Making Tortillas The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

Do you know what tortillas are Do you know what tortillas are? They are flat, thin pancakes made from corn meal or flour. Tortillas are a basic food in the Mexican diet. They are still an important food for Mexican Americans in Kansas. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

In Mexico, tortillas are often made the same way they were long ago In Mexico, tortillas are often made the same way they were long ago. Corn was ground between two stones to make corn meal. Some Mexican metates were similar to this grinding stone once used by North American Indians. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

Another type of stone found in Mexico is the mochete Another type of stone found in Mexico is the mochete. It works the same way, but it is much smaller. A mochete is used to grind spices. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

The flour is mixed with water and kneaded. People often use store bought flour or corn meal when they make tortillas in the United States today. The flour is mixed with water and kneaded. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

Next, the dough is placed in a covered bowl and allowed to set for several minutes. After setting, the dough is kneaded again until it has a soft texture. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

The dough is now ready to be formed into pancakes The dough is now ready to be formed into pancakes. Virginia Martinez, a member of the Topeka Mexican community, will show us how this is done by hand. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

Mrs. Martinez pats the dough… The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

as she turns it… The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

round and round… The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

in her hands… The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

slowly The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

creating The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

a pancake. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

She may sprinkle water on the dough to keep it soft while she is forming it into a pancake. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

Tortillas can also be shaped in a tortilla press. Here Senora Valdivia shows us an old wooden tortilla press. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

She is opening the press to show us how the dough would be placed on a soft cloth in the press. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

Today you can buy smaller tortilla presses like this metal one Today you can buy smaller tortilla presses like this metal one. It is open and ready for the round ball of dough to be placed inside. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

After the ball of dough is placed in the center of the press the lid is closed. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

Next the lever is pressed down Next the lever is pressed down. This presses the bottom and lid of the tortilla press together and flattens the dough. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

When you open the press you find a tortilla, ready to be cooked! The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

Sometimes the tortilla sticks to the press Sometimes the tortilla sticks to the press. To keep this from happening lay a damp cloth in the press before flattening the dough. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

After the dough is formed into a pancake it is ready to be cooked. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

Mrs. Martinez cooks her tortilla on a comal, a heavy flat round pan Mrs. Martinez cooks her tortilla on a comal, a heavy flat round pan. If you don’t have a comal use a frying pan. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

When the tortilla is brown on one side, Mrs When the tortilla is brown on one side, Mrs. Martinez flips it over to cook on the other side. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

She removes it from the comal with a spatula when it is completely cooked. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

These are the finished tortillas These are the finished tortillas. The ones on the left were made with a tortilla press and are very thin. The ones on the right were made by hand and are thick. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

The hand-made tortillas are thick enough that you can split them as Mrs. Martinez shows us here. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society

You can then spread butter on the tortillas or put grated cheese or sandwich fixings on them. The Mexican American Experience in Kansas Kansas State Historical Society