Homemade corn tortillas
- Thread starter Yooper
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Me too- but the last time I bought lard (ages ago), it was marked 'hydrogenated for preservation' or something like that so I'm not sure lard is so healthy any more.
I am a weirdo, so I render my own tallow from grass fed beef (we buy a side a year) and from deer (for soap, not to eat), and would do it if I had a source for pork for lard.
I use tallow for cooking, and olive oil for salads and things.
You haven't had the world's best fried oysters until you've tasted mine- shucked, and then very lightly coated in corn flour and spices, and fried in tallow. Oh, and then usually served on a corn tortilla..............................
Maybe my next food 'how to' should be 'how to shuck and prepare fresh oysters'!
OP
OP
No, they did something to it, either partially hydrogenated or fully hydrogenated, to make it more shelf stable and it changes the structure of the saturated fats to trans-fats. That's about the same as Crisco and other hardened liquid fats as far as health goes.
When we buy coconut oil (and we do) we buy virgin coconut oil that is pressed, and not chemically extracted or refined. It costs more, but it's worth it to us.
My point was that you mistakenly picked up the wrong type of lard.... someone could easily make the same mistake for many types of cooking oils other than lard. Coconut oil was another example that comes in both hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated forms. You have to be careful what you select.
Either the store you bought your lard at did not sell the non-hydrogenated variety, or you missed the fine print that stated it was hydrogenated. Real, pure lard has a limited shelf-life. It will be fresh is sold by a butcher or a specialty market (or made at home). Big supermarkets that sell it in the non-refrigerated isles (or even the refrigerated ones sometimes) will be hydrogenated more often than not.
Either the store you bought your lard at did not sell the non-hydrogenated variety, or you missed the fine print that stated it was hydrogenated. Real, pure lard has a limited shelf-life. It will be fresh is sold by a butcher or a specialty market (or made at home). Big supermarkets that sell it in the non-refrigerated isles (or even the refrigerated ones sometimes) will be hydrogenated more often than not.
So I tried to make flour tortillas, it was easy but my press I got from Amazon came damaged. I still used it real quick to see but the tortillas seemed mighty thick considering. I threw them into a cast iron pan and they cooked up pretty nicely, just too thick. Once I get another press I'll see if that somehow helps. As it stands though, I think a roll under a rolling pin may occur after the pressing.
They were yummy though. Fresh and easy. I also bought cornmeal to try Yooper's way.
They were yummy though. Fresh and easy. I also bought cornmeal to try Yooper's way.
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Masa now on the shopping list
Now I have been talked into doing this. Ordered the equipment on Amazon prime- corn tortillas here I come.
Now gotta get going on mole- nothing like mole chicken tacos. Well, chicken Colorado tacos are not bad, either.
But it is all about the tortillas, just like it's all about the bread!
Now gotta get going on mole- nothing like mole chicken tacos. Well, chicken Colorado tacos are not bad, either.
But it is all about the tortillas, just like it's all about the bread!
None of that stuff is any good for you, so you may as well have the real thing - especially if you're only going to have a little bit. I don't have that many fried eggs, but you know for damn sure they're going in bacon grease. And margarine? Please...even if I *wasn't* from Wisconsin (where margarine was essentially illegal for a long time), I'd use butter.
Just like drinking beer - the doctor always wants you to drink less, so make 'em count!
Just like drinking beer - the doctor always wants you to drink less, so make 'em count!
vanishingpint
well- known member
++1
Thanks for this Yooper, I'm going to have to try this. I use tortillas instead of bread just because I like the taste better.
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Can't believe I didn't see this before!
I'm really wanting to do this, but good ingredients are so hard to find in Northern Michigan. I will have to check the ethnic foods section of our Meijer store. Might be worth buying a press if I can get good masa around here.
I'm really wanting to do this, but good ingredients are so hard to find in Northern Michigan. I will have to check the ethnic foods section of our Meijer store. Might be worth buying a press if I can get good masa around here.
Sigh...
I bought a press on Amazon.
Stupid Prime membership makes it too easy!
I bought a press on Amazon.
Stupid Prime membership makes it too easy!
OP
OP
Hopefully you found that masa too..................
What other things can I encourage you to spend time and money on?!?!
Hopefully you found that masa too..................
What other things can I encourage you to spend time and money on?!?!
Oh, you've done plenty over the years!
I think I can find the masa no problem. I'm especially interested because I found out you can get corn flour that is gluten free, so I can make things for my sister so apparently has an intolerance.
I think the plan is to press the tortillas, cook them, then deep fry for chips?
We used to fry the tortillas, bending them over after a short time to form taco shells before boxed shells became available. And you wouldn't believe where I got the idea?! From a book I got in 9th grade called "Black Tiger at Indianapolis". A friend of the main character's wife was the wife of a crew member who was hispanic & showing her how to make tacos. Flash forward to the late 1970's & I remembered it & started making them. I used a small frying pan the right size with an inch & a half or so of hot oil & a pair of tongs.
OP
OP
Yes, or you can put a little oil on them, and bake them as well.
That's where I wish I'd have bought that home spray canister thing I saw once. Fill it with your oil of choice & pump it up. It was stainless steel too.
I like that idea better. I think we have a plastic version of that sprayer, but I could test with the canned spray from the store to see how it works if I can't find it.
I hope my wife doesn't get mad about me buying a new gadget. I'm not telling her until it comes in and I make fresh tortilla chips.
I've bought corn tortillas before and fried my own chips on the stove. They turned out great! I'm expecting this to be more versatile and even better tasting.
The sprayer should work ok if it can handle the viscosity of the oil. I liked the one I saw at this kitchen supply that used to be at the mall. I think bed, bath & beyond has'em now.
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