Homemade Flour Tortillas

Homemade Flour Tortillas offer a delightful way to elevate any meal with their fresh, soft texture and simple ingredients. Made from scratch using pantry staples like flour, salt, and baking powder, these tortillas are enriched with vegetable shortening and warm water to achieve the perfect dough consistency.

After a brief resting period, they’re rolled out into thin rounds and cooked on a griddle until beautifully golden and speckled.

Whether used to wrap savory fillings or enjoyed on their own, these homemade tortillas promise to enhance your dining experience with their comforting, homemade taste.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Freshness and Flavor: There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh, homemade tortillas. The combination of simple ingredients like flour, salt, and baking powder creates a soft, flavorful tortilla that enhances any dish it’s paired with, from tacos to wraps.

Soft and Fluffy Texture: The use of vegetable shortening results in soft, fluffy tortillas that are light yet sturdy enough to hold fillings, making them a perfect base for a variety of meals.

Easy to Make: Despite the time it takes for the dough to rest, the process of making homemade flour tortillas is straightforward and doesn’t require any special skills. Anyone can make these with a few simple steps!

Customization: You can easily adjust the thickness, size, and even the flavor of the tortillas. Whether you prefer a thicker, chewier tortilla or a thinner, crispier one, this recipe allows for personalization to suit your taste.

Perfect for Any Meal: Homemade tortillas are versatile and can be used for a variety of dishes. Whether you’re making burritos, wraps, quesadillas, or just eating them with butter or your favorite dip, they make every meal feel special.

Economical: Making tortillas from scratch is a budget-friendly option compared to buying store-bought ones. With just a few pantry staples, you can create a batch of fresh tortillas for a fraction of the price.

Key Ingredients:

All-purpose flour: The main ingredient that gives the tortillas their structure and soft texture.

Salt: Enhances the flavor of the tortillas, balancing out the other ingredients.

Baking powder: Helps create a light and fluffy texture in the tortillas.

Vegetable shortening: Adds tenderness and flakiness to the tortillas, making them soft and pliable.

Warm water: Binds the ingredients together, helping to form a smooth dough that’s easy to roll out.

Homemade Flour Tortillas

Ingredients:

4 cups of all-purpose flour

1 tsp of salt

1tsp of baking powder

1 cup of vegetable shortening

1 cup of warm water

Instructions:

1. Mix all dry ingredients

2. Add vegetable shortening and mix well with dry ingredients

3. Add warm water until you get a dough consistency

4. Let it rest inside a Ziploc bag for at least 1 hour before making them.

5. After resting them form small balls and extend and cook on a griddle.

Turn when you see bubbles.

Enjoy !!

Notes:

Ingredient Consistency: Ensure the vegetable shortening is well mixed with the dry ingredients to achieve a uniform texture in the dough.

Dough Texture: Gradually add warm water until the dough comes together and reaches a smooth consistency. Adjust water quantity as needed to avoid a too wet or too dry dough.

Resting Time: Allowing the dough to rest for at least an hour inside a Ziploc bag helps the gluten relax, making it easier to roll out the tortillas later.

Forming Tortillas: After resting, divide the dough into small balls. This step ensures even cooking and uniform size of the tortillas.

Cooking Process: Cook the tortillas on a preheated griddle or skillet. Flip them when bubbles form on the surface and cook until both sides are lightly golden and slightly puffed.

Storage: Homemade tortillas can be stored in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for a few days. Reheat them briefly on a skillet before serving to maintain their softness.

Versatility: These tortillas are versatile and can be used for various dishes like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or enjoyed on their own as a side.

Enjoy Fresh: Homemade tortillas are best enjoyed fresh off the griddle, so plan to cook them just before serving for the best taste and texture.

Nutrition Information:

YIELDS: 12 | SERVING SIZE: 1

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different type of flour, such as whole wheat flour, instead of all-purpose flour?

Yes, you can experiment with different types of flour, but keep in mind that it may affect the texture and taste of the tortillas.

Whole wheat flour will yield denser tortillas compared to all-purpose flour.

Can I substitute vegetable shortening with another type of fat?

Yes, you can use alternatives like lard or butter, but it will affect the flavor and texture of the tortillas.

Vegetable shortening provides a neutral flavor and helps create a tender texture.

How long should I rest the dough in the Ziploc bag?

It is recommended to let the dough rest for at least 1 hour.

This resting time allows the gluten in the dough to relax, making it easier to roll out the tortillas and resulting in a softer texture.

Can I make the dough in advance and refrigerate it overnight?

Yes, you can prepare the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight.

Just make sure to bring it to room temperature before shaping and cooking the tortillas.

Can I cook the tortillas on a stovetop without a griddle?

Yes, if you don’t have a griddle, you can use a flat non-stick pan or skillet instead.

Heat it over medium-high heat and cook the tortillas as directed, flipping them when you see bubbles and cooking until lightly browned.

Can I use a different type of fat instead of vegetable shortening?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as lard, butter, or even coconut oil.

However, keep in mind that the choice of fat will affect the flavor and texture of the tortillas.

Can I substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour?

Yes, you can use a gluten-free flour blend as a substitute for all-purpose flour.

However, gluten-free flours often have different properties, so the texture and taste of the tortillas may vary.

How do I prevent the tortillas from sticking to the griddle or pan?

To prevent sticking, make sure your griddle or pan is properly preheated before cooking the tortillas.

You can also lightly grease the cooking surface or use a non-stick pan.

Can I freeze the homemade tortillas?

Yes, you can freeze the homemade tortillas.

Place them in a freezer-safe bag or container with layers of parchment paper in between to prevent sticking.

Thaw them before use, either at room temperature or by gently heating them on a griddle or in a microwave.

How do I store the leftover tortillas?

To store leftover tortillas, let them cool completely, then place them in an airtight container or resealable bag.

They can be stored at room temperature for a day or two, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.