Anyway, If you've never had freshly-made flour tortillas, you really have to. After I had them the first time, I knew I could never go back. Yeah, there are times when I buy them and I always end up regretting it because I know what flour tortillas can be and a package of Mission tortillas ain't it.
I tried a couple of times to make my own tortillas, but I always failed--they were always too thick because the dough was so tough that I wasn't physically strong enough to roll them to the size and thickness and shape that I actually wanted them. And then I met Mel--Fabulous Fajita Mel--and I learned from her how to make my own gen-u-ine flour tortillas. And it's really not THAT much work. Plus, the results are SO worth any extra effort it might take! I promise you, once you make these, you will never return to store-bought tortillas in good conscience.
Flour Tortillas
2 1/2 c. flour
1 c. very hot water
1 tsp. Kosher salt
1/4 c. shortening
In a heavy-duty mixer, combine flour and salt. Add in shortening and mix until well combined (it will resemble coarse bread crumbs). Add hot water. The water hotness is the key to these being easy to make--it needs to be hot enough to melt the shortening, but not SO hot that the dough turns into an ooey-gooey mess. Or a hot mess (literally), as Mia Michaels might say. I usually get relatively warm water from my tap and then heat it for 45-60 seconds in the microwave.
Anyway, after you add the water, the dough will start to come together. When it is fully combined, remove from mixer and divide into portions. Now...the recipe yield really depends on how many tortillas you want. If you want small tortillas (like for fajitas), then you'll probably get around 10-12. If you want medium tortillas (burritos), then you'll probably get 8 or so. For large tortillas (like for salad wraps), you'll get around 6. Shape portions into round balls.
Preheat a non-stick or cast-iron skillet to medium-low heat. If necessary, spray your work surface with non-stick cooking spray; you may not need to because the dough isn't particularly sticky, but it may be and you also don't want to add any more flour to your dough. Press your palm against the surface of the dough ball, trying to maintain as much of a round shape as possible. Place rolling pin in middle of flattened dough ball and roll to desired thickness, shaping in a circle as you go.
Place raw tortilla on preheated skillet. Now...be forewarned--the first one may not work out great; it's like the first pancake or the oldest child (TOTALLY kidding, oldest sister and oldest child!) You're going to be watching for bubbles. If you get little blistery bubbles, your skillet is too hot and you need to reduce the heat. You're looking for big, fat, slow-bubbling bubbles.
When you start to see them, flip the tortilla over and cook for another 30-45 seconds or so.
This is where some personal taste comes in, but in my experience, dark marks on your tortillas (like you see on store-bought ones) usually lead to brittle tortillas when they cool down. Personally, I'm keeping my eye out for a kind of "greasy" look inside; I know that sounds gross, but that's the best way I can think of to describe it. These ones are cooked enough to not taste raw, but they're also very soft when they cool and they hold up to being wrapped, folded, twisted, and turned.
If you're cooking these quickly, you can just stack them on top of each other and they'll stay warm. You can also wrap them in damp paper towels and then wrap them in foil and keep them in a warm oven (170) until you're ready to use them. But be sure and save one just for you--you have to eat it while it's still hot and you can spread some butter on it or butter with cinnamon sugar or just eat it plain and BLESS the wonder that is real Mexican food!
So let's hear it! Any other Lyle Lovett fans out there? Mia Michaels, anyone? Have you made your own tortillas before? Have you had fresh tortillas? Are you gonna try THESE fresh tortillas?
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I will totally be trying these out! There is nothing quite like a warm, freshly made tortilla! Ole!
i just love you girls! i swear we are on the same wavelength. i made these last night, no joke. i can vouch that they ROCK! we love 'em with everything. i adore how you go to all the work of explaining it all. you're great! (i'm way too lazy.) anyhoo, keep up the good work! you're awesome!
and i just posted a major tribute to your blueberry cheesecake ice cream, and my new addiction to it. thanks, i guess! :) *hugs* rachelle
I was just talking to DH about making tortillas, and he said, "Oh, it's too much work!"
