Description
This homemade flour tortillas recipe is a simple and authentic way to create soft, warm Mexican flatbreads from scratch. Using basic pantry ingredients, you can make delicious tortillas perfect for tacos, burritos, or wraps. The dough is easy to prepare, requires resting for improved texture, and cooks quickly on the stovetop, resulting in flexible and flavorful tortillas every time.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil or melted lard
- 3/4 cup warm water
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder to evenly combine the dry ingredients.
- Add Oil and Combine: Add the vegetable oil or melted lard to the dry mix and use your hands or a fork to mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, ensuring even distribution of fat.
- Add Warm Water and Form Dough: Gradually pour in the warm water while mixing until a soft and slightly sticky dough forms, ensuring proper hydration.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 2 to 3 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, which helps develop gluten for pliability.
- Rest the Dough: Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes. Resting relaxes the gluten, making the dough easier to roll out.
- Divide and Shape: Divide the rested dough into 8 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball to prepare for rolling into tortillas.
- Roll Out Tortillas: On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough ball into a thin circle approximately 7 to 8 inches in diameter, aiming for even thickness for consistent cooking.
- Cook Tortillas: Heat a dry skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Cook each tortilla for 30 to 45 seconds on one side until light golden spots appear, then flip and cook the other side similarly. Adjust heat as necessary to avoid burning.
- Keep Warm and Serve: Stack the cooked tortillas in a clean kitchen towel to keep them warm and soft until serving to preserve their pliability.
Notes
- Tortillas are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- Reheat tortillas in a warm skillet or microwave before serving to restore softness.
- You can substitute vegetable oil with melted lard for a more traditional flavor.
- Ensure the water is warm, not hot, to activate the baking powder without killing it.
- Resting the dough is important to achieve tender, flexible tortillas.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tortilla
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 240mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
