Homemade Gluten-Free Corn Tortilla

By
Teri Gruss, MS
Teri Gruss, MS
Freelance writer and nutrition expert Teri Lee Gruss, M.S. has written hundreds of recipes focusing on healthy gluten-free cooking.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/1/21
Homemade Gluten Free Tortilla Recipe

Teri Gruss

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 24 mins
Total: 34 mins
Servings: 16 servings

Corn tortillas today are made from masa harina, a special type of corn flour. While it should be naturally gluten free, there can be the risk of cross-contamination with gluten during processing and packaging. Several masa harina products are milled and packaged in facilities that also handle wheat, rye, and/or barley. Look for masa harina labeled "gluten free."

Keep a bag of certified gluten-free masa harina in your pantry or freezer, and you can make easy, delicious corn tortillas whenever you feel like it. All you need are three really simple ingredients, masa harina, salt, and water. A recipe doesn't get much more basic than that.

A tortilla press is not at all essential for making homemade tortillas, but a press does make a nice, uniform tortilla quickly. Waxed paper and a piece of tile (or a plate) work amazingly well to shape tortillas without having to buy special equipment. 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (232 grams) gluten-free masa harina corn flour

  • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) kosher salt

  • 1 1/2 cups (350 milliliters) hot water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Put gluten-free masa harina and salt in a large bowl. Pour in about 1 cup of the hot water and mix with a large spoon. Add more water, about 1 tablespoon at a time until you are able to form a soft ball of dough. You may not need the entire amount of hot water to form a ball of dough that's soft, pliable, and easy to shape.

  3. Place the ball of dough on a clean surface and divide into 12 to 16 equal pieces. Roll into small balls and cover with a damp towel while you flatten each ball into a flat tortilla.

  4. Heat a cast-iron griddle or heavy, safe, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Don't add any fats or oil to the griddle.

  5. Shape tortillas and then, one at a time, place each tortilla on the hot griddle and cook. Flip after about 1 minute or when the tortilla just begins to brown. This should take about 2 minutes.

  6. Stack cooked tortillas and wrap in a towel or place in a tortilla bowl to keep them warm until serving.

  7. Enjoy.

Tip

  • Always make sure your work surfaces, utensils, pans, and tools are free of gluten. Manufacturers can change product formulations without notice. When in doubt, do not buy or use a product before contacting the manufacturer for verification that the product is free of gluten.

Masa Harina Notes

Masa harina is made from dried corn that has been soaked in a special water solution called lime water. Soaking ground corn in lime water makes masa harina more digestible than plain cornmeal. The lime water, which contains calcium hydroxide significantly improves the nutritional value of corn flour.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
53 Calories
1g Fat
11g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 53
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 123mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 21mg 2%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 38mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)