Two cooked flour tortillas.

In Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, the United States, and Canada, a tortilla is a type of thin, unleavened flat bread, made from finely ground maize (corn) or wheat flour. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page A leavening agent (sometimes called just leavening or leaven) is a substance used in Doughs and batters that causes a foaming action intended Bread is a Staple food prepared by Baking a Dough of Flour and Water. Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Flour is a powder made of Cereal grains It is the key ingredient of Bread, which is a staple food in many countries and therefore the availability A similar bread from South America is called arepa (though arepas are typically much thicker than tortillas). South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a The arepa is a corn -based Bread from the northern Andes in South America (from countries like Colombia and Venezuela) This form of bread predates the arrival of Europeans to America, and was called "tortilla" by the Spanish from its resemblance to the traditional Spanish round unleavened cakes and omelettes (originally made without potatoes, which are native to South America). An omelette is a preparation of beaten egg cooked with Butter or oil in a Frying pan, usually folded around a filling such as The Aztecs and other Nahuatl-speakers called their tortillas by the name “tlaxcalli”: these have become the prototypical tortillas. Aztec is a term used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who achieved political The maize version is the original North American tortilla and is regarded by many as the "authentic" tortilla. Flour tortillas originated in regions of Mexico unsuited for growing corn.

Different meanings of tortilla

The Spanish word tortilla ([t̪oɾˈt̪iʎa], [t̪oɾˈt̪iʝa], [t̪oɾˈt̪iʒa]) denotes two different classes of foods, depending on where the term is encountered. Etymologically, it is derived from the word torta, meaning a plain round cake. ^[1]

In Spain and South America, a tortilla is any omelette, often a round, layered omelette (i. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a An omelette is a preparation of beaten egg cooked with Butter or oil in a Frying pan, usually folded around a filling such as e. , not folded over), most typically made with layers of eggs, very thinly sliced potatoes, such seasonings as the chef desires, and cooked in vegetable oil. It is usually served cold as an appetizer or bar snack. The terms Spanish tortilla, tortilla española or tortilla de patatas all refer to a common recipe in Spain, an omelette with stir-fried potatoes and chopped onion, often served as a staple food in Spanish bars and cafés. The tortilla de patatas or Spanish omelette is a typical Spanish dish consisting of an egg Omelette with fried Potatoes ( American versions of Spanish and South American tortilla are usually cooked in vegetable shortening, commonly with bell pepper and/or onion and/or chives; and typically served warm instead of cold. "Green pepper" redirects here For green peppercorns see Black pepper. Organicsalsajpg||thumb|right|Onions used in salsa.]]Cooked onions in frying pan Chives ( Allium schoenoprasum) are the smallest Species of the Onion family Alliaceae, native to Europe, Asia and

In Panama, a tortilla is a deep fried cornmeal disk, slightly smaller than a hockey puck.

But it is the Mexican meaning of "tortilla" that is most familiar to North Americans, and possibly most of the world outside of Europe and South America, where the original Spanish meaning is best known. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a

A thick, American-style pea soup garnished with a tortilla fragment

The flour tortilla is probably best known in the USA as the tortilla used to make burritos, a preparation originating in northern Mexico. Pea soup is Soup made typically from dried Peas It is with variations a part of the cuisine of many cultures A burrito or taco de harina is a type of food found in Mexican and Mexican-American cuisine Wheat tortillas are also a traditional staple of the peoples of northwestern Mexican states (such as Sonora and Chihuahua) and many southwestern US Native American tribes. Sonora is one of the 31 federal states of Mexico and is located in the northwest of the country Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States As an easy solution to both the problems of handling food in microgravity and preventing bread crumbs from escaping into delicate instruments, wheat flour tortillas have been used on many NASA Shuttle missions since 1985. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program NASA 's Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System ( STS) is the United States government's current manned Launch [1]

Maize tortillas are known in the Basque region of Spain as talo and were a traditional Basque farmers' staple until the introduction of railborne wheat flour suitable for bread. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. There are maize tortillas in other regions of Northern Spain, such as Asturias, where they are called frixuelos, and Galicia, where they receive the name of filloas. The Principality of Asturias ( Spanish: Principado de Asturias, Asturian: Principáu d'Asturies or Asturies) is an Galicia (occasionally Galiza) is an autonomous community in northwest Spain.

