 Corn tortillas | |
| Alternative names | Torta, tortita,Titiya |
|---|---|
| Type | Flatbread |
| Place of origin | Mesoamerica |
| Region or state | Mexico andCentral America |
| Main ingredients | Masa harina,Hominy,Wheat,Nopal |
Atortilla (/tɔːrˈtiːə/,Spanish:[toɾˈtiʝa]) is a thin, circularunleavenedflatbread fromMesoamerica originally made frommasa, and now also from wheat flour.
TheAztecs and otherNahuatl speakers called tortillastlaxcalli ([t͡ɬaʃˈkalli]).[1] First made by theindigenous peoples ofMesoamerica before colonization, tortillas are a cornerstone ofMesoamerican cuisine.Corn tortillas in Mesoamerica are known from as early as 500 BCE.[citation needed]Flour tortillas were invented once the Spanish introduced wheat to Mexico in the 16th century.
The wordtortilla is derived from the Spanish wordtorta, meaning roughly 'cake' or 'pie', plus the diminutive suffix -illa; thereforetortilla can be translated as 'little cake'.[2][3]
Tortillas made fromnixtamalizedmaize meal (masa de maíz) are the oldest variety of tortilla. They originated in Mexico and Central America, and remain popular throughout the Americas. Peoples of the Oaxaca region in Mexico first made tortillas at the end of the Villa Stage (1500 to 500 BCE).[4][page needed] Towards the end of the 19th century, the first mechanical utensils for making tortillas, called tortilla presses, tortilleras, or tortilladoras, were invented and manufactured in Mexico.
Europeans introducedwheat and its cultivation to the American continent, and it remains the source for wheatflour tortillas. Wheat flour tortillas originated in the northern region of Mexico.
Wheat tortillas usually contain fats such as oil or lard, salt, oftenleavening agents such asbaking powder, and other ingredients. Otherwise, the preparation and cooking of flour tortillas on acomal is identical to that of corn tortillas. Flour tortillas are commonly used in dishes likeburritos,tacos, andfajitas. It is part of the daily food repertoire throughout Mexico, Central America, and some states in the US.
Anopaltilla is a cactus-corn tortilla. The word is aportmanteau ofnopal, Spanish for theOpuntia ficus-indica cactus, and tortilla.[5][6]
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