Tortilla

 ( American Cuisine ) 

A tortilla (, ) is a thin, circular Unleavened bread flatbread from Mesoamerica originally made from masa, and now also from wheat flour.

The Aztecs and other Nahuatl speakers called tortillas tlaxcalli (). First made by the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica before colonization, tortillas are a cornerstone of Mesoamerican cuisine. in Mesoamerica are known from as early as 500 BCE. were invented once the Spanish introduced wheat to Mexico in the 16th century.

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Etymology The word tortilla is derived from the Spanish word torta, meaning roughly 'cake' or 'pie', plus the diminutive suffix - illa; therefore tortilla can be translated as 'little cake'.

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Varieties

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Corn Tortillas made from Nixtamalization maize 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).

Marcus Winter (1992). 9789687074313, Minutiae Mexicana. ISBN 9789687074313

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.

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Wheat Europeans introduced wheat and its cultivation to the American continent, and it remains the source for wheat flour tortillas. Wheat flour tortillas originated in the northern region of Mexico.

Wheat tortillas usually contain fats such as oil or lard, salt, often leavening agents such as baking powder, and other ingredients. Otherwise, the preparation and cooking of flour tortillas on a comal is identical to that of corn tortillas. Flour tortillas are commonly used in dishes like , , and . It is part of the daily food repertoire throughout Mexico, Central America, and some states in the US.

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Nopaltilla A nopaltilla is a cactus-corn tortilla. The word is a portmanteau of nopal, Spanish for the Opuntia ficus-indica cactus, and tortilla.

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See also

• Torta
• List of tortilla-based dishes
• Lavash
• Arepa
• Chapati
• Indigenous peoples of the Americas
• Latin American cuisine
• Sopaipilla
• Saj (bread)

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External links

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