Tortilla making

Traditional tortilla making. The mother is grinding the maize with a stone mano and metate as the elder daughter pats the dough into tortillas. (El Salvador, c. El Salvador ( República de El Salvador,) is a country in Central America. 1900)

The traditional tortilla has been made of corn or maize since Pre-Columbian times. Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences It is made by curing maize in lime water in a process known as nixtamalization which causes the skin of the corn kernels to peel off (the waste material is typically fed to poultry), then grinding and pre-cooking it, kneading it into a dough called masa nixtamalera, pressing it flat into thin patties, and cooking it on a very hot comal (originally a flat terra cotta griddle, now usually made instead of light sheet-metal). Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Lime water is the common name for saturated Calcium hydroxide Solution. Nixtamalization typically refers to a process for the preparation of maize (corn in which the Grain is soaked and cooked in an Alkaline solution Poultry is the category of Domesticated Birds which some humans keep for the purpose of collecting their eggs, or kill for their Meat and/or Dough is a paste made out of any Cereals (grains or leguminous crops by mixing the Flour with a small amount of Water. Masa is Spanish for Dough, but in Mexico it sometimes refers to Cornmeal dough ( masa de maíz in Spanish A comal is a griddle or grill typically used for cooking foods based on a Tortilla, including Quesadillas, a folded tortilla filled with cheese and/or meat heated Terra cotta ( Italian: "baked earth" is a Ceramic. Its uses include vessels water & waste water pipes and surface embellishment in Building construction A griddle is a piece of cooking equipment. In the industrial world usually it is a flat plate of metal (usually Aluminium, Stainless steel or Cast

Soaking the maize in lime water is important because it liberates the vitamin niacin and the amino acid tryptophan. Lime water is the common name for saturated Calcium hydroxide Solution. Tryptophan (abbreviated as Trp or W) is one of the 20 standard amino acids, as well as an Essential amino acid in the Human diet When maize was brought back to Europe, Africa and Asia from the New World, people left out this crucial step. People whose diet consisted mostly of corn meal often became sick, because of the lack of niacin and tryptophan, with the disease pellagra, which was common in Spain, Northern Italy and the southern United States. Pellagra is a Vitamin Deficiency disease caused by dietary lack of Niacin (B3 and Protein, especially proteins containing the

In Mexico, particularly in the towns and cities, corn tortillas are often made nowadays by machine and are very thin and uniform, but in many places in the country they are still made by hand, even when the nixtamal is ground into masa by machine. In Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras they are still often made by hand and are thicker. Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. El Salvador ( República de El Salvador,) is a country in Central America. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. Corn tortillas are customarily served and eaten warm; when cool, they often acquire a rubbery texture. The largest tortilla producer in the world is a Mexican company called Gruma, headquartered in Monterrey. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Gruma SAB de CV () is the largest manufacturer of corn flour and Tortillas in the world This article is about the Mexican city for other uses see Monterrey (disambiguation.

Traditionally throughout Mesoamerica from Pre-Columbian times into the mid 20th century, the masa was prepared by women using a mano (a cylinder shaped stone like a rolling pin) and metate (a stone base with a slightly concave top for holding the corn). Mesoamerica or Meso-America (Mesoamérica is a Region extending approximately from central Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua, defined The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Belan redirects here For the Wine Grape also known as Belan see Grenache blanc A rolling pin is a cylindrical food preparation utensil A metate is a mortar, a Ground stone tool used for processing Grain and Seeds In traditional Mesoamerican culture metates were typically This method is still used in some places in Mexico.

The wheat flour tortilla was an innovation after wheat was brought to the New World from Spain while this region was the colony of New Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Viceroyalty of New Spain (Virreinato de Nueva España was a name given to the Viceroy -ruled territories of the Spanish Empire in North America, It is made with an unleavened, water based dough, pressed and cooked like corn tortillas. These tortillas are very similar to the unleavened bread popular in Arab, eastern Mediterranean and southern Asian countries, though thinner and smaller in diameter. The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding Geometry, a diameter of a Circle is any straight Line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose Endpoints are on the In China, there is the laobing (烙餅), a pizza-shaped thick "pancake" that is similar to the tortilla. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Laobing is a type of unleavened Flatbread sold in parts of northern China and used in Beijing cuisine. The Indian Roti, which is made essentially from wheat flour is another example. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Roti ( Hindi: रोटी; Dhivehi: ރޮށި; Punjabi: ਰੋਟੀ; Urdu: روٹی; Gujarati: રોટલી; roʈi

Tortillas vary in size from about 6 to over 30 cm (2. 4 to over 12 in), depending on the region of the country and the dish for which it is intended.

