
10. Enjoy!
Additional Comments:
You can buy a tortilla press to help create perfectly round tortillas if you do not wish to pat them with your own hands. I personally think patting them with your own hands is half the fun of making them, but some people do not enjoy touching the texture of this dough. Click HERE to see a list of tortilla presses, their prices, and where they can be found.
Corn flour can be found at your local grocery store and it all is gluten-free. Some brands that are common include Masa Rica, Bob's Red Mill, Maseca, King Arther, Pan, and Goya.
Patting out tortillas can be a little bit difficult if you haven't done it before. Remember to place your 1-inch ball on part of a plastic bag so it peels off easily. Pat from the inside of the circle outwards while keeping your other hand curved around the outside of the tortilla to ensure a round shape. Click HERE for my YouTube video on how to make tortillas to visualize the process.
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