Wordless Wednesday: Homemade Corn Tortillas
As the sun peeked out from behind the clouds I made corn tortillas.
Homemade Corn Tortillas
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Making gluten free corn tortillas at home is easy! All you need is a little time and 3 ingredient to be rewarded with the taste of homemade tortillas.
Author: SpicieFoodie.com &Nancy Lopez-McHugh
Recipe type: Bread, Gluten Free, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican, Gluten-Free
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 2 cups masa harina*
- 1¼ cup water*
- salt
Utensils:
- tortilla press
- plastic sandwich bag
- griddle or large pan
Instructions
- Heat the griddle or pan over medium hight heat. Line the tortilla press with the plastic sandwich bag. Make sure the bag is large enough to overlap the press. Mix masa harina with a little bit of salt. Make a well in the center and gradually add water until the dough comes to a spongy wet consistency. Divide the dough into equal sized balls, about 14-16.
- Place one of the dough balls in the center of the press, and press down to flatten. Gently peel the tortilla away from the plastic bag and place on griddle/pan. Cook until small blisters begin to form, about 1 minute, flip and cook for another 40 seconds or until cooked through. Keep the cooked tortillas covered to prevent from drying out.
- Repeat step 2 until all of the tortillas have been cooked.
Notes
*The flour to water ratio will depend on how dry or humid conditions are in your kitchen. I suggest starting off with a little water and working as much as needed as the dough comes together. If you add too much water simply add a bit more flour into the mix.
Masa harina and tortilla press can be purchased here

By the time I was finished cooking my tortillas the sun had retreated back behind the clouds. Thankfully my photography lamp kitsaved the day!
More flat bread recipes:
– Chinese Scallion Pancakes (Cong You Bing) by The Humpty Dumpty Kitchen
– Pita Bread by Pastry Affair
– Chapatis (Indian Bread) by An Edible Mosaic
– Wonton Crackers Recipe by MJ’s Kitchen
From my archives:
– Corn Tortillas Made with Yellow Corn Flour
– Flour Tortilla
Beautiful tortillas! I wish I had a tortilla press…
Cheers,
Rosa
Thank you Rosa! My sister sent mine from back home, it really comes in handy.:)
These look incredible, Nancy! Love your tortilla press!
Thank you Laura:)
Is there anything better than the smell of nixtamal in masa? Well, maybe roasting poblano chiles…I can just taste these. Yum.
No, I don’t think there is Victoria…okay, poblanos are pretty close.:) Thanks
Wholesome! I love your tortilla maker!
Thank you Angie!
I’m embarrassed to admit, I own one of those presses and I can’t remember the last time I made homemade tortillas. Sad, huh? Lol. Maybe I will just have to get back in the kitchen and whip some up. Glad everything went well with the host move.
-Gina-
But that’s because you can get good ones locally, Gina. I can’t and when they are available they are so dry. Thanks, hope you are doing well.xx
Fabulous step by step pictures. I have a tortilla press… bought it to make roti. :) I must try making tortillas now. :)
Thank you Ramona! That’s great, I think it doubles as an international flat bread maker:)
Another beautiful post..I have never ventured in this area..I will one day..Your tutorial is great..
the light kit arrived today..and I have set it up..with the help of Youtube:)
It looks like fun for me..And I again thank you very graciously:)
Your tortilla maker is so unique!
Thank you Monique! That’s great, have fun learning and playing with your new “toy”.:)
Homemade tortillas are the best!!! These look so yummy!
They really are Ali! Thank you
What a great set up with that tortilla press? I love the photos taken in the natural light – it really does bring everything alive and make you feel like you are present in the kitchen. I wish my attempts at tortillas looked this professional.
Thank you Suzanne! Natural light really is beautiful, so when the sun is sunshine we’ve got to take advantage of it.
Delicious!
Thanks!
I want that tortilla press!!! But I’ll have to make do with a rolling pin – I haven’t made tortillas for years but just last month stumbled across a South American grocery store that sells masa harina :)
That’s great Rachel, now you can make your own tortillas. A rolling pin works just fine:)
Your photography is so pro. Love it. And I also am about to make tortillas. I am just waiting for my jet lag to go away :)
Thank you Marta:) Have fun making your tortillas.
I have never seen a wooden tortilla press, I have a metal one that I got for Christmas last year. Along with a husband who makes the tortillas for our tacos. Here in Australia I am yet to find good corn flour for tortillas.
They are common in Mexico but more often people own a metal one. Good luck and I hope you find the flour soon.
Fantastic pics, and such a good tutorial
Thank you Tania:)!
Oh, that tortilla press brings back so many memories…My grandmother had a press (A very heavy steel based one with some other material on the inside plates so that things won’t stick on.) which she would use to make Pooris and Chappathis :) I wish I could go back to her kitchen.
The photos are lovely – But that goes without saying :)
Now that sounds like a fantastic press Priya. Thank you!:)
Gorgeous Post!!! I love homemade corn tortillas but I haven’t made them in a few years because I can’t find my tortilla press. Looks like I need to buy another one because you have me dying for some homemade tortillas! Thanks for the link to the Amazon page. Very inspiring post in so many ways!
Thank you MJ! I hope you can buy another press soon so you can make your tortillas. Thanks:)
Wow Nancy these look perfect and sound easy enough. We rarely have bread in the house but can’t keep enough tortillas on hand. If I learned to make these I’m sure they’d be better and we’d have an endless supply. How long will these last if refrigerated? Any specific press you recommend or will any of them work?
Hi Vicki! Agreed, you can never have too many tortillas on hand. Ours don’t last more than a week because we go through them fast. But refrigerated they should last up to a couple of weeks. Keep them tightly sealed so they don’t dry out. Any press is good:)
Okay now I want a tortilla maker!
:)
Homemade tortillas are on my list of “must learn to make items”. This is the recipe I will use when I get up the nerves to do it. :)
They are really easy and fun too. Plus you really can’t beat the taste. Enjoy!:)
I’ve been looking all over for a corn tortilla recipe, thank you!
My pleasure, enjoy the tortillas!
Beautiful Nancy-just love this post ;-)
Thanks amiga!
I’m curious if you could add some lime juice to the recipe? I think the flavor would e incredible!
Living in way-north Alberta :)
I never have, but the great thing about cooking is experimenting with recipes. Enjoy!:)
Thank you for the simple way of explaining every step and showing the pictures. It made me want to make them now and have confidence making them. Thanks
Thank you Sonia! Enjoy making your tortillas.
Wow, these look fantastic!
Would you happen to know if I could replace the masa with some organic corn flour? Hopefully that’s not a dumb question. ;)
Thanks! x
Hi Rachael,
I’ve never mixed masa harina with corn flour, so I can’t tell you how well it would work. However, I have made corn tortillas using a mixture of corn flour and wheat flour; you can take a look at that recipe here Corn Tortillas Made with Yellow Corn Flour Enjoy!
How many tortillas I get out from this recipe?
Hi Gaby! It will depend on the size of your tortilla press or if you’re rolling them out manually. Also the thickness will effect the quantity. But from this recipe I can get anywhere from 12 to 16 tortillas.