Costa Rican Corn Tortillas 10:30 AM

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Costa Rican Corn Tortillas 10:30 am

About This Costa Rican Tortilla Tour
What comes to mind when you think of Latin American cooking? Chances are, fresh tortillas made an appearance in the parade of deliciousness that just ran through your head!

Versatile and tasty, homemade tortillas have been a traditional staple in many a Latin America-based household. Tortillas are so beloved, that there’s even a Spanish word for the process of pressing out the dough between your palms– tortilla! Young women in Costa Rica still learn how to make tortillas with their moms and grandmoms from a very young age.

Like many other Latin Americans, Costa Ricans generally make tortillas with cornflour, water, and a bit of salt. Throughout Costa Rica, there’s a ton of variation when it comes to tortilla size and flavor.

We also eat tortillas alineadas where a huge (like the size of your head big) tortilla is handmade and cooked, and then topped with shredded Costa Rican cheese and pan-fried until the top is crispy. It’s beyond delicious.

This recipe is for simple corn tortillas, but once you’ve mastered the basics, there are plenty of opportunities to jazz them up!

Serve your tortillas warm with the topping of your choice. Shredded cheese, sour cream, gallo pinto, and black bean dip are all delicious possibilities!

These tortillas make incredible sides for traditional soups, like sopa azteca and black bean soup, and are usually included in a Costa Rican casado dish.

In Costa Rica, we have a food called a “gallo”- which is when you put any sort of food in a smaller portion on top of a tortilla. It’s a typical snack food or eaten for breakfast or during the afternoon coffee hour. You can have gallos topped with picadillos, meat dishes, fried cheese and more.

How should I reheat my tortillas?
Bring a skillet up to medium heat with a small drizzle of oil. Fry your tortilla for a few seconds, just enough to heat it through. You can also warm them up in the microwave for about 20 seconds. I use these tortillas warmers to warm them in the microwave and it works great.

Can you make corn tortilla dough ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare the dough ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 3 days before frying.

What can I use instead of a tortilla press?
So long as it’s sandwiched between parchment or plastic, you can flatten your dough balls with pie pans or textbooks or really anything. The traditional Costa Rican way is to shape the tortillas with your hands, as shown here: