Maize Flour Tortillas – Amazing 3-Ingredient Gluten-Free Recipe - vox recipes

Q: Can I Use Maize Flour to Make Tortillas?

Absolutely but it must be the right kind of maize flour. What you want is masa harina , which is a type of maize flour processed with lime (calcium hydroxide). This specific preparation, called nixtamalization, gives the dough its signature structure and flavor. If you try using plain corn flour or cornmeal, the dough will fall apart and won’t press or cook properly. Always look for masa harina on the label to ensure success. Many beginner cooks mix these terms up, so don’t worry you’re not alone. In fact, when I first tried making tortillas, I grabbed a bag labeled “corn flour” and ended up with a crumbly mess. Once I switched to maize flour tortillas using masa harina, everything changed.

Question 1

Can I Use Maize Flour to Make Tortillas?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely but it must be the right kind of maize flour. What you want is masa harina, which is a type of maize flour processed with lime (calcium hydroxide). This specific preparation, called nixtamalization, gives the dough its signature structure and flavor. If you try using plain corn flour or cornmeal, the dough will fall apart and won’t press or cook properly. Always look for masa harina on the label to ensure success.
Many beginner cooks mix these terms up, so don’t worry you’re not alone. In fact, when I first tried making tortillas, I grabbed a bag labeled “corn flour” and ended up with a crumbly mess. Once I switched to maize flour tortillas using masa harina, everything changed.

Question 2

Are Maize Tortillas Healthy?

Accepted Answer

Yes, maize tortillas are naturally low in fat, gluten-free, and a great source of dietary fiber and essential minerals. They digest more easily than flour tortillas and have a mildly sweet corn flavor that complements savory fillings beautifully. For those watching their carb intake or avoiding gluten, maize tortillas are a fantastic swap.
They pair well with lighter fare too like this protein cookie dough for a sweet snack or yogurt beaten right to cool off spicy fillings.

Question 3

Is Maize Flour the Same as Masa Harina?

Accepted Answer

This one trips up a lot of home cooks. Technically, masa harina is a type of maize flour but not all maize flour is masa harina. Masa harina has gone through the nixtamalization process, which makes it ideal for tortillas. Regular maize or corn flour has not, so it behaves differently in recipes.

Question 4

Is There a Difference Between Maize Flour and Corn Flour?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it’s important. “Maize flour” and “corn flour” are often used interchangeably, especially in the U.S. and U.K., but they can mean different things. In the U.S., corn flour usually refers to finely ground, untreated corn while maize flour is often used to describe masa harina or whole corn flour. Always check your recipe: for tortillas, only masa harina will do.

Maize Flour Tortillas – Amazing 3-Ingredient Gluten-Free Recipe

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Nutrition