Tortilla
Masa harina, Hominy | |
A tortilla (/tɔːrˈtiːə/, Spanish: [toɾˈtiʝa]) is a thin, circular unleavened flatbread from Mesoamerica originally made from maize hominy meal, and now also from wheat flour.
The Aztecs and other Nahuatl speakers called tortillas tlaxcalli ([t͡ɬaʃˈkalli]).[1] First made by the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica before colonization, tortillas are a cornerstone of Mesoamerican cuisine. Corn tortillas in Mesoamerica are known from as early as 500 BCE.
Etymology
The word tortilla is derived from the Spanish word torta, meaning "cake," plus the diminutive -illa; as a result, the word means "little cake" in Spanish.[2][3]
Varieties
Corn
Tortillas made from nixtamalized 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 BC).[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.
Wheat
Europeans introduced wheat and its cultivation to the American continent, and it remains the source for wheat flour tortillas. Wheat flour tortillas were originated in the northern region of Mexico.
Wheat tortillas usually contain fats such as oil or lard, salt, often
Nopaltilla
A nopaltilla is a cactus-corn tortilla. The word is a
See also
- Lavash
- Arepa
- Chapati
- Indigenous peoples of the Americas
- Latin American cuisine
- List of tortilla-based dishes
- Sopaipilla
References
- ^ Wood, Stephanie (ed.). "tlaxcalli". Online Nahuatl Dictionary. Wired Humanities Projects at the University of Oregon. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ "Tortilla Definition & Usage Examples". Dictionary.com. January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ "Tortilla Definition & Meaning". Merriam-Webster. January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- OCLC 26752490.
- ^ Bernal, Marisa (February 20, 2012). "Cactus tortillas offer a novel take on traditional food". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
- ^ Vercammen, Paul (March 17, 2009). "Can green tortillas create new jobs?". AC360°. CNN. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2020.