Masa is Spanish for
dough. Although the word is mostly used to refer to any kind of dough, in some regions (Mexico, parts of Central America and the American South West) it is often short for
masa de maíz, a
maize (corn) dough made from freshly prepared
hominy. It is used for making
corn tortillas,
tamales,
pupusas, and many other
Latin American dishes. The dried and powdered form is called
masa harina,
masa de harina, and sometimes
Maseca, the name of a leading commercial brand. It is reconstituted with water before use. Masa is not to be confused with
masarepa,
masa de arepa, or
masa al instante, a type of unnixtamalized, soaked, and cooked
cornmeal used to make
arepas.
Masa de trigo is Spanish for
wheat flour dough. It is also used for making wheat tortillas and other breads and pastries.