Cheesy Batter Tortillas

San Cristobal Volcano, Chinandega, Nicaragua

When you have nothing there is plenty to go around. That is how these delicious tortillas came to be. When someone I know was in a desperate situation people in an equally distressed situation kindly helped him by letting him have some flour. The result: He made tortillas. Originally a modest tortilla without cheese he later was able to make this more luxurious version with the cheesy batter. These tortillas are delicious and moist and thicker than the ones you might find at the grocery store. I seriously cannot make these fast enough!  As soon as one is ready i'll eat it before the next one is even off the pan :).

El Corinto, Nicaragua. Photo by Anthony John Coletti

Cheesy Batter Tortillas

Serves: 4 servings of 1 tortilla each
Time: 35 minutes from start to finish
Source: Family Recipe

Ingredients:

1 and 1/4 cups finely shredded queso de freir or queso blanco

2 cups flour plus ¼ cup separated

1 cup water plus ¼  cup separated

4 table spoons oil [I used peanut oil]

Delicious Accompaniments:

Guacamole
Bean Soup

 Equipment:

Non-stick frying pan
Large bowl
Wooden Spatula

 Pre-Recipe:

1] Shred the cheese.

Recipe:
1] In a large bowl combine the shredded cheese and flour with your hands. Add the water in ½ cup additions mixing the water into the dry ingredients with your hands as thoroughly as you can between each addition.

[Note: Your hands and nails will get messy through the process]

2] Once all the water has been added. Mix the dough into a ball with your hands to test the consistency.  The dough should not stick to your hands to much [This means it is too watery] Or fall apart to easily [This means it is to dry.] The dough should come together to form a round ball easily a little bit more moist than play-doh and a little bit more dry than pizza dough. If it is not the right consistency add 3 tablespoons at a time of flour or 2 tablespoons at a time of water to dry it out or moisten it more depending on what you need.

3] Once it is the right consistency split the round dough ball into four smaller dough balls.

4] Pre-Heat a non-stick frying pan on medium heat for 1 minute. Meanwhile pour oil into a bowl or shallow dish. Fold 1 sheet of kitchen paper towel into 4 and dip it into the oil.  Rub the oiled paper towel all over the heated cooking surface of the non-stick pan. 

5]Take 1 tortilla dough ball and flatten it in the palm of your hand. Then pull outward from the center little by little like the spokes of a wheel or bicycle until the tortilla is no thicker than the nail of your pinky finger.

6] Put the tortilla onto the heated and oiled frying pan. Let the tortilla cook on that side for 1 minute.

7] Flip the tortilla over onto the uncooked side let this side cook for 1 minute. Meanwhile with a spatula [preferably with a rounded bottom] press and flatten the side of the tortilla facing upwards that has just been cooked for 1 minute. Press and pull starting in the center a going outwards little by little all around the tortilla like the spokes of a wheel or bicycle.

8] Flip once again and cook for 1 minute.

9] Flip again and cook for another minute. The tortilla should have attained  golden brown speckles signify that the cheese has melted and the tortilla has been thoroughly heated through. 

[You may continue to cook and flip until your desired crispness  is achieved. Some people prefer the tortilla a little bit softer and some a little bit more cooked and browned. ]

10] Turn off the heat and remove frying pan from heat. Transfer onto a serving dish .

11]Let the frying pan cool down for 2 minutes.  This is to avoid the oil burning and having a burnt tortilla.

12] Once it has been 2 minutes transfer the frying pan back to the burner and repeat steps 4-11 until all of the tortillas have been cooked.

Pictures of the Process

Queso de freir cheese

Shredded

+ flour + water

+mixing

This is the right consistency

+ Oiled Non-stick pan

+ Flattening it more with the spatula while cooking

+ Golden brown flecks of yummy melted cheese

Cheesy Batter Tortilla :)

Shelf Life:

The dough for the tortilla can be refrigerated covered or uncovered for 24 hours. When ready to use to use the dough you should dust with more flour to get it back to the right consistency. Whenever you do dust with flour mix it into the ball thoroughly so there is no dry flour left on the outside of the dough ball.

The cooked tortillas can be stored wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and stored in an airtight container for up to 12 hours. To revive them heat them remove them from wraps and microwave them for 30 seconds or until desired heat is achieved.