How to soften corn tortillas for enchiladas is perhaps one of the most common questions when it comes to Mexican cooking.
If you’re planning on making enchiladas, quesadillas, or tacos, then having hard as rock tortillas can be a bummer.
Corn tortillas have been a staple food in many countries for centuries.
They’re a great choice when it comes to making some of the world’s most delicious dishes, and they’re also packed with nutrients that your body needs.
The ingredient contains fiber, protein, and the B vitamins thiamine and niacin.
It’s also low in sodium with only about 16 mg per tortilla so it won’t leave you feeling bloated after a meal.
With all of this in mind, it’s no wonder the little golden element has become really popular in many cultures including Mexican, Cuban, and Central American.
However, just like me, you might be having a hard time cooking your enchiladas with a tortilla that’s hard as a rock.
Luckily, there are many ways to make your tortillas just right for whatever you’re making.
Read on below to know everything about softening tortillas for scrumptious and hearty enchiladas!
How to Soften Corn Tortillas For Enchiladas
Enchiladas, Mexican food that never fails to give us an unforgettable flavor, has now become a comfort dish in many households.
Not only are enchiladas tasty but they are also good for our health since they contain Zinc and Potassium which are known to be
As much as this dish is loved by many, not all of us are blessed with the ability to make corn tortillas that are soft enough for enchiladas.
However, if you’re one of those who have been having a hard time cooking your own tortillas or need some help on how to soften them, then we’ve got the best methods listed down for you.
All you need to do is check which one would be best and proceed with softening your tortillas.
Now, let’s start!
Method 1: Make Use of Your Microwave
Not many people are aware of this but corn tortillas can actually be softened with just your oven.
The method is pretty easy and if you happen to be lacking in cooking skills, there’s no need to worry because even an inexperienced cook can do this in a jiffy.
(pretty awesome right?)
To begin all you have to do is lay the corn tortillas on a microwavable plate and heat it up for about 12-30 seconds.
The corn tortillas should be already soft enough after the said time but if this doesn’t work, it means that your ingredient is already a bit old so you need to fry them.
Don’t be concerned if you’re trying to make a low-calorie dish since you won’t be needing a lot of oil for this. All you need is to take a brush and gently coat your corn tortillas with the oil.
Now put the corn tortillas in your microwave and heat them for about 60 seconds before flipping them over to cook the other side.
Once done, you can expect a softer galette that will be perfect for your enchiladas.
Method 2: Use Your Oven
If the microwave method doesn’t seem to be a good option for you, then don’t worry because you can still use your oven to soften your tortillas up since it’s a great option for people who can’t use a microwave.
To use your oven the first step is to preheat it to about 375 degrees.
After that, you’ll need to brush some oil on the tortillas and place it on a baking sheet and then wait for them to cook from 10-15 minutes while checking them every 5 minutes to make sure they are softened evenly.
Be sure not to use aluminum foil as this will cause your pan’s surface temperature to become uneven and will ruin your galettes.
It’s best to find some parchment paper instead.
Method 3: Take Out Your Iron Skillet
If you want an easy method that won’t involve a microwave or an oven, then it’s a great idea to use an iron skillet since these materials are usually heavier and will distribute heat better.
The first thing you’ll need to do is heat up the pan on medium-low and once it’s heated, brush some oil on your corn tortilla and place it in there for about a minute or two while flipping them over every 30 seconds.
The key when using this technique is making sure that they’re not overcooked so be mindful of how long you’re placing them in the iron skillet.
However, the only downside of using this method is that you’ll have to heat your tortilla one at a time compared to when going for the oven or microwave method where you can heat up as many as you want.
Now that you know the best ways to soften up your precious tortilla, you can now proceed to make a tasty enchiladas dish that will surely leave you and those around you full and satisfied.
However, do you want to know how you can soften a tortilla without the use of oil?
If so, then you’ll surely love what’s waiting for you in the next section…
But before we head on let’s first have…
Section Summary
We’ve surely learned a lot about tortillas and enchiladas in this section. You’re now aware of the best methods to soften up your tortilla by using a microwave, oven, and of course a skillet.
With this new knowledge, we’re sure you’ll be able to make the perfect Mexican food dish.
In addition, we’ve also discussed some nutritional benefits of corn tortillas and how they can be a great choice when it comes to healthy eating.
And since we’ve got all of those covered, we can head on to what the health concerned people out there are really waiting for and that’s…
How to Soften Corn Tortillas For Enchiladas Without Oil
We all know how bad oil is for our body right?
Of course, it’s a daily staple in our everyday kitchen life but it’s considered one of the most unhealthy and dangerous ingredients we can use in cooking especially when it comes to frying.
It can be a great hack to pour in a few drops of oil and spread it across your tortilla before popping them on the heater to soften them up…
But what happens when you don’t want to use oil?
Don’t lose hope because we got you covered!
You can still soften your corn tortillas even without oil or any grease of some sort. All you have to do is to follow the method below:
Softening Tortillas Using Water
Alright, you may be thinking how weird it is to be using water to soften tortillas since it might take out the wonderful flavor this golden galette has, right?
But do hear us out!
Water is a great ingredient to soften tortillas because it has a great ability to get warm and hot, just like oil does.
In fact, it can even add moisture to the tortilla so that you don’t have any dry or hard patches on your meal.
However, the only caution you need to do when using water is making sure you DO NOT soak the tortilla but rather lightly sprinkle or streak the water on it.
Doing this will make sure your tortilla is moist and not wet to the point that it tears apart when you try to roll them up!
Here’s a thorough guide in using water to soften up your tortilla:
- Start by taking a bowl of water and a pastry brush. When it’s ready, slowly dip the brush into a bowl of water and then take it to your tortilla.
- Lightly go across the surface, soaking just enough so that it turns soft after you let it sit for about 30 seconds.
- If you want to do this two or three times, make sure not to soak too much water at once because all those drops might cause your tortilla to tear apart.
- Now you’re ready for your next step – heating it up!
- To heat your tortilla, cover everything with wax paper before placing it in your microwave.
- Wax paper is great for this because it stops your tortilla from getting squished.
- I usually microwave them for about 30-45 seconds, but you’re going to want to watch how they change in size and texture so that you know when they are ready!
- Once the time is up, take your wax paper off with a pair of tongs and take out your now soft tortilla!
Water for softening is a pretty great trick because it ensures you won’t have to use oil or any fat source that can ruin your diet but just be keen when using this method as to now over-soak your tortillas!
Overview of The Section
Corn tortillas for enchiladas are indeed one of the must-try comfort food on this planet since it is not only flavorful to eat but also can be made without much fuss.
You can also choose to have them as burritos, tacos, or a part of your sandwiches.
Considering this, it’s just great to finally know how you can easily soften up your tortilla without the use of unhealthy greasy oil that can cause an adverse effect.
Before you head out to try your newly discovered life tricks, we can now proceed to…
Final Words
If you’re in the mood to fix up a great dish, then it’s important to know how to soften corn tortillas for enchiladas to make the perfect shape and make it easy for you to wrap up some great fillings.
Rest assured by following these methods you won’t only be able to quickly soften your tortilla but also do so in the most healthy way possible.
We’re sure you’ll be able to apply these cooking tricks to your everyday life and come up with a dish that’s as healthy and delicious.