Masa

A dough made from dried corn that has been cooked and soaked in an alkaline lime solution, then ground; it is the base of tortillas and tamales.

Masa: A ball of fresh corn masa dough with a few pressed rounds, a bowl of masa harina beside it
  • Doughs, batters and pastry foundations
  • Mexico

Also called: masa de harina, masa harina

Making masa begins with nixtamalization: dried corn is simmered and soaked in water with calcium hydroxide, which loosens the hulls, changes the flavor and makes the dough hold together. The corn is then rinsed and ground into a soft dough. Masa harina is the same dough dried and powdered, so it can be mixed with water at home.

Masa is mainly used for savory foods like tortillas, tamales and pupusas. It also appears in sweets, including sweet tamales with raisins and cinnamon and the warm corn drink atole.

Related entries

Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Blue Corn Tortillas - Tribal Foods, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution Program