Best Chef Johns Corn Tortillas Recipes

CORN TORTILLAS

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together masa harina and hot water until thoroughly combined. Turn dough onto a clean surface and knead until pliable and smooth. If dough is too sticky, add more masa harina; if it begins to dry out, sprinkle with water. Cover dough tightly with plastic wrap and allow to stand for 30 minutes.
• Preheat a cast iron skillet or griddle to medium-high.
• Divide dough into 15 equal-size balls. Using a tortilla press, a rolling pin, or your hands, press each ball of dough flat between two sheets of plastic wrap.
• Immediately place tortilla in preheated pan and allow to cook for approximately 30 seconds, or until browned and slightly puffy. Turn tortilla over to brown on second side for approximately 30 seconds more, then transfer to a plate. Repeat process with each ball of dough. Keep tortillas covered with a towel to stay warm and moist until ready to serve.

CHEF JOHN'S FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder together in a large bowl. Add vegetable shortening and work into flour mixture using a pastry cutter until it resembles coarse crumbs.
• Form a well in the middle of flour mixture and mix in hot water. Work flour and water mixture together with a fork and transfer to a cutting board.
• Knead until a smooth, soft dough is formed, about 3 minutes. Add more flour if dough is too sticky.
• Place more flour on cutting board, cover dough with bowl, and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Cut ball of dough into eight equal parts and cover until needed.
• Roll out balls of dough either by hand or with a tortilla press.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place flattened tortilla in skillet and cook until it begins to bubble, about 1 minute. Flip tortilla over and cook for an additional minute. Flip again and cook for 1 more minute. Repeat with remaining dough.

CRISPY BASKET BURRITOS (BAKED TORTILLA BOWLS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Brush both sides of tortilla with oil.
• Invert ramekin on a work surface; center tortilla on the bottom of the ramekin. Gently shape the tortilla down around the sides. Place a double layer of aluminum foil over the tortilla and press to form the bowl around the ramekin. Place right side up on a baking sheet and leave about 1/2 inch of the edge of the tortilla above the foil so it gets browned and crispy when you bake it. Repeat with the second tortilla.
• Place baking sheet in preheated oven for 5 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and use tongs to carefully remove the ramekins from inside the shells. Transfer sheet back to the oven. Bake shells until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove baking sheet from oven.
• Carefully remove foil from around the shells; reserve the foil. Flatten foil sheets and invert shells on them. Bring foil up just around the bottom of the shells to protect the top edge.
• Transfer sheet back to the oven. Bake until browned and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and invert the shells once again so they are right side up. Place on foil and transfer sheet back to oven for the final crisping, 3 to 5 minutes. Watch them carefully so they don't burn.
• Remove sheet from oven; transfer basket burritos to a rack to cool completely.