Freshly Baked Homemade Tortillas
Make Delicious Tortillas at Home for Less!
Tortillas are a versatile staple for tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more! Store-bought ones can be pricey and come in small quantities. Now, you can easily make your own at home, saving money and getting more for your effort. Discover this simple recipe for chewy and flavorful homemade tortillas.
Dough Ingredients
- All-purpose flour or bread flour 720g
- Hot water 300ml (approx. 60-70°C / 140-158°F)
- Vegetable oil (e.g., canola, grapeseed) 100ml
- Baking powder 7g (about 2.5 tsp)
- Salt a pinch (about 1/2 tsp)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
In a large bowl, combine the flour (720g) and baking powder (7g). Whisk or stir with a spoon until evenly distributed, ensuring there are no clumps of baking powder.
Step 2
Add a pinch of salt (about 1/2 tsp) to the flour mixture. Salt enhances the flavor and balances the taste of the tortillas.
Step 3
Pour in the vegetable oil (100ml). The oil contributes to a soft and chewy texture in the finished tortillas.
Step 4
Gradually add the hot water (300ml). It’s crucial to add the water slowly and observe the dough’s consistency to avoid making it too sticky or wet. Avoid having too much excess water in the mixing bowl. The hot water helps to cook the flour slightly, making the dough tender.
Step 5
Using a silicone spatula or spoon, mix all the ingredients together until a shaggy dough forms and no dry flour remains visible.
Step 6
Once the ingredients are somewhat combined, begin kneading the dough with your hands. Knead for about 5-10 minutes, or until the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and pliable. Gently pressing out air from the dough as you knead can help achieve a chewier texture.
Step 7
Continue kneading until the dough no longer sticks to your hands and has a smooth, elastic surface. This is the ideal consistency.
Step 8
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. This resting period allows the gluten to relax, resulting in softer and chewier tortillas.
Step 9
After resting, divide the dough into 8 equal portions (or your desired size). Shape each portion into a slightly flattened ball. They don’t need to be perfectly round at this stage.
Step 10
Using a rolling pin, flatten each ball into a thin circle. The dough might shrink back initially, but keep rolling gently until it stretches out. Aim for a thickness of about 1-2mm, thin enough to cook through but not so thin that it tears easily.
Step 11
Place a round bowl or a mold lightly on top of the flattened dough and press down gently. This step helps prevent the center from puffing up excessively during cooking and ensures a more even thickness.
Step 12
Using a knife or a pizza cutter, trim away the excess dough around the bowl to create a perfect circle.
Step 13
You now have perfectly round tortillas ready for cooking!
Step 14
Heat a dry skillet (no oil needed) over very low heat. It’s crucial to maintain a low temperature. Place one tortilla on the preheated skillet. When small bubbles start to form on the surface and the tortilla begins to puff up slightly, it’s time to flip it.
Step 15
Be quick after flipping, as the tortilla cooks rapidly. Once the underside shows light golden-brown spots, remove it from the pan immediately. Overcooking will make the tortillas tough.
Step 16
Tortillas can become tough if they are too thick, too thin, or cooked over too high heat. Proper thickness and slow cooking over low heat are key to achieving a soft texture.
Step 17
Congratulations, your delicious homemade tortillas are ready! Stacking the freshly baked tortillas while they are still warm helps them steam slightly, preventing them from becoming crispy and ensuring they cook through evenly with residual heat. Don’t worry, this is part of the process!
Step 18
Once cooked, lay the tortillas flat, not stacked, on a clean surface to cool completely. Stacking them while hot can cause them to stick together or become soggy.
Step 19
Store the completely cooled tortillas in an airtight container or a resealable bag and freeze them for longer storage. To use, simply take them out ahead of time to thaw, and they will return to their soft, pliable state, ready to be enjoyed!
