Panamanian Tortillas Thick Corn Cakes Recipes

Steps:

• Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
• Combine water and canola oil in a separate bowl. Mix into the flour mixture with a fork until dough forms a ball, adding 1/4 cup water if dough is too dry.
• Knead dough until smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Divide into 14 egg-size balls. Cover bowl with a cotton towel. Let dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Roll 1 ball dough into an 8-inch tortilla on a floured work surface. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Preheat an ungreased cast iron griddle on medium-high heat. Place 1 tortilla on the hot griddle; cook until browned spots form, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a plate; cover with a cotton towel to keep warm. Repeat with remaining tortillas, stacking them under the towel.

Steps:

• Mix the water, mix, salt, rice flour, and sugar (optional) with a spoon.
• Knead with wet hands in bowl (wet hands keep it from sticking, so if it starts to stick just get your hands wet again).
• It will form into a mixture called "masa".
• Get bunches of the masa and form them into circles. Make sure the edges are pinched (no creases or cracks), and that the thickness is consistent (about 1 or 2 cm thick).
• To bake, put some of the butter in the pan and spread evenly. Heat the butter on med high.
• When butter is heated, place masa circles on the pan and let bake.
• Flip them every 2 or 3 min to evenly cook without burning.
• They will start to puff up and get golden.
• It should take about 10 min to cook thoroughly, but make sure not to overdo them--no one likes a burned tortilla!
• Repeat the steps until all the circles are baked through.

Steps:

• Knead the masa, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/3 cup water in a large bowl with your hands until well incorporated and the masa is soft and pliable but doesn't stick to your hands, about 4 minutes. If the masa is still dry or crumbly, add a tablespoon or two more water and continue to mix.
• Cut and remove the zip top from a gallon freezer bag. Cut the two sides of the bag leaving the bottom intact so that the bag can open and close like a book. If using a tortilla press, trim the cut sides of the bag to fit the flat surface of the tortilla press. (If you don't have a tortilla press, you can use a smooth-bottomed 10-inch skillet to press and flatten the tortillas. Use the plastic in the same way you would use with the press except place it between the countertop or work surface and the bottom of the skillet.)
• Divide the dough into 12 balls about 1/4 cup each (or 54g.). Arrange them on a rimmed baking sheet and keep covered with a damp kitchen towel until ready to use.
• Heat a medium cast-iron skillet or large griddle over medium-high heat.
• Place the prepared plastic bag inside the press so that the folded side of the bag is on the hinged side of the press. Working with one dough ball at a time, open the press and the top side of the bag and place a ball in the center of the press. Fold the bag over the ball and gently press, holding a steady, firm pressure for a few seconds to flatten the ball to a 7-inch round. Open the press and peel the top bag from the dough. Place the dough on your open palm and peel off the remaining plastic.
• Brush the preheated pan with vegetable oil. Working with one at a time (unless using a large griddle), cook the tortillas for 30 seconds on each side, flipping 3 times, until just starting to brown in spots, 90 seconds total. Stack and wrap the tortillas in a clean kitchen towel and keep warm. Repeat pressing and cooking the remaining dough balls.
• Serve the tortillas warm.