What is it?

Corn tortillas, as traditional to Mexican cooking as Baguettes are to French, also go stale just as quickly, and therefore should be eaten promptly after they’ve been made or purchased.

The ingredients for fresh tortillas are simple: masa harina, a corn flour that is treated with calcium hydroxide to release the niacin in the corn and to make it easier on digestion, and water. The flour and water are combined into dough and are then either rolled out by hand or pressed with a tortilla press and cooked over high heat on a griddle. They can also be fried to make hard tacos and tortilla chips.

Recipes

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  Grilled Australian Lamb Tacos with Pomegranate-Mint Salsa

  Ginger-and-garlic rubbed lamb plus a sweet-sour pomegranate and mint relish puts a Mediterranean spin on the beloved Mexican street food. If you can’t find lamb loin, you can substitute butterflied…

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  Roasted Adobo Pork Tacos

  Because this sauce, with its hint of orange and garlic, is so good, you’ll want to keep it handy to try on shrimp, grilled tuna, or fried eggs. It also…

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  Avocado, Cucumber, and Poblano Gazpacho

  Avocado gives this refreshing cold soup a silky smooth texture. For best results, make it a few hours before serving to give it time to chill. Crisp homemade tortilla strips…

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  Chipotle Chicken and Corn Tostadas

  Charred corn and chicken have great summery flavors, but what really makes this tostada sing is the chipotle-lime cream sauce that holds everything on the shell. You can buy prepared…

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  Marinated Shrimp Tacos

  With so many toppings to choose from, these tacos make for a dinner that’s as fun as it is tasty.

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  Tacos al Pastor

  These pork-and-pineapple tacos are called al pastor because missionaries came from Jerusalem to Mexico and brought their Middle Eastern foodways with them. Over time, tacos al pastor became one of…

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  Grilled Soft-Shell Crab Tacos

  Grilling lends a smoky note to the sweet crabs and scallions in these tacos, while the tangy avocado mash brightens each bite. If you have tender, fresh corn tortillas, use…

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  Heirloom Bean Tostadas with Crispy Avocado

  Though we call for an assortment of canned beans for convenience, Chefs Feniger and Milliken used heirloom beans, such as scarlet runner beans, to dress up this recipe with color…

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  Baja Fried Fish Tacos

  A creamy lime-chipotle sauce gives these crispy tacos a bit of smoky heat. Radishes and cabbage are common garnishes on many Mexican foods and add a nice, fresh crunch. A…

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  Yucatecan Grilled Fish Tacos

  These bright, spicy tacos get their authentic flavor from a mixture of orange and lime juices (to replicate the bitter oranges grown in the Yucatán) and herbs and spices like…