Homemade Flour Tortilla Recipe
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
25 mins
-
Cook Time
25 mins
-
Total Time
50 mins
-
Servings
16 servings
-
Calories
86 kcal
-
Course
Side Dish, Condiments, Bread
-
Cuisine
Mexican
Homemade Flour Tortilla Recipe
Description
The recipe combines flour, salt, and baking powder, then incorporates vegetable oil and warm water to form a smooth dough. After kneading briefly until smooth, it is divided into 16 pieces to be rolled out evenly. Cooking each tortilla on a hot pan until puffed and lightly browned produces a soft yet sturdy flatbread.
These tortillas have a subtle flavor from the baking powder and salt, with the oil contributing to tenderness. The texture is soft and flexible, suitable for wrapping fillings without cracking.
Homemade tortillas like these can be used for tacos, burritos, or as a side to many dishes. Making them fresh allows control over thickness and flavor.
The recipe notes advise resting time and mixing with a stand mixer as an alternative method for kneading. Proper cooking and rolling technique ensure consistent size and texture for all tortillas.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil you want a neutral or light flavored oil, or avocado oil
- 1 cup water just warm to the touch, like bath water, warm
Instructions
Prepare
- Set out some wax or parchment paper, so the raw tortillas don't stick to the counter or work surface. Set them aside for now. Set out an airtight container, a pot with a lid (one that's just a bit bigger than the 7" tortillas), or a resealable plastic bag.
Combine ingredients
- To a mixing bowl, add flour, salt, and baking powder. Whisk to stir to combine.
- Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture, and add the oil and water.
Make the dough
- Stir well, making sure your stirring utensil is getting all the way down to the bottom of the bowl, until there are no flour streaks remaining. Stir until the dough starts to form a shaggy loose ball shape.
- Lightly flour a work surface (I use my counter), and turn the dough out onto it. Knead the dough for a couple of minutes, until it becomes a smooth dough. Shape into a ball.
Cut the dough
- Slice the ball in 4 equal pieces, then slice each piece into 4 smaller pieces, so you end up with 16 similarly sized pieces of dough.
Rest the dough
- Form each piece of dough into a ball, then flatten gently with the palm of your hand. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for at least 15 minutes (or up to a couple of hours).
Roll out the dough and prepare to cook the tortillas
- Roll each dough ball into a roughly 6-7” circle and layer them with the wax or parchment paper you set out earlier.
- If the dough keeps springing back when you're rolling it, that means the gluten needs more time to relax, so let the dough rest another 10 minutes or so and try again.
- Preheat a skillet over MED heat. No need for oil or anything in the skillet, dry is what you want.
Cook the tortillas
- When skillet is hot, add a tortilla to the skillet and cook about 1 minute, until the top is bubbly and the bottom has brown spots.
- Flip tortilla over and cook another 20-30 seconds. Remove tortilla and place in an airtight container and cook remaining tortillas, adding them to the airtight container after they cook.
- ** Doing this allows the steam from the hot tortillas to keep the rest of them nice and soft/pliable **
- If the skillet starts to accumulate flour, wipe it out with a damp paper towel. For best results, I like to wipe the skillet with a damp paper towel after cooking 2-3 tortillas, just so there's no risk of the flour burning in the skillet.
Serve
- Serve hot/warm, or if making ahead, cool, then follow storage instructions written in the post above this recipe (just scroll up a tiny bit).
Notes
- This recipe yields about 16 tortillas sized 6-7 inches each.
- Using a stand mixer with a dough hook can simplify mixing and kneading tasks.
- Allow rest time for dough if needed before rolling out to improve flexibility.
- Use neutral or light-flavored oil such as vegetable or avocado for best results.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 16servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 86 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 86kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 18g | 6% |
| Protein | 2g | 4% |
| Fat | 0.2g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.04g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.02g | 0% |
| Sodium | 147mg | 6% |
| Potassium | 50mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 0.1g | 0% |
| Calcium | 15mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.