Homemade Fresh Masa (2024)

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To make fresh homemade masa for tortillas or tamales, you must first prepare nixtamal—dried corn soaked in an alkaline solution. Though this process of nixtamalization may sound intimidating, it's quite simple and requires only two key ingredients: dried dent corn and pickling lime, or cal, both of which are available at Latin markets and online. First-time masa makers should look for yellow dent corn, which has a high content of soft starch that will produce soft, pliable dough that is easy to work. (We like the Great River Organic Milling brand, available at amazon.com). Cal breaks down the outer hull of the corn and softens the starch within, making it more nutritious and easier to grind and form into a dough. While the corn needs to soak in the lime solution overnight, the resulting sweet corn flavor and texture are well worth the extra time. Event producer Paola Briseño González uses a metal Estrella molino, or mill, to grind the corn; she's also developed a genius food processor technique that yields excellent results. If using a processor, be sure to let the corn cook and soak a bit longer to ensure that it grinds evenly.

Paola Briseño González

Paola is a cooking writer and avid cook who wrote her very first recipe for a key lime cookie pie at age six. She is a proud Pata Salada— that’s Mexican coastal surf speak for a native of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Her cooking is a reflection of her coastal roots and is fueled by her background in food anthropology. Her recipes have appeared in L.A. Times, Epicurious, The Food Network, Milk Street Kitchen and others. She lives in Long Beach, California with her husband, a punk rock writer and taco editor, and their two Old English Sheepdogs, Fig and Crema.

Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines

Ingredients

1 pound whole-grain dried yellow dent corn (such as Great River Organic Milling Whole-Grain Corn) (about 3 cups)
4 quarts plus about 1 cup water, or more as needed, divided
1 tablespoon pickling lime (also labeled cal or calcium hydroxide)
2 teaspoons olive oil (if grinding masa in food processor)
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

Make the nixtamal

Place corn in a large bowl, and add water to cover. Stir well with your hands to wash kernels and loosen any corn silk or husk pieces. Drain and set aside. Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a medium nonreactive stockpot over medium-high. Using a wooden spoon, stir in pickling lime until dissolved. Stir in corn, and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a low simmer. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until outer layer of corn is slightly cooked but the inner core remains dry and opaque, about 1 hour. Remove from heat. Let corn sit in cooking liquid (called nejayote), covered, at room temperature 12 hours.
Drain corn in a colander; discard liquid. Rinse corn under running water, rubbing kernels between your fingers and against the colander to remove some of the slimy outer skin. Continue rinsing until the majority of the slippery skin is removed. (Don't worry about removing it from every single kernel.) Drain and discard skins.

To grind masa in a mill

Set up the mill, and adjust the grinding plates for a fine grind. As you crank the empty mill, the plates should rub against each other with a small amount of constant friction. Place a large bowl below the grinding plates. Working in batches, place the prepared corn in the hopper, and grind, adding water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to lubricate the grinding process, 5 to 6 tablespoons total. Once all of the corn has passed through the mill, working in batches, return the corn mixture to the hopper. Continue grinding, using a wooden tamper or the handle of a wooden spoon to feed mixture into the mill and adding water, 1 tablespoon at a time, to hydrate the dough until mixture has a mashed potato consistency, 8 to 12 tablespoons total. (The texture may be slightly dry and shaggy, but you're well on your way to soft and tender masa.) To grind masa in a food processor: Transfer corn to a salad spinner, and spin to remove excess water. (Drying the corn well is essential for grinding it evenly.) Transfer half of the corn (about 21/2 cups) to a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse until kernels are coarsely chopped, 6 to 8 pulses. Process until corn is very finely ground, 3 to 5 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides of the bowl and break up if it forms a ball. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Repeat process with remaining corn, and add ground corn to the bowl with the first batch. Drizzle with olive oil.
Sprinkle salt over corn mixture. Add water, 1 teaspoon at a time, kneading masa in bowl at least 30 seconds after each addition. Continue adding water and kneading until the texture is similar to Play-Doh, slightly tacky but not too sticky, 10 to 15 teaspoons of water total and about 10 minutes of kneading. It's important to incorporate a small amount of water at a time, allowing the masa to absorb the moisture and gradually become soft and pliable. If it feels a little dry, add more water, but only 1 teaspoon at a time to avoid overhydrating it. If it gets too sticky or feels too wet, let masa stand, uncovered, 20 minutes; gently knead to achieve a drier texture. To test if the dough is properly hydrated, form a golf ball–size ball in your hands. Press between your palms to flatten to a 1/2-inch-thick disk. The dough along the edges should be smooth; if it cracks, continue adding water and kneading. If the masa doesn't release cleanly from your palms, it is too wet.
Cover bowl with a damp kitchen towel to prevent surface of masa from drying out. Use immediately, or let stand at room temperature up to 4 hours. If it dries out, dip your hands in water, and gently knead to add more moisture until the masa is soft, tender, and pliable.

