Pigments for Corn Tortillas
Using the colors of nature, nothing synthetic or artificial.
About this dish
When you've made a few corn tortillas, you're feeling good about your technique, it's time to play with plant pigments.
Giving the corn tortillas some cebratory color. With natural pigments, nothing artificial or synthetic.
I'm going to make this easy to understand for you.
Let's create (3) categories:
1 - Dried Powdered Pigment
2 - Water Based Pigment
3 - Paste Pigments
Dried Powdered Pigments are those that are, dried. Think spices like Turmeric, Beet Powder, Algae Powder, Butterfly Pea Powder. They are some of the most simple to use.
Water Based Pigments are those that require blending and straining to obtain the pigment in water form (without the fiber and pulp). Think blending spinach and cilantro with a little water to get a green liquid. Think blending carrots with some wter to get some orange liquid. Think blending some steamed beetwe with water to get a vibrant purple liquid. Each of those liquids then being strained - so all that's left is a colored water.
Paste Pigments are basically water-based pigment, without removing the pulp. Instead of making water, we're going more for a creamy texture. Paste like, conentrated. A good example is de-seeding some Chiles with vibrant red hues, steaming them in some water, blending with a splash of that water - and getting a creamy red puddy that can be used as a pigment.
These are labeled in order of most intro to most difficult.
Dried pigment, easy. Because this requires no adjustment to a simple tortilla recipe.
Water Based Pigment, easy- medium. Because it requires a slight modification to a simple tortilla recipe.
Paste Pigment, advanced. Because it requires an understanding of tortilla dough consistency. Knowing how to adjust moisture content.
I'm going to show you how to achieve each type of pigment, using some specific examples along the way.
A QUICK OVERVIEW:
You basically take my homemade corn tortilla recipe and make a modification.
The modifications look like...
Dried Powdered Pigments
You follow my homemade corn tortilla recipe and simply add in some powdered pigment at step 1
Water Based Pigments
You follow my homemade corn tortilla recipe and instead of adding plain warmed water, you add your warmed pigmented water.
Paste Pigments
You follow my homemade corn tortilla recipe and during the kneading stage, you add in your pigment paste while adding in splashes of warmed water.
Ok, let's begin!
If you haven't already, please familiarize yourself with the general homemade corn tortilla method. This is the foundation for everything we're doing here and is the reference recipe.
Check the recipe below for individual methods on each pigment type.
Use these general methods to play around with other plant pigments you want to get creative with.
Keep in mind, when using plant pigments - the tortillas may not have as much simple 'Puff Action'. Mine puff, but not always as easily or as uniform.
Dried Powdered Pigments
This process is the easiest. You simply take some powdered pigment and add it in your Masa mixture at Step 1 of the recipe. Continuing the recipe from there.
EASY.
Water Based Pigments
First question here is, are your plants raw or cooked?
You can use foods that are (1) Raw or (2) Steamed/Cooked.
Two examples here are Spinach + Cilantro (Raw) & Purple Beets (Steamed)
For raw ingredients like Spinach and Cilantro you blend these ingredients with some water in a blender. More water will yield a lighter color/ less concecntrated. Less water will yield you a darker color/ more concentrated. Strain pulp from liquid in a fine mesh strainer. The liquid remaining is your water-based pigment.
For cooked ingredients like Purple Beets you first steam your beets until soft. Then, blend with some water in a blender. More water will yield a lighter color/ less concecntrated. Less water will yield you a darker color/ more concentrated. Strain pulp from liquid in a fine mesh strainer. The liquid remaining is your water-based pigment.
THEN.....you take my original corn tortilla recipe and replace the warmed water for your warmed pigmented water. Continuing the recipe from there.
That's it!
Paste Pigments
Once you've gottent the hang with how corn tortilla dough (masa) is supposed to feel like - you can start branching into paste pigments. Since paste pigments are adding fiber, it will alter the tortilla makeup / consistency. It will not act exactly like a regular corn tortilla. It can be slighly more airy to the touch and well...paste-like.
To make your pigment, you'll first choose the source. Chiles are a great example as they range in hues. Some giving a vibrant red, dark browns, etc.
For Chiles, 1st deseed and de-stem some dried chiles.
Here i'm using Guajillo and Pasilla Chiles.
Guajillo has a burgundy maroon color.
Pasilla has a deep black purple hue.
Then, bring them to a boil in some water in a pot. Enough to cover them lightly.
Lid on to trap the steam. Let simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and let them sit to hydrate for 30 minutes.
Then, blend the chiles with a splash of that chile water. Enough water so it will blend - but not too much water. We want a paste, not a liquid. This step might take some spooning the chiles down in to the blender, adding 1 tbsp of water at a time to get the paste to form.
Take that chile paste and let's look at the recipe.
After you've hit step 2 on your corn tortillas.
Add 1-3 tbsp of your paste to your dough mixture and begin working it in. Kneading. THEN continue with step 3 , adding 1 tbsp of warmed water at a time as you knead the dough. Continuing the recipe from there!
These tortillas may be a little more delicate to work with when you cook them. Simply give them a little more TLC in your handling of them.
