Q: What is masa harina? How can I use it?

A: Masa harina is a dry corn flour traditionally used to make tortillas, tamales and other Mexican dishes. It has a finer texture than cornmeal, and in Tamale Pie, it's added to thicken the mixture and to impart a subtle corn tortilla flavor to the filling. Look for it in the Hispanic or baking section of grocery stores. As a substitute, you can pulse corn tortillas in a food processor until finely ground.