Homemade Flour Tortillas
Homemade Flour Tortillas
Ingredients
For the Tortillas
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup lard, or vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup hot water, as hot as hands can tolerate
Instructions
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. Use a whisk or your clean hands to thoroughly mix the dry ingredients until well combined.
⏱️ 2 min
- 2
Add the lard (or vegetable shortening) to the dry mixture. Using your fingertips, crumble the fat into the flour mixture. Continue crumbling and mixing until the fat is fully incorporated and the mixture resembles coarse, wet sand.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Gradually pour in 1/2 cup of the hot water, mixing continuously with your hands. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of hot water, a tablespoon at a time, until all the flour is hydrated and a shaggy dough forms. Be careful as the water is hot.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes, or until it becomes smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky. The dough should spring back when gently poked.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Place the kneaded dough back into the mixing bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rest at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax, making the tortillas easier to roll.
⏱️ 20 min
- 6
After resting, divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a smooth ball.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Lightly flour your work surface and a rolling pin. Take one dough ball and roll it out into a thin, approximately 7-inch diameter circle. Try to keep the tortillas as round as possible. Repeat with the remaining dough balls.
⏱️ 8 min
- 8
Heat a cast iron skillet or comal over medium-high heat until hot. Do not add any oil. Place one tortilla on the hot surface and cook for 30 to 45 seconds, or until bubbles appear on the surface and the edges start to lift. Flip the tortilla and cook for another 20 to 30 seconds, or until lightly browned spots appear and the tortilla puffs up.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375
- 9
Remove the cooked tortilla from the skillet and immediately place it in a tortilla warmer or wrap it in a clean kitchen towel to keep it warm and soft. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Serve the warm homemade flour tortillas immediately with your favorite fillings or as a side to any meal.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Homemade Flour Tortillas
Ingredients
For the Tortillas
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 cup lard, or vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup hot water, as hot as hands can tolerate
Instructions
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. Use a whisk or your clean hands to thoroughly mix the dry ingredients until well combined.
⏱️ 2 min - 2
Add the lard (or vegetable shortening) to the dry mixture. Using your fingertips, crumble the fat into the flour mixture. Continue crumbling and mixing until the fat is fully incorporated and the mixture resembles coarse, wet sand.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Gradually pour in 1/2 cup of the hot water, mixing continuously with your hands. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of hot water, a tablespoon at a time, until all the flour is hydrated and a shaggy dough forms. Be careful as the water is hot.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes, or until it becomes smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky. The dough should spring back when gently poked.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Place the kneaded dough back into the mixing bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rest at room temperature for at least 20 minutes. This allows the gluten to relax, making the tortillas easier to roll.
⏱️ 20 min - 6
After resting, divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion into a smooth ball.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Lightly flour your work surface and a rolling pin. Take one dough ball and roll it out into a thin, approximately 7-inch diameter circle. Try to keep the tortillas as round as possible. Repeat with the remaining dough balls.
⏱️ 8 min - 8
Heat a cast iron skillet or comal over medium-high heat until hot. Do not add any oil. Place one tortilla on the hot surface and cook for 30 to 45 seconds, or until bubbles appear on the surface and the edges start to lift. Flip the tortilla and cook for another 20 to 30 seconds, or until lightly browned spots appear and the tortilla puffs up.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375 - 9
Remove the cooked tortilla from the skillet and immediately place it in a tortilla warmer or wrap it in a clean kitchen towel to keep it warm and soft. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Serve the warm homemade flour tortillas immediately with your favorite fillings or as a side to any meal.
⏱️ 1 min