Cookbook | Ingredients | Recipes

 | Cuisine of Mexico | Tex-Mex cuisine

Flour tortillas

Tortillas are a type of flatbread popular in Mexico and Central America commonly made from wheat flour or masa. This recipe is for the wheat flour variety.

Ingredients

• 4 cups (950ml) unbleached all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons lard or vegetable shortening
• 1 1/2 cups (360ml) warm water, more if needed
• 4 teaspoons baking powder (optional, for thicker and chewier tortillas)

Procedure

1. In a large bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking powder.
2. With a pastry blender, a fork, or your hands, gradually work in the lard or shortening until it is all incorporated.
3. Add enough warm water to make a soft but not sticky dough.
4. Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead for 5 minutes.
5. Divide the dough into 1/4 cup (3 oz / 90g) portions and form them into balls.
6. Roll each ball into a flat round about 6 inches (15cm) in diameter and 1/8 inches (0.3cm) thick.
7. Heat a large heavy skillet over medium high heat.
8. Place the tortillas one at a time into the dry (or very lightly oiled) hot skillet; cook until browned in spots on one side, then turn and brown the other in spots side. (about 1 minute/side, see image)
9. Remove from the skillet and keep warm in cloth towel.

Recipes using flour tortillas include

• Burrito
• Turkey Wrap
• Crab Quesadillas with Mango Salsa