BOOO, I say!
I'll try these and let you know. I'm excited!
These look soooo good! I'm a major mexican food lover, and I'm so excited to make these along with your fajita recipe! Thanks for all the great recipes-I've been lazy with my cooking lately and kind of in a rut, and you have totally brought me out of it!
OK Kate you have a deal. I just happen to be making fajitas this evening and I will try it. I have always been intimidated by homemade tortillas, but you're making me feel it is more of a pie-crust-type-fable. I hope it goes well. My only concern is my piece of junk, older than old gas stove does not have a low setting (the flame goes out and noxious gas spills into the house – ya fun).
Oh another quick thing, should I be using my dough hook on the mixer?
Yeah, Rach, use the dough hook on your mixer! :)
mmmm...I love homemade tortillas so much. And want to hear something naughty? (Not that!) I love to smear one with butter and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top. Heavenly!
Does anyone have a tortilla press? I just ordered one and I think it just might change my life forever.
I want to try these, AND I'm scared. I have a couple of questions: do you double your batch? Do they keep well for a day or two? Do you flatten out all of the dough balls at the same time, or flatten one and then cook it, flatten the next one and then cook it? I know could just try it and see what happens, but I'm intimidated enough by the thought of from-scratch tortillas that I need extra details. Thanks!
I have a tortilla press that has never actually left it's box. I might have to give it a whirl one of these days!
Sara--I've heard that tortilla presses are a good starting point, but they don't get the dough thin enough for most people. I figure if it doesn't work THAT great, it's one less dish for me to wash! :)
Erin, you can SO do this! And think of it this way--if it doesn't work, you'll be out about 25 cents (if that!) and 20 minutes; not exactly high stakes here. To answer your questions...
1. I only double the batch if we're having guests or I need a whole bunch of tortillas. If you're in an industrious mood, you could make a whole bunch at once and cook them (or not) and freeze them and then use them as you need them. If you freeze them, you just need to let them thaw before you cook them.
2. You can store any uneaten tortillas in the fridge for a couple of days or the freezer for a couple of months. If you're pulling them out of the fridge, just heat 'em up first so they taste good and they're soft.
3. As far as rolling/cooking/rolling goes, these days, as long as I don't have anything else going on, I heat up the skillet, roll a few out, and then cook while I finish rolling out the dough. HOWEVER. I have to get into that rhythm and it's not something I'd recommend when you're getting started. If you're nervous, I'd roll all the tortillas out and then start cooking them so you can give them 100% of your attention.
Hope that helps! You can DO this! :)
I love these homemade tortillas...And I haven't had luck with my tortilla press (but it works great for corn tortillas!)
Alas, my sweet hubby no longer eats white flour, so don't get to make this kind any more.
I love these tortillas and I make them with wheat all the time. So much healthier and yummy too.
I have made my own tortillas and we loved the taste of them, but they didn't stay together and fell apart. I'm definitely going to try this recipe! Can you substitute whole wheat flour?
Hey! I have made my own tortillas but somehow they end up very puffed. Very good, but certainly not a tortilla. I'll try these soon!
I don't buy store tortillas anymore! Homemade are SO MUCH BETTER! And not too hard at all!
oh and Sara, Derek and I argue about buying a tortilla press all the time. He thinks it will change my life, but I like my funky, non-circular homemade ones. Someday I'll cave.
these look amazing. I love homeade tortillas but have only attempted to make them once. Lately, Ive been buying the raw tortillas at Costco and cooking them myself. They are really good, but I still want to try making my own again. Thanks for the instruction and inspiration.
I love the raw tortillas from Costco. I say if you can't make your own, that's the next best thing!
This recipe was taught to me by Mexican women who didn't speak a lick of English. My own opinion...but I think this dough is too tender for a press. In any case, I could live on these. Mmmmm ...warm right out of the pan with butter on them. Why again am I low-carbing it????
