Calling all preppers and homesteaders! Do you know entire grain corn in your emergency meals storage has hidden potential? Observe these instruction to flip your corn right into a scrumptious and nutritious staple: do-it-yourself masa. Plus learn to make corn tortillas with it. Yum!
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Whereas popcorn is a well-liked selection for emergency meals storage, it’s simply the tip of the iceberg. Complete grain corn, obtainable in varied colours like yellow, white, and blue, affords a world of prospects. By studying to course of this versatile grain, you possibly can create a variety of scrumptious and nutritious meals. One such important ingredient is masa, the cornerstone of many conventional dishes, corresponding to tortillas, tamales, and pupusas. Better of all, this course of makes use of solely shelf-stable substances, making it excellent for long-term meals storage.
The Secret Ingredient to Do-it-yourself Masa
Corn was developed by the traditional American peoples to make particular meals distinctive to their tradition. Corn was a staple within the Americas lengthy earlier than the Europeans arrived on the scene, however they by no means contracted pellagra.
Nevertheless, the Europeans utilizing the identical turned fairly sick. They had been utilizing this new grain to make meals that they had been already used to consuming, particularly bread (cornbread) and porridge (grits/ polenta). In different phrases, they had been utilizing a New World ingredient to make Previous World meals, and it didn’t completely translate. They had been lacking one thing essential: nixtamal.
To get out of corn every little thing that it has to supply, you possibly can’t use it in a European means. You need to use it in a Native American means.
Tips on how to Make Do-it-yourself Masa
Disclaimer: this takes much more preparation and energy than merely grinding it in your Nutrimill. Nevertheless, I’m assured that after you strive actual, do-it-yourself tortillas from actual, do-it-yourself masa, you’ll by no means wish to return.
Substances
- 2 cups entire dent corn
- 2 Tbsp calcium hydroxide (additionally referred to as cal, or pickling lime – typically discovered within the canning aisle on the grocery store)
- 6 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
Gear
Directions
- Rinse your corn and put it in a saucepan over medium warmth with the calcium hydroxide/pickling lime and water. Slowly deliver it to a boil over a interval of 20 minutes or so.
- Let it proceed to boil for 10-Quarter-hour, then take away from warmth.
- Let it sit undisturbed in a single day or for not less than 8 hours. That is when the magic occurs — the chemical response that modifications the vitamins within the corn in order that they are often absorbed by the human digestive tract.
- When the allotted time has previous, the pericarp, the surface little bit of the corn, could have loosened significantly. Put the corn in a colander and rinse with cool operating water as you rub the corn together with your fingers. Maintain rubbing and rinsing the corn till all traces of lime and pericarp are washed away.
- Place the corn, now technically nixtamal, within the meals processor with the salt. Course of on Excessive till the corn is on the correct consistency – it needs to be chopped up finely sufficient that it may be shaped into balls. Generally I’ve so as to add as a lot as 3-4 tablespoons of extra water to get it the correct consistency.
Ta-da! You’ve got made masa. This can be utilized for humble corn tortillas, tamales, and in addition pupusas, that are a sort of stuffed tortilla.
Right here’s an image of some masa I made. Chances are you’ll discover it’s blue. No meals coloring was added. That’s the actual, precise, non-photoshopped shade. That’s as a result of I’ve loads of blue corn in my meals storage. I selected blue corn for 2 causes:
- Why trouble with boring yellow corn when it may be blue?
- Blue corn is greater in protein.
Additionally, there doesn’t at the moment exist any GMO blue corn in the marketplace. You will be assured a non-GMO product when buying blue corn, if that’s one thing that’s essential to you.
Flip the Masa into Do-it-yourself Corn Tortillas
I like do-it-yourself masa and corn tortillas, and I like making them from scratch. They’re immensely common with my household, together with the choosy toddler. And actually, making the masa is the arduous half; making the tortillas is straightforward.
- To show your masa into tortillas, first line your tortilla press with plastic wrap to maintain the masa from sticking.
- Place a small portion (about 2-3 tablespoons price) within the tortilla press and presssssssss. Keep in mind you made a dough within the final masa-making step.
- Cook dinner about 1 minute on both sides on a HOT griddle or skillet.
I like do-it-yourself masa and corn tortillas, and I like making them from scratch. They’re immensely common with my household, together with the choosy toddler.
Suggestions for Nice Masa
- If the masa is too dry, add a bit of little bit of water at a time to the masa, kneading it till it reaches the specified consistency.
- In case your masa is too moist, add a bit extra corn flour or masa harina to soak up the surplus moisture. Knead till the specified consistency is reached.
- To stop tortillas from sticking to the griddle or tortilla press, grease it effectively. You can even use parchment paper or plastic wrap.
- Tortillas that tear simply could also be a bit of dry. Add a bit of water and knead till it’s pliable. Additionally, make sure you’re rolling the tortilla out gently and evenly.
