• Education
    • Courses
      • Spherification
      • Gummy Course
    • References
    • Ask A Chef
  • Recipes
    • Baked Goods
      • Breads
      • Cakes
      • Pastries
      • Pies
    • Breakfast
    • Starters
      • Salads
      • Soups
      • Appetizers
    • Meals
      • EntrĂ©es
      • Sides
      • Cured Foods
      • Fermentation
    • Desserts
      • Frozen Treats
      • Gummies
      • Candies
      • Baked Desserts
      • No-Bake Desserts
    • Beverages
      • Alcoholic
      • Non-Alcoholic
    • Snacks
    • Sauces, Condiments & Garnish
    • Spherification
      • Direct Spherification
      • Reverse Spherification
    • Special Diets
      • Plant-Based
      • Meat Analogs
      • Seafood Analogs
      • Gluten-Free
      • Keto
      • Dairy-Free
      • Sugar-Free
  • WTF
  • Shop

Authentic Corn Tortilla and Papusa with Curtido

4 years ago
Cole Whitney
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Fresh home made corn tortillas transcend the ho hum in any meal. Press a simple taco, or hand-mold a traditional papusa filled with melty gooey oaxaca cheese. Top it all off with a spicy heap of curtido for a flavorful platter that satisfies and excites the palate.

Corn Nixtamal

Ingredients

  • 454g (1 lb) White Corn, Dried
  • 1500g (6 cups) Water, For Boiling
  • 8g (1 tbsp) Calcium Hydroxide
  • 5g (1 tsp) Salt
  • 60g (2 oz) Water
  • 250g (1/2 lb) Oaxaca Cheese or Salted Low Moisture Mozzarella (for Pupusas)

Equipment

  • Heavy Bottom Sauce Pan
  • Food Processor
  • Rubber Spatula
  • Tortilla Press

Timing

Active Time: 30 Minutes

Total Time: 24 Hours

Yield

1 ½ lb Nixtamal
24 Tortillas
12 Pupusas

  • Prepare Corn

    In a heavy bottom sauce pot bring the corn and water to a boil for 10 minutes.

    Remove the pot from the heat and add the calcium hydroxide.

    Stir the calcium into the corn. The corn with change color from white to bright orange.

    Let the corn soak overnight in the pot at room temperature.

  • Strain, Rinse, Remove Corn Hulls

    Strain the corn and rinse it well.

    Rub the corn together or against the side of a strainer until the hulls come off.

    Rinse the corn periodically until the majority of the hulls have been removed.

  • Food Process Corn Kernels

    Place the cleaned corn kernels in a food processor and pulse until it creates a coarse cornmeal.

    Add water and salt to the food processor and blend until smooth. This should take about 5-10 minutes.

    Allow the nixtamal to chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator before use, or for up to 7 days.

Tortillas

  • Create Tortillas

    Measure 25 grams of nixtamal, roll it into a ball and place it between 2 sheets of parchment paper.

    Press the ball into a tortilla about 1/8th of an inch thick using a tortilla press.

    Remove one sheet of parchment paper and place face down into a dry hot sauté pan, then remove the other piece of parchment paper.

    Cook on each side for 1 minute.

  • Serve and Store

    Serve immediately or wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Pupusas

  • Create Pupusas

    Measure out two 25g balls of nixtamal.

    Place one in your palm and flatten it out to a 2 ½ inch disk, place the cheese in the center and place the other ball of nixtamal on top.

    Flatten the second ball to cover the cheese completely.

    In a saute pan over high heat, add a small amount of oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Place the pupusas and cook for 2-3 minutes perside or until it has browned on both sides.

  • Serve

    Best served immediately with curtido.

Simple Fermented Curtido

Ingredients

  • 1000g (2 lb) Green Cabbage
  • 1500g (6 cups) Carrot, Sliced into Coins
  • 5g (1 tbsp) Oregano, Fresh Chopped
  • 1 small Onion
  • 30g (2 tbsp) Salt
  • 14g (2 tbsp) Red Chili Flakes

Equipment

  • Sanitized Mason Jar
  • Kraut Source Lid

Timing

Active Time: 10 Minutes

Total Time: 2 Weeks

Yield

1 Quart

  • Mix Ingredients

    Mix together the cabbage, carrots, onions, oregano, salt, and chili flakes.

    Place the mixture in a sanitized mason jar. Weight the contents down and cover the jar with a Kraut Source lid.

  • Fermentation

    Allow the mixture to ferment for 2 weeks at room temperature.

    There should be no signs of mold or yeast, if you do see these, discard immediately.

Summary
recipe image
Recipe Name
Authentic Corn Nixtamal Tortillas and Papusa and Simple Fermented Curtido
Author Name
Modernist Pantry
Published On
2019-05-21
Preparation Time
0H40M
Total Time
168H0M
Average Rating
51star1star1star1star1star Based on 3 Review(s)

1 Comment.

  • The Secret of Calcium Hydroxide
    May 21, 2019 9:56 am

    […] Recipe Links:Nixtamal Corn Tortillas and Pupusas with Curtido […]

Comments are closed.

Do You Enjoy Recipes, Tips, and Kitchen Inspiration?

 

Subscribe to Kitchen Alchemy

Transformation Inspirations from Modernist Pantry

ABOUT MODERNIST PANTRY

Modernist Pantry was founded by food lovers just like you. We share your passion for kitchen experimentation and have everything you need to make culinary magic happen in your kitchen. Professional chef, home cook, food enthusiast—no matter your skill or experience, Modernist Pantry has something for you. We make it easy to get the ingredients and supplies you need (and can’t find anywhere else) so that you can spend less time hunting and gathering and more time creating memorable dishes and culinary experiences…

© 2023 Modernist Pantry, LLC. All Rights Reserved