When I was first shown how to make this Mexican tortilla recipe by one of our new friends in South America, I had my doubts as to if it would be worth the time and effort. However, she made it look really easy, so I tried my hand at it, and was pleasantly surprised with the results. These tortillas are easy to make, very delicious, and can be used for a variety of meal ideas. They can even be frozen for future use. No special ingredients are required, just common ingredients that most people usually have on hand.
Easy and Delicious Mexican Flour Tortillas:
Yield: approximately 20 tortillas, depending on size and thickness of tortilla.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of white flour
- 1 tablespoon of baking powder
- 1 tablespoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of vegetable or olive oil
- 3/4 cup + 3/4 cup of HOT water, more as needed
Directions for Easy and Delicious Mexican Flour Tortillas:
- Boil water, using either the stove top or electric kettle methods.
- Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Add oil and mix ingredients together.
- Make a hole in the center of the mixture, and add the first amount of the 3/4 cup of hot water.
- Mix the flour mixture that is around the water until a doughy consistency. About half of the flour mixture will remain dry and untouched until step 10.
- Place the dough mixture on a floured working surface and knead, adding additional flour until mixture is not very sticky. Roll into a log shape.
- Pinch off a small section of the dough that you will soon roll into a tortilla shape. The size you pinch off will determine the size and thickness of your tortilla. Roll it into a ball shape.
- Prior to rolling the ball into the tortilla form, if you desire a more circular tortilla, make it into more of a "bowl" shape by making a dent in the middle of the ball. Then turn it over to roll it out into a tortilla over a lightly floured surface. See picture for reference.
- Flip the tortilla a few times as you are rolling it out to the desired shape. You may need to add more flour to avoid it sticking to your rolling pin. Continue making tortillas from this first section of dough until it is completely rolled out into tortillas.
- After this first section of tortillas is made, you may like to continue making the rest of the tortilla mixture, repeating steps 4 through 9. Or, if you have a co-chef, one of you can start to cook the tortillas that are ready while the other chef rolls out the the rest of the tortilla mixture.
- Heat a fry pan on high. Place tortillas in pan (one or more at a time, depending on the size of the pan). Heat tortillas through on one side until you see them start to "bubble". Then flip the tortillas to cook their other side.
- Set cooked tortillas aside and cover until ready to serve.
Tips for Versatility of Mexican Flour Tortillas:
- This recipe can easily be doubled or halved.
- These tortillas are great for burritos, fajitas, pitas, sides to soups, and even as a base for thin-crust pizzas. Depending on which type of meal you are making and how much you want each tortilla to hold, you may like to make the tortilla thicker starting with step 7.
- These tortillas can be reheated after being frozen and don't usually diminish in quality or taste.
Brandy Pearce - As a seasoned traveler, dental professional, educator and jewelry designer, Brandy's articles are insightful, interesting, and full of ...
