Description
This Flour Tortillas recipe yields soft, warm, and pliable homemade tortillas perfect for tacos, burritos, wraps, or as a side to many Mexican dishes. Made with simple ingredients including all-purpose flour, baking powder, butter or shortening, and warm water, these tortillas are easy to prepare from scratch with no special equipment needed.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (or vegetable shortening)
- 3/4 cup warm water (may need a little more or less)
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder until well combined and evenly distributed.
- Incorporate the Fat: Add the butter or shortening to the flour mixture. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to work the fat into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs or pea-sized pieces.
- Add Water: Gradually pour in the warm water, mixing as you go with your hands or a spoon, until the dough starts to come together. Add water slowly as you might not need the full amount.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for 2-3 minutes until smooth and elastic. Adjust by adding a sprinkle of flour if sticky, or a few drops of water if too dry.
- Rest the Dough: Divide the dough into 8-10 equal portions and shape each into a ball. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 20-30 minutes to relax the gluten for easier rolling and softer tortillas.
- Roll Out the Dough: Using a rolling pin, roll each dough ball into a thin circle about 6-8 inches in diameter. Aim for even thickness but don’t stress about perfect round shapes.
- Cook the Tortillas: Heat a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat with no oil. Place one tortilla in the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes until bubbles form. Flip and cook the other side for another 1-2 minutes until golden brown spots appear.
- Keep Warm: Remove cooked tortillas and keep them wrapped in a clean kitchen towel to retain warmth and softness. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Serve: Enjoy freshly made tortillas warm with your favorite fillings, such as tacos, burritos, or as a side accompaniment.
Notes
- Resting the dough is crucial to make the tortillas soft and easier to roll out.
- Use warm water to help hydrate the dough properly and develop gluten.
- Adjust the water amount slightly as humidity and flour absorbency vary.
- Cooking on a hot dry skillet allows for those nice bubbles and golden spots without added fat.
- Store leftovers wrapped in a towel inside a sealed container to keep them soft.
- Reheat tortillas on a hot skillet for a few seconds if needed before serving.
