These homemade flour tortillas come together in just a few minutes and can be made with just 4 simple ingredients. I love making these for those dinner nights when I am craving tacos, but don’t want to go out! Try making these homemade tortillas from scratch, and I guarantee you won’t want to buy store-bought tortillas ever again!
Tortillas made with 4 simple ingredients
You probably have the 4 simple ingredients you need to make homemade flour tortillas. And the best part is, these tortillas come out fresh and soft. You can make them in just a few minutes for a quick and easy dinner or make extras and save them in the fridge to use for lunches or meals later in the week. All you need is flour, salt, water, and a fat such as butter, olive oil or lard.
Is it worth making your own flour tortillas?
If you have ever had warm homemade tortillas, then you already know the answer to this! There really is nothing better than a fresh flour tortilla.
It really is not hard to make your own tortillas at home. And once you’ve made them and tasted the difference from store-bought tortillas, I think it will change your life forever! Ha ha, I know that sounds like a huge claim, but all I can say is make them and see for yourself.
Plus, you will save money making your own tortillas, and you can turn it into a fun night with your family or kids. So YES, it’s totally worth making your own tortillas!
How to make tortillas with no lard?
Many tortilla recipes call for lard (an animal fat), but you can use oil such as olive oil, grapeseed oil, or vegetable oil to make your homemade tortillas.
You can also melt butter and allow it to cool and use it instead of oil. Butter will produce an amazing flavor in your homemade tortillas.
People generally use lard in tortillas to create flavor and stretchiness.
What type of flour to use to make homemade tortillas?
We’re all about using organic ingredients for our recipes, so we use unbleached organic all-purpose flour. You can also use wheat flour if you prefer.
How long should you knead tortilla dough?
If you like stretchy tortillas, knead the dough until it comes together in a ball and has a little shine to the dough. This can take 3-4 minutes of kneading.
Otherwise, you can just bring the ingredients together in a bowl and knead the dough for just a minute. Then let the dough rest in the bowl.
How long do you let tortilla dough rest?
Once you mix all the ingredients together, you can simply let the dough rest in the bowl for 20 to 30 months. This will help the glutens to develop in the dough so it is less springy and easier to roll out.
If you are in a hurry, and you roll the dough out right away, you might notice that the tortillas do not keep their shape and shrink when you go to cook them.
How do I roll out tortillas?
Tear the dough off into small golf-ball-sized balls and set them aside on the counter or a mat. Use a rolling pin and flour the work surface generously. Then roll out the tortilla dough into a round shape, flipping it over and around until it is about the thickness of a penny, about 1/16 inch thick. You should be able to see light through it when you hold it up.
I usually roll out one tortilla, then heat up the oil in a pan and transfer the tortilla into the pan to cook. While it is cooking, I roll out another tortilla.
How long do I cook tortillas?
Cook the tortilla in a pan with a small amount of oil on low to medium heat for about 30 seconds on one side. Use tongs to flip the tortilla over and cook it on the other side for another 30 seconds or until it starts to form golden brown spots. Most of the tortilla should turn white, and it’s normal to have dark spots where it cooks in the pan.
How long can I store homemade flour tortillas?
I highly recommend storing your leftover flour tortillas in the refrigerator. Stack them and lay them flat inside of a Ziplock bag. They will last up to a week in the refrigerator and for months in the freezer.
If you would love warmed tortillas once they have been frozen or stored in the refrigerator, simply take them out and let them thaw on the counter and then warm them quickly in a pan on the stovetop.
We hope you enjoy this recipe for homemade flour tortillas
If you make the tortillas at home, take a photo and tag us on Instagram at @SweetiePieAndCupcakes or pin the recipe on Pinterest!
If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also like:
Southwestern Fajita Chicken Tacos
Chili Lime Fish Tacos with Slaw Dressing
Here’s the Recipe for Homemade Flour Tortillas:
Homemade Flour Tortillas
Ingredients
Method
- In a bowl, combine flour and salt and lightly stir. Add water and olive oil. Use a wooden spoon to turn the ingredients. Scoop the dough and bring to center a few times until dough comes together. Then use your hand to knead the dough just 10-12 times until the dough forms a soft ball. Add a little water or flour as needed to make the dough form a smooth dough. Cover with a towel and allow the dough to rest for about 20 minutes.
- Divide dough into 8-10 equal portions. On a lightly floured work surface, roll each piece into a 7-8 inch circle.
- Heat a nonstick pan or skillet to low heat. Add 1 tsp of grapeseed oil to the hot skillet. Swirl the oil around. Place a tortilla onto the greased pan and allow to cook for 30 seconds to about one minute. Flip the tortilla with a spatula and lightly brown the other side for another 30 seconds to one minute,
- Repeat with all tortillas and serve warm!
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!