Printable Recipe Card: Do-it-yourself Masa & Corn Tortillas
Do-it-yourself Masa and Corn Tortillas
Flip your corn right into a scrumptious and nutritious staple: do-it-yourself masa. Plus, make corn tortillas with it!
-
1 meals processor
-
1 tortilla press
-
plastic wrap
- 2 cups entire dent corn
- 2 tbsp calcium hydroxide (additionally referred to as cal, or pickling lime – typically discovered within the canning aisle on the grocery store)
- 6 cups water
- 1 tsp salt
Do-it-yourself Masa
-
Rinse your corn and put it in a saucepan over medium warmth with the calcium hydroxide/pickling lime and water. Slowly deliver it to a boil over a interval of 20 minutes or so.
-
Let it proceed to boil for 10-Quarter-hour, then take away from warmth.
-
Let it sit undisturbed in a single day or for not less than 8 hours. That is when the magic occurs — the chemical response that modifications the vitamins within the corn in order that they are often absorbed by the human digestive tract.
-
When the allotted time has previous, the pericarp, the surface little bit of the corn, could have loosened significantly. Put the corn in a colander and rinse with cool operating water as you rub the corn together with your fingers. Maintain rubbing and rinsing the corn till all traces of lime and pericarp are washed away.
-
Place the corn, now technically nixtamal, within the meals processor with the salt. Course of on Excessive till the corn is on the correct consistency – it needs to be chopped up finely sufficient that it may be shaped into balls. Generally I’ve so as to add as a lot as 3-4 tablespoons of extra water to get it the correct consistency.
Corn Tortillas
-
Line your tortilla press with plastic wrap to maintain the masa from sticking.
-
Place a small portion (about 2-3 tablespoons price) within the tortilla press and press. Keep in mind you made a dough within the final masa-making step.
-
Cook dinner about 1 minute on both sides on a HOT griddle or skillet.
- If the masa is too dry, add a bit of little bit of water at a time to the masa, kneading it till it reaches the specified consistency.
- In case your masa is too moist, add a bit extra corn flour or masa harina to soak up the surplus moisture. Knead till the specified consistency is reached.
- To stop tortillas from sticking to the griddle or tortilla press, grease it effectively. You can even use parchment paper or plastic wrap.
- Tortillas that tear simply could also be a bit of dry. Add a bit of water and knead till it’s pliable. Additionally, make sure you’re rolling the tortilla out gently and evenly.
The Perils of Cornmeal Produced from Popcorn
Whereas popcorn is a nutritious snack when popped, grinding it into cornmeal is a dietary misstep. Not like conventional cornmeal, which undergoes a course of referred to as nixtamalization to unlock important vitamins, popcorn lacks this significant step. This will result in deficiencies in niacin, a B vitamin important for general well being. Consuming giant quantities of unprocessed corn merchandise can enhance the danger of pellagra, a severe illness characterised by pores and skin lesions, neurological problems, and digestive points.
To make sure optimum diet from corn, it’s greatest to stay to nixtamalized corn merchandise like corn tortillas or experiment with do-it-yourself masa. These choices present a dependable supply of important vitamins and have been a staple meals for hundreds of years. So in case you’ve stocked up on popcorn, planning to grind it, skip the grinding. Simply go forward and pop it. Eat it evenly salted, and relish the enjoyment that comes from understanding that you’re consuming popcorn the best way it was meant to be eaten.
Continuously Requested Questions
No, there’s at the moment no GMO blue corn in the marketplace. Blue corn is a naturally occurring selection that’s typically thought-about a more healthy various to yellow corn. It’s a fantastic selection for these seeking to keep away from GMOs of their weight loss program. Moreover, blue corn usually has a better protein content material than yellow corn, making it a extra nutritious possibility.
Nixtamalization is a vital step in processing corn. It improves the dietary worth of corn by rising the provision of niacin, a B vitamin important for human well being. It additionally improves the feel and taste of the corn.
After all! Retailer-bought masa harina is a handy possibility. Nevertheless, making your personal masa from scratch permits you to management the substances and the result’s a lot extra scrumptious!
Whereas a blender can be utilized, a meals processor is mostly more practical at reaching the specified texture. A meals processor will provide you with a finer grind, which is good for making easy and pliable masa.
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Ultimate Ideas
You’ve discovered the right way to remodel entire grain corn into a flexible and nutritious staple. By following the steps outlined on this information, you possibly can create scrumptious and healthful corn tortillas proper in your personal kitchen. Keep in mind, this ability isn’t just for culinary lovers; it’s a useful asset for anybody in search of self-sufficiency and meals safety. Whether or not you’re a homesteader or a prepper, understanding the right way to make the most of entire grain corn can considerably improve your meals storage and preparedness plans.
