You might ask why someone would need a lesson on how to cook corn tortillas. Well, most people cook them in oil of some sort. Be it a lot of oil or a little, they very often come out a bit greasy. I have come up with a method that reduces the oil to a minuscule amount. I use an 8 inch cast iron skillet.
Heat your skillet over medium high heat. 
When the pan is very hot, add 3 drops of olive oil. Yes, only 3 drops. 
Immediately place one corn tortilla on top of the oil. 
With your hand lightly touching the tortilla, quickly spin it in the oil so that the pan is evenly coated. I don't pre-oil the pan, because it will smoke as it heats and nobody wants a smoky kitchen.
Cook the tortilla for 3-4 seconds and then...
Flip to the other side and cook for another 3-4 seconds. Repeat with remaining tortillas. I stack my cooked tortillas in between layers of napkins and cover the whole stack with foil to keep them warm. Add more oil every 4 tortillas or so, or if they begin to stick.Once you have cooked your tortillas, be sure to enjoy them with the full complement of taco toppings. We ate ours with brisket, re-fried beans, sour cream, cotija cheese, Mexi-corn saute, salsa, cilantro, and lime juice. So delicious!
32 comments:
Dang - now that I have had my sushi fix I'm gonna have to move on to Mexican 'cause that looks fabulous! I like how your photos are turning out.
Thanks! I've been workin' the photoshop mighty hard lately. And I've been working on my lighting and camera technique. I'll always have you to thank for teaching me the basics of photography. And to eat goat cheese, and to shop at Trader Joes, and the list goes on.
Great pictures--and step-by-step directions--PW does kind of set the benchmark for others to follow. The taco picture is great! Wish I had one right now--if only I could just reach into the monitor and grab it--hmmmmmm.
Yah, well, I don't like doing step by step instructions. But, I didn't know how to show the method of cooking the tortillas without it.
Hey - came here by way of Bush Babe. I will definitely try the oil trick, as I was told to use dry (I am far, far from Mexico, so no-one to turn to!)
Thanks for this! It looks really easy, which means I may actually be able to do it. I'll let you know how it went.
Awesome Irene/Ivy! Hope it works for you :-) The key is to have the pan really hot, but not hot enough to burn the tortillas.
thanks for the tips
thank you very much, the writing is nice plain and to the point, you have helped me make the dinner tonight, thank you
thank you very much, your words and pictures have helped me make dinner tonight, well done
I'm trying Eastern North Carolina BBQ & slaw on a Tortilla! Thanks for the cookig tip.
Tried your suggestion and was very impressed. Our corn tortillas usually fall apart. This time we were able pile of the carnitas, mexican rice, refried beans, sauteed onions, etc w/o it falling through a crack. Gracias!
I just made homemade corn tortillas and needed the next step to a wonderful meal! Thanks this sounds easy and healthy.
Rocketqueen
Thanks for your directions on cooking corn tortillas.. They were delicious with Tacos Al Pastor.
Thanks for the tips, I love corn tortillas but hate when they are too greasy. This sounds like a great fix!
Hi Lady,
The Mexicans I know don't use oil, just hot metal. My first experience was at a nursery where a bunch of (probably)illegals worked, back in the early seventies. They were a great bunch. Sometimes they invited me to lunch. Tortillas were involved, of course. They had a piece of galvanized flashing, made tortillas and cooked them on it. It was some fine eating.
Thanks, I needed a way to make corn tortillas without adding a ton of calories from oil or something similar.
I don't have a cast iron skillet. :(
To Anonymous: do you have a heavy bottomed pan? Any kind will do, although cast iron is the best...you can probably use any kind of skillet it just won't have the same effect as the super hot surface you can get with cast iron. I'd give it a try anyway!
Hello Amy,
found your blog while looking for a breakfast casserole with corn tortillas.
Love your way of instructing... I too am used to a dry skillet, but will try your method, as it makes more sense.
I do chopped cabbage on the same griddle after doing the tortillas... chop fine and dry so they get just a bit browned.
Bookmarked you and will visit again soon.
Another Amy or Amy too or.... :o)
Can you also prepare thetortillas in the oven or only on the pan?
Good question can you make them in an oven? I top love the instruction really to the point so us wana be cooks can understand.
I am thinking that in the oven would make them too dry. You need to cook them quickly and over really high heat, like on a grill/griddle/fry pan.
Thank you thank you. I knew there had to be a better way. I have been using a lot of oil. Very greasy and unhealthy. The pictures helped so much. Bookmarked!
Thank you! I hate oily tacos! I've linked it to my upcoming post on Fish Tacos!
Thanks for the info, My taco's turned out great
Wow! So simple, and I thought it was so much more complicated. Thanks!!!
Thank you so much for this awesome information. KUDOS!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks you so much for this! KUDOS!!!!
In my efforts to reduce the amount of wheat in my diet, corn tortillas seem a logical alternative. Your directions are very clear and I like your style, so I have bookmarked you, too. Some people eat to live; I live to eat!
I have been trying to fry corn tortillas lately and, yes.. they have been too greasy. This post seems to answer my exact question. I will try the 3 drop method today!
Google... how to corn tortillas and found you! Good info ty!
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