Among tortilla variants (without being, strictly speaking, tortillas) there are pupusas, "pishtones, gorditas, sopes, and tlacoyos. A pupusa (from Pipil pupusawa) is a thick hand-made corn Tortilla (made using masa de maíz, a Maize Flour Dough A gordita in Mexican cuisine is a Food which is characterized by a small thick Tortilla made with masa harina ( Corn flour) A sope (pronounced "SOH-peh" is a traditional Mexican dish originating in the city of Culiacán Sinaloa. Tlacoyos are Oval shaped Fried or Toasted Cakes made of ''masa''. These filled snacks can be found in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest El Salvador ( República de El Salvador,) is a country in Central America. Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. They are smaller, thicker versions to which beans, chicharrón, nopales or other ingredients have been added. Bean is a common name for large plant Seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae used for human food or animal Chicharrón is a popular dish in Andalusia, Spain, and Latin America and is part of the traditional cuisines of Belize, Bolivia Opuntia Nopales are a Vegetable made from the young stem segments of Prickly pear, carefully peeled to remove the spines They are particularly They are customarily cooked on a greased pan.

In Nicaragua, tortillas are called Güirilas. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America They are made from young white corn . Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Güirilas are thick, sweet and filling. A Güirila is a tortilla made from young white Corn. They are thick sweet filling and usually eaten with crumbled white Cheese. They are enjoyed as a snack by itself, with crumbled cheese, or accompanying a dish.

In Argentina, Bolivia and southern Chile, the size of the tortillas is smaller. They are generally saltier, made from wheat or corn flour, and roasted in the ashes of a traditional adobe oven. This kind of tortilla is called Sopaipilla (not to be confused with a puffy fry bread of the same name common in New Mexico, United States). A sopaipilla, also spelled sopapilla or sopaipa, is a kind of fried Pastry and a type of Quick bread. Fried bread (also spelled frybread or fry bread, also known as bannock) is a Native American food found throughout the United New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In Chile and Argentina it may also be sweetened after being cooked by boiling in sugar water.

Automatic tortilla machine (explanation)

In commercial production and even in some larger restaurants, automatic machines make tortillas from dough.

A simple tortilla recipe:

4 C flour 1/2 C shortening 1 t salt 1 C warm water

Mix 2 C flour, all of the shortening and salt until the mixture has the consistency of small crumbles. Add warm water. Mixture will be sticky. Add remaining flour and knead until dough is pliable and springy. May not need all of the flour. Let sit covered for a minimum of one hour. Take small portions and form a ball. Roll out with rolling pin and cook over medium heat on a cast iron skillet until brown spots form.

See also

• Tortilla de patatas
• Tortilla art
• Tortilla chip
• Mexican cuisine
  • Chilaquiles
  • Enchilada
  • Quesadilla
  • Taco
  • Tostada
• Honduran cuisine
• Blintz
• Crêpe
• Pancake
• Pita
• Roti
• Burrito

Etymology

"Little cake"

Torta, cake, plus the diminutive -illa. The tortilla de patatas or Spanish omelette is a typical Spanish dish consisting of an egg Omelette with fried Potatoes ( Tortilla art refers to Fine art that uses Tortillas as a Canvas. A tortilla chip is a Snack food made from corn Tortillas which are cut into wedges and then fried (alternately they may be discs pressed out of corn Mexican food is a style of food that originated in Mexico. Mexican cuisine is known for its intense and varied flavors colorful decoration and variety of spices Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican dish. Typically corn Tortillas cut in quarters and fried are the basis of the dish Not to be confused with Enceladus. An enchilada ( is a corn Tortilla rolled around a filling and covered with a chili A quesadilla (IPA, usually anglicized as) is a dish in Mexican cuisine or Tex-Mex, which involves cooking ingredients most importantly Cheese, inside A taco ( is a traditional Mexican dish composed of a Maize or wheat Tortilla folded or rolled around a filling Tostada is a Spanish word translating to "toasted" in English and in Latin American cuisine, refers to a flat Tortilla that is toasted Honduran Cuisine combines the food of the indigenous Maya- Lenca population with Spanish food, Mexican food etc A blintz, blintze or blin (plural blintzes or blini cf Lithuanian: Blynai blynai; Russian: блин blin, блины A crêpe (kreɪp French kʀɛp is a type of very thin cooked Pancake usually made from Wheat Flour. Pancakes are a type of Flatbread prepared from a sweet batter that is cooked on a hot Griddle or in a Frying pan. Pita (also called and less commonly known as pitta or pide (Turkish pitka (Bulgarian and pronounced "pitta" in Greek is an often round Roti ( Hindi: रोटी; Dhivehi: ރޮށި; Punjabi: ਰੋਟੀ; Urdu: روٹی; Gujarati: રોટલી; roʈi A burrito or taco de harina is a type of food found in Mexican and Mexican-American cuisine Cake is a form of Food that is usually sweet and often baked.

References

External links

Tortilla making in the Tezoatlán Mixtec culture, with a video showing the process