How to Make a Tortilla in a Skillet
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You can make your own tortillas in a skillet to make homemade tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Whether you’re making them for a party or just because you love them, they’ll be ready in no time.
First, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. This gives the dough a little extra lift and helps it to rise. It’s also a good idea to add hot water to the flour mixture so that it gets to temperature and makes it easier for your hands to work with it. If you want a really soft dough, you can also add shortening like butter or vegetable oil.
Next, knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic. You can do this either by hand or in a stand mixer. Once the dough is smooth, let it rest for at least 30 minutes to hydrate the flour and develop the gluten so that it’s easier to roll out and cook.
Once the dough has rested, flatten it out into an 8-inch round using a rolling pin on a floured surface. You may need to sprinkle more flour on the dough to ensure it doesn’t stick, especially if you’re rolling out the tortillas by hand.
Repeat with remaining dough balls, working one at a time. After you’ve pressed all the dough into rounds, heat a cast iron skillet or non-stick skillet over medium heat.
When the pan is hot, place the first tortilla in and cook for about 20-30 seconds until it puffs up and bubbles begin to form on the bottom of the tortilla. Flip and cook for another 15-20 seconds on the other side until you see some light brown spots on the bottom. Transfer the cooked tortilla to a plate lined with a dish towel, then continue with the remaining tortillas, adjusting the heat as needed until they’re all cooked and have light brown spots on them.
You can also use a tortilla warmer (optional) to keep your tortillas warm, or simply wrap them in a dish towel. Then, when you’re ready to serve your tortillas, just reheat them in the microwave for a few seconds.
Lard or Vegetable Shortening
The traditional fat for flour tortillas is lard, but it’s not always easy to find. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, use vegetable shortening instead. It’s similar to lard in consistency, but is plant-based and solid at room temperature.
Baking powder
If you’d like to add a little extra lift and bubbles, you can add 1 teaspoon of baking powder to the flour mixture. This chemical leavening agent makes the dough rise and bubble more than fat alone.
Aside from that, this recipe is simple and foolproof! Just tweak the temperatures on your stovetop until you hit that “30 second each side” sweet spot for perfect results.
This tortilla recipe is the perfect blend of flour, fat and water to produce a soft, sturdy wrap that you’ll be able to enjoy all day long. It’s also a great way to try out different types of flour and fat without having to buy new ingredients.
You can make your own tortillas in a skillet to make homemade tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Whether you’re making them for a party or just because you love them, they’ll be ready in no time. First, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. This gives the dough a little extra lift and helps it…
You can make your own tortillas in a skillet to make homemade tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Whether you’re making them for a party or just because you love them, they’ll be ready in no time. First, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. This gives the dough a little extra lift and helps it…