Homemade flour tortillas

Tortilla recipe

This unleavened, circular shaped flatbread hailing from Mexico and Central America is beloved by many. Tortilla can be made from maize flour, which is common all around Mexico, or wheat flour, which is believed to have originated in northern Mexico since the climate there is more suited to growing wheat. Tortillas are traditionally made by pressing them on an iron griddle. They are used to wrap tacos, burritos and fajitas. Homemade tortillas that are served fresh from a frying pan are warm and have a softer and chewier texture that doesn’t break easily. Making your own tortillas at home is so worth the effort, because it isn’t difficult or time-consuming! All you need are just 4 ingredients: flour, oil, salt and water. 

How to make this flour tortillas recipe

Here’s how to make tortillas successfully:

• You won’t need to purchase an iron griddle to make tortillas at home – a regular frying pan will do the trick. The other equipment you will need is a rolling pin to roll out the dough into equal-sized discs. 

• For tender tortillas, roll the dough out until they are very thin. If you held them up toward the light, they would appear translucent. Thin tortillas allow bubbles to form while it is being cooked, which helps create the texture you want.

• If the dough doesn’t stay rolled out after you push it with the rolling pin, leave the dough to rest for 15 to 30 minutes, then try again.

• Use the first tortilla as a tester for whether your heat and cooking time is just right. A stiff tortilla is indicative of a pan that is too hot or a cooking time that is too long. It should take 45 seconds for some light brown spots to form on the underside of the tortilla.

• Once cooked, stack the tortillas on top of each other and wrap them all with a tea towel. This allows the steam to keep all the tortillas nice and soft. If you want to use or eat a tortilla, take out the number you need, leaving the rest stacked in the towel.

• Keep the pan cleaned of excess flour by wiping in between tortillas before cooking. 

What to use this flour tortilla recipe for

Here’s how to heat a flour tortilla when you’re ready to use it. Grab a microwave-safe container that has a lid, line the bottom with a slightly damp paper towel, and place the stack of tortillas on it. Microwave for 15 seconds to start, without covering with the lid, until the tortillas are warmed up. Place the lid on the container to keep them warm. 

Use your homemade flour tortillas to make burritos, tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas, tortilla soup or tortilla tray bake. Tortillas can also be toasted to make crunchy tortilla chips, which you can use in nachos. You can also use them to make mini pizzas or sandwiches. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, top them with sugar, cinnamon and butter to make cinnamon sugar tortillas.

Love this recipe?

Follow our recipe for how to make flour tortillas that will impress your guests. Enjoy making your own bread to serve at long lunches and dinner parties? Try these ideas for naan bread, garlic naan and Curtis Stone’s flatbreads.