Basic Flour Tortilla Recipes

HOMEMADE TORTILLAS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Stir in water and oil. Turn onto a floured surface; knead 10-12 times, adding a little flour or water if needed to achieve a smooth dough. Let rest for 10 minutes., Divide dough into 8 portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 7-in. circle., In a greased cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook tortillas over medium heat until lightly browned, 1 minute on each side. Serve warm.

THICK-STYLE FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl.
• Combine water and canola oil in a separate bowl. Mix into the flour mixture with a fork until dough forms a ball, adding 1/4 cup water if dough is too dry.
• Knead dough until smooth, 3 to 4 minutes. Divide into 14 egg-size balls. Cover bowl with a cotton towel. Let dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Roll 1 ball dough into an 8-inch tortilla on a floured work surface. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Preheat an ungreased cast iron griddle on medium-high heat. Place 1 tortilla on the hot griddle; cook until browned spots form, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a plate; cover with a cotton towel to keep warm. Repeat with remaining tortillas, stacking them under the towel.

BASIC FLOUR TORTILLA

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients and 1/2 of the water. Mix together with your hands and continue adding water into the dough until it forms a solid ball, but is not too sticky. If necessary, add additional flour or water as needed. Knead the dough on a floured board for 5 minutes. Cut the dough in half and then in half again, continuing the process until you have 8 equal portions. Roll each piece into a ball, place them on a lightly floured surface, and cover with a damp towel.
• Heat a griddle or cast iron pan to medium heat. Roll out the dough, one piece at a time to about 1/4 inch thickness. Place one round of dough on the griddle and cook on each side for about 30 seconds. Take care that the griddle is not too hot or the tortillas will scorch. Continue the process with the remaining 7 portions of dough.
• The cooked tortillas will keep for two weeks in the refrigerator or up to six months in the freezer.

BASIC FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Any optional ingredient is to be added to the flour before you add the salted water.
• In a large bowl combine the fat with the flour using your fingers until completely incorporated.
• Add any optional ingredient now.
• Stir the salt into the water to dissolve and pour around 2/3's of a cup over the mixture.
• Working fast begin to stir.
• You should have clumps and not a blob of dough.
• Check to make sure all the dry ingredients are moist and if not continue to add water a bit at a time.
• Turn out and knead until smooth consistency is achieved.
• Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and form into balls.
• Set the balls on a plate, cover with plastic and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Heat an ungreased griddle or heavy skillet-I use cast iron, over medium high heat.
• One at a time place each ball on a lightly floured surface and begin to roll out to a 7 to 8 inch diameter circle.
• Lay the tortilla on the hot griddle-you should see almost immediate bubbling across the surface-for about 40 seconds, turn and cook another 40 to 45 seconds.
• Remove to a heavy towel, wrap and repeat process until done.

EASY TO MAKE FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• 1. Dissolve salt into water and put aside.
• 2. Put measured all purpose flour into your food processor. Add 5 TBSP of the lard. Process until all the lard is incorporated into the flour.
• 3. While food processor is going, slowly add all the water. A dough should form that pulls away from the side of processor.
• 4. Scoop the dough onto a clean dry lightly dusted with flour work space. Knead a few times.
• 4. Divide the dough into 12 portions and form them into the size of a golf ball. Place on a plate in a single layer and cover with plastic wrap. Let them rest for 30 minutes.
• 5. Heat an ungreased 9" cast iron skillet to medium or medium high.
• 6. On your lightly floured station take a dough ball. Press flat with the palm of your hand. It should be round. Now use a rolling pin and roll forward away from you and then back toward you, turn the dough a sixth of a turn and repeat. Keep doing this until it is about 7 inch in diameter. Don't worry if it isn't in a perfect circle. You might need to add a bit of bench flour as you do this so that it doesn't start to stick.
• 7. Lay the tortilla in your hot pan. Cook for about 30-45 secs and then turn over and cook for another 30-45 secs. It will get puffed up. Do not worry and don't flatten. Make sure you don't overcook them as they will become crispy.
• 8. Remove them from the pan and wrap them in a cloth napkin or dish towel. Stack them on top of each other in the dishtowel. This will help them stay soft.
• Side Note: I would roll out 2 and then cook one in the pan and then roll out the next and continued this way until all 12 were done.