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| 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 :).
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.
