Tortillas Ticas: A Taste of Costa Rican Tradition
Learn how to make authentic Costa Rican tortillas with just Maseca, water, and salt. Easy, delicious, and perfect for pairing with any Tico dish!
About This Costa Rican Tortilla Recipe
What comes to mind when you think of Latin American cooking? Chances are, fresh tortillas made an appearance in the parade of deliciousness that just ran through your head!
Versatile and tasty, homemade tortillas have been a traditional staple in many a Latin America-based household. Tortillas are so beloved, that there’s even a Spanish word for the process of pressing out the dough between your palms– tortilla! Young women in Costa Rica still learn how to make tortillas with their moms and grandmoms from a very young age.
Like many other Latin Americans, Costa Ricans generally make tortillas with cornflour, water, and a bit of salt. Throughout Costa Rica, there’s a ton of variation when it comes to tortilla size and flavor.
One of my favorite iterations is the tortilla de queso, a delicious creation that incorporates cheese and sour cream into the dough. If you ever happen to visit cities like Cartago or Alajuela, be sure to take advantage of their amazing tortillas con queso!
We also eat tortillas alineadas where a huge (like the size of your head big) tortilla is handmade and cooked, and then topped with shredded Costa Rican cheese and pan-fried until the top is crispy. It’s beyond delicious.
This recipe is for simple corn tortillas, but once you’ve mastered the basics, there are plenty of opportunities to jazz them up!
Costa Rican Tortilla Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups corn flour (I use Maseca)
- Pinch of salt
- 1½ cups water
- Vegetable oil
- Tortilla Press
Instructions
Place all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix the flour, salt, and water, adding the water in bit by bit until the dough is formed. This is usually done by hand, but you can use a wooden spoon if preferred. The dough should be soft and a bit sticky.
Check the dough for consistency, adding extra water if necessary, then work the dough into a series of 1-inch balls.
Cover your tortilla press with plastic sheets or parchment paper and flatten the balls into discs. Next, heat a drizzle of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the tortilla discs in the pan, frying them about 40 seconds per side or until lightly browned.
Remove the tortillas from the pan and serve warm.
Related Recipes You’ll Love:
Substitutions
You can use one cup of regular flour and one cup of the Maseca corn flour, though the consistency will be a little different.
You can use milk in place of water. You can use any type of salt (sea salt, Himalayan, etc). Some people add a bit of chicken bouillon (Maggi seasoning), but that’s not very traditional.
Variations
This Costa Rican tortilla recipe is delicious with a little shredded cheese (cotija and mozzarella are both great options) either stirred into the dough or served on top!
Serving Suggestions
Serve your tortillas warm with the topping of your choice. Shredded cheese, sour cream, gallo pinto, and black bean dip are all delicious possibilities!
These tortillas make incredible sides for traditional soups, like sopa azteca and black bean soup, and are usually included in a Costa Rican casado dish.
In Costa Rica, we have a food called a “gallo”, which is when you put any sort of food in a smaller portion on top of a tortilla. It’s a typical snack food, eaten for breakfast or during the afternoon coffee hour. You can have gallos topped with picadillos, meat dishes, fried cheese, and more.
Printable Recipe
Costa Rican Tortillas
This 4- ingredient Costa Rican tortilla recipe brings a traditional dish to your kitchen! Break out your tortilla press (or a couple of heavy textbooks) and some corn flour, and you'll be on your way to a plate of fresh, warm tortillas.
Ingredients
- 2 cups corn flour (preferably Maseca)
- Pinch of salt
- 1½ cups water
- Vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and water, adding the water in bit by bit until the dough is formed. This is usually done by hand, but you can use a wooden spoon if preferred. The dough should be soft and a bit sticky.
- Check the dough for consistency, adding extra water if necessary, then work the dough into a series of 1-inch balls.
- Cover your tortilla press with plastic sheets or parchment paper and flatten the balls into discs.
- Next, heat a drizzle of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the tortilla discs in the pan, frying them about 40 seconds per side or until golden brown.
- Remove the tortillas from the pan and serve warm.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Pin it!
Related Posts
Meet Christa
I’m Christa and I help families plan stress-free, culturally immersive trips to Costa Rica. As a home chef, I also share my passion for Costa Rican food through authentic recipes. My mission is to help your family fall in love with Costa Rica through practical advice, unforgettable experiences, and delicious meals.
Follow me on social