Make Ahead

Masa can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in refrigerator up to 4 days.

FAQs

How to make masa from fresh corn? ›

Transfer half of the corn (about 21/2 cups) to a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse until kernels are coarsely chopped, 6 to 8 pulses. Process until corn is very finely ground, 3 to 5 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides of the bowl and break up if it forms a ball.

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What is fresh masa made of? ›

You can make masa, dough made from ground corn, in two ways: instant and fresh. Fresh yields the best corn flavor and best texture, but you can use corn masa flour too, which is easier to find. You can find fresh masa at tortilla stores/factories, the international sections at larger stores or online.

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What is the difference between fresh masa and masa harina? ›

Masa Harina vs. Masa. The difference between masa harina and masa is simple: Masa is what you get when you mix masa harina with water. It is a corn dough that is used to make a number of foods that are essential to Mexican cuisine, including tortillas and tamales.

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How long does fresh masa last? ›

STORING: Smooth-ground masa makes the best tortillas when freshly ground, kept at room temperature, well covered, and used within 12 hours. Though the tortillas will be a little heavier, the masa may be refrigerated, well covered, for a day or two. For all other uses, it may be refrigerated for 3 days.

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How did Native Americans make masa? ›

The Aztecs discovered that ashes from cooking fires mixed with water created an alkaline lime mixture that softened, partially dissolved, and helped remove the kernel's tough outer skin, making corn easier to cook and make into masa (dough). Thus began the process now known as nixtamalization.

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Can you use popcorn kernels to make masa? ›

Grinding boiled popcorn kernels in a wet mill or food processor produces a masa with much better flavor and texture than you can get with precooked cornmeal (masarepa).

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Is masa just cornmeal? ›

Cornmeal vs Masa

Cornmeal and corn flour are made from ground corn, and masa harina is made from nixtamalized ground corn. The process of nixtamalization gives masa harina a savory flavor that you won't find with cornmeal.

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Is it okay to eat raw masa? ›

DO NOT EAT RAW FLOUR, DOUGH, OR BATTER.

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What is unprepared fresh masa? ›

Prepared masa typically has chicken stock (or a similar animal stock) and lard or vegetable shortening added. Unprepared masa is usually just the ground corn. Either product may have salt or spices added. It's best to read the ingredients when you buy it.

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Which masa is better for tamales? ›

Convenience is a big plus for me, so I opt for instant masa harina to make masa for tamales. Some brands like Maseca and Masabrosa have a variety of options to choose from. Their masa harinas made specifically for tamales have a coarser grind, which yields a masa with a bit of a gritty texture.

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How to tell if masa is bad? ›

Examining masa harina for spoilage involves assessing its: Texture: Masa harina should remain powdery; if it clumps or feels damp, it may be compromised. Flavor and Aroma: Any deviation from its typical corn-based flavor or its neutral aroma could indicate spoilage. A sour or off smell is a clear sign of fermentation.

Can you freeze fresh masa for tamales? ›

I prefer to freeze extra dough in 1-pound balls, in sealed plastic bags, or, if I have a friend on hand to help, we'll make tortillas and freeze those. Masa or frozen tortillas should last at least a few months in the freezer, tightly sealed.