BTW, Kate... I saw Lyle Lovett in concert. He was very entertaining...as was the guy who opened for him. --Keb Mo'.
Mel
I tried your tortillas last night and they were fabulous---and suprisingly easy!! Thanks for all your great recipes. I love this sight!
Is that butter-flavored Crisco you have in the picture? I used regular Crisco, and I'm wondering if they would be a little more flavorful with the butter variety. So easy to make and good! Thanks for the tips!
Alison--Yep, it's butter-flavored Crisco, and I really think it does make a difference. You can also use lard (ew, I know) for a really great flavor.
Ok - I've made these twice in the past week. My husband and I are addicted. LOVE them! Last night I told them we had to have breakfast burritos for dinner just so I could make more! Thanks!!
Love these. I try to limit our use of shortening, but for these, it's worth it. I'll have to try them with wheat flour sometime.
I make these on Saturday brunch at the cafe, I saw the director on youtube while surfing the net, Robert Rodriguez, make them and remembered how easy they are to make.
Would they turn out if you replaced the shortening for another oil? If so, would vegetable/olive oil be better than smart balance or something like that?
Oh, I honestly have no idea. If I HAD to replace the shortening with something, it would probably be vegetable oil (like canola oil, not olive oil) and then margarine if that didn't work. The good thing with shortening is that it's now trans-fat free, so if you're concerned about that, you don't need to be anymore.
Lard is definitely better and more authentic. Lard gets a bad rap for no reason. It contains more good fats than butter, especially when it is homemade. Thanks for the recipe! Also, if you're going to be eating Mexican food, you are going to be eating a bunch of non-healthy ingredients.
Well, after making your pizza dough breadsticks, and wowing my taste testers...I decided to bust out some flour tortillas this morning. I've always always ALWAYS meant to figure out how to make my own, and with your instruction, now I know...thanks!!! At the rate I'm going, I'll have my friends referring to me as "The Dough Whisperer" in no time...
These look so easy yet so intimidating! My only question is this... I don't have a lovely Kitchenaid mixer - just a regular old little hand mixer. Would that still work?
I looooove this blog. Not only are the pictures and recipes fantastic, I can always count on a laugh from reading it. Thanks for sharing all of this great yumminess!
Woohoo Mia Michaels! I still have SYTYCD episodes on my TiVo from last season... thats embarrassing.
Okay, Christine. The first thing you need to do is run right out and buy a Kitchenaid mixer. ;) No, seriously, I've never *tried* making these without my heavy-duty mixer, but they've been making them in Mexico for hundreds of years, right? So I'm sure it can be done.
I'm thinking you could mix the shortening into the flour and salt with your hand mixer, but when you add the water, I would just mix it in by hand. It'll feel a lot like homemade playdough. Just make sure the water isn't too hot because we'd hate to be sued or something! :)
And yeah, unfortunately, we lost all of last year's SYTYCD episodes a few months ago and I nearly cried. I wish they'd put the seasons on DVD!!
Ok, I need some major help with this recipe.. I tried to make a batch TWO times today and it failed miserably. The dough was TOTALLY sticky- it stuck to my hands in one big goopy mess.
I didn't use Kosher salt because well, I don't buy that.. And I used vegetable shortening rather than butter-flavored. Would either of those be the culprit?
It just seemed like the dough was SO hot and melty or something?
Suggestions? Thanks!! I really, really want to be able to make these! We eat a lot of tortillas!!!
Hey, Jaimie! I've been having some of the same issues this summer, I'm thinking because of the humidity. These are the things that I've found:
--Get reasonably hot tapwater, but don't worry about microwaving it.
--You may need to add an additional 1/4-1/2 c. of flour; basically, add the amount of flour called for in the recipe and then add enough more to make the consistency like soft homemade playdough.
--Butter-flavored shortening is fine, and Kosher salt won't affect the texture, but I really think it tastes better with Kosher salt! :)
Try those out and let us know how it goes! :)
I did it!