You can make dough balls with the entire pigmented color, or infuse many colors together. You can get creative here. Some ideas:
For this design, simply roll some colors together alongside eachother - giving them a subtle 'mash together', before pressing in your tortilla press
For this design, you're going to want to first press a white corn tortilla. Instead of pressing hard down fully, just press down medium/half way. Then, take your design and place it on the tortilla, pressing one final time with the tortilla press to infuse the design.
For this design you're going to want to first press a white corn tortilla. Instead of pressing hard down fully, just press down medium/half way. Then, I rolled some chile dough along the table to make a long stringy piece. I carefully spiraled that on top of my base dough, pressing one final time with the tortilla press to infuse the design.
Ingredients
Dried Powdered Pigment
Turmeric powder pigment:
1 tsp - 1 tbsp of Turmeric Powder (More turmeric will yield a darker pigment, less will yield a lighter pigment)
Dried Chile Powder (Guajillo) pigment:
1-1.5 tbsp of FINE Dried Chile Powder (More chile powder will yield a darker pigment, less will yield a lighter pigment)
Water Based Pigments
Cilantro + Spinach pigment:
2 oz Cilantro (about 1 bundle from store)
3 oz Spinach
2 cups Water to blend with (More water will yield a lighter pigment, less will yield a darker pigment)
Purple Beet pigment:
11 oz Purple Beet
3-5 Cups Water, or more, to steam
1.5 Cups Water, or more, to blend (More water will yield a lighter pigment, less will yield a darker pigment)
Paste Pigments
Chile Paste Pigment:
1 dried Guajillo Chile, de-seeded and de-stemmed
1 dried Pasilla Chile, de-seeded and de-stemmed
2 Cups Water, to boil chiles with
Recipe - you can watch the video demo here
Dried Powdered Pigment
Turmeric:
Follow the recipe for my homemade corn tortillas, using White Corn Masa Harina
In step 1; you will simply add anywhere from 1 tsp - 1 tbsp of Turmeric Powder to the Masa + Salt. More turmeric will yield a darker pigment, less will yield a lighter pigment
Continue with the steps in the recipe as directed
Chile Powder:
Follow the recipe for my homemade corn tortillas, using White Corn Masa Harina
In step 1; you will simply add anywhere from 1-1.5 tbsp of FINE Dried Chile Powder to the Masa + Salt. More chile powder will yield a darker pigment, less will yield a lighter pigment
Continue with the steps in the recipe as directed
Water Based Pigments
Cilantro + Spinach:
Making your pigment water, when dealing with raw ingredients:
Add cilantro, spinach and 2 Cups Filtered Water to a blender - blend until very green and uniform.
Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer to isolate the pulp and fiber from the liquid - set liquid aside until ready to use - that's your water pigment!
Follow the recipe for my homemade corn tortillas, using White Corn Masa Harina
In step 2; you will simply swap out the warmed water for your warmed Pigmented Water. Gently warm your pigmented water in a pot, you don't need it to be piping hot, just nicely warmed. Following the recipe as it says to pour half a cup first, proceeding to add 1 tbsp at a time as we work the dough.
Continue with the steps in the recipe as directed
Purple Beet:
Making your pigment water, when dealing with cooked/steamed ingredients:
Chop your beets into small cubes and steam them until soft and easily pierced with fork. This can be done in a steamer basket, or boiled if you don't have a steamer. I use a steamer pot with 4 cups water at the basin
Blend your steamed beets with 1.5 Cups water. This water can be the remaining steamer basket water, or fresh water. Blend until creamy smooth and uniform.
Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer to isolate the pulp and fiber from the liquid - set liquid aside until ready to use - that's your water pigment!
Follow the recipe for my homemade corn tortillas, using White Corn Masa Harina
In step 2; you will simply swap out the warmed water for your warmed Pigmented Water. Gently warm your pigmented water in a pot, you don't need it to be piping hot, just nicely warmed. Following the recipe as it says to pour half a cup first, proceeding to add 1 tbsp at a time as we work the dough.
Continue with the steps in the recipe as directed
Paste Pigments
Chile Pigment:
De-seed and de-stem your chiles.
Into a small pot, add about 2 Cups Filtered Water
Add the chiles to the water
Bring water to a boil, then place a lid on top, reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes
Then, turn off heat, keeping the pot on the stove - let sit for 30 minutes to steam
Then, remove chiles from water and place them into a blender with 2 tbsp of the chile water
Begin blending. We want to make a paste, not chile water, so ladle in 1 tbsp at a time of Chile water, blending, until it's formed a paste. This may take anywhere from 3-7 tbsp of water
When your paste is formed, set aside to use in the dough
Follow the recipe for my homemade corn tortillas, using White Corn Masa Harina
After step 2 ; you will add in anywhere from 1-3 tbsp of your chile paste while mashing the dough with your fingers.
Continue with step 3, proceeding to add 1 tbsp of water at a time as we work the dough.
Continue with the steps in the recipe as directed
NOTES
Get creative with other pigments, using these general rules!
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