I ended up going to get butter-flavored shortening because I ran out of regular anyways.
I probably added at least 1/2 C. more flour, if not 3/4-1 Cup extra. It has to be the humidity.
After that, they were really easy and I loved them. : )
I made these and they were so yummy! Thanks for another great recipe!
Tried these tonight and it did not turn out well. They NEVER bubbled and I left them on forever! I used 1 cup of wheat flour though and I used the whisk attachment for the Kitchenaid. Could one of those things or both have messed it up?
Trimble--It sounds like a couple things probably went wrong. First, you shouldn't have been able to mix it with the whisk attachment on your Kitchenaid--it should've been way too heavy for that. So it sounds like you probably needed more flour because you definitely want to be using your dough hook.
Wheat flour shouldn't be a problem, especially if you're not subbing all wheat flour.
From your description, it sounds like your skillet probably wasn't hot enough--if they never bubble, then they'll just get kind of dry and hard as they cook for too long. I'd try turning up the heat a little next time and see if that helps.
I'm sorry they didn't work! :( Hopefully they'll be better next time!
Thanks Kate! I'll try again.
Made these yesterday morning for the first time and my kids LOVED them. So I made another double batch last night and made them into your taquito recipe. Yummy,yummy and so worth the little effort.
I had some problems with my tortillas springing back into a thicker circle than the one I had rolled out. So, my tortillas were thicker than I wanted. Suggestions?
Deni--I'm so glad you loved them! They do kind of spring back, so I just generally roll them out a little bigger than I plan on having them. Also, if you roll them out thinner, there seems to be less shrinkage. Part of the charm of homemade tortillas, I guess! :)
Can't wait to try these, and for the record, I grew up with Lyle Lovett crooning from the car speakers... His music was the only thing our whole family liked. Personal favorite: If I Had a Boat. Also, the fabulous Ms. Mia M. rocks my world.
So, I love the creative ideas I get from your blog, and last night I tried these flour tortillas. I'm not sure if I did something wrong because they did not bubble. Not even little ones. Also, they were pretty dry...I just used "regular shortening." Any thoughts?
Rachel--It sounds like your skillet probably wasn't quite hot enough. Hope that helps!
Thank you so incredibly much for this recipe! I made it twice in one day. The first time I made it with butter and my husband loved it. I wanted a more figure friendly tortilla because I ended up eating a lot of them before they even made it to the dinner table, so I made a version with a corn oil (just a little- maybe 2 tablespoons) and they turned out great too! Not as tasty but now I have an excuse to eat more;)
By the way, I added the oil to the water then gradually added them to the flour.
Total yum!!! Made these tonight and they totally reminded me of our time living on the border of what we affectionately refer to as "Mexas". So good! Thanks for the recipe!
Omigod! I just made these to use for enchiladas at my dinner party a few days ago and I am still getting rave reviews! What an easy recipe! Thanks Ladies!
just made these they are wonderful and really easy!! thanks!!
I just made these. Used margarine instead and worked very well! At one point the hot water made it into a sticky mess but I just let the dough sit there for a moment and all was good again.
Lyle Lovett stayed at the Salish Lodge when I worked there. We had to stock up on white cheddar popcorn and Rold Gold pretzels for him, in case you ever have him over...
Tried these tonight and my dough was kind of sticky. It was hard to roll them out so I added more flour, which helped a little. Mine sure didn't look anything like the picture, very uneven in shape and thickness. They also did not bubble, but they did brown nicely. So, here I'm thinking my kids are going to make fun of me for trying a new recipe, but instead, they were thrilled when I took the foil off the plate! They didn't even care that they looked different from the store bought tortillas and said "this is a keeper Mom!"
I just made these tonight as a surprise for my husband who LOVES fresh tortillas. They were wonderful and suprisingly easy to make. He loved them and we both loved your fajita recipe (one of his favorite foods), which we thought were amazing!
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