Wondering how to make an Authentic Flour Tortilla Recipe from scratch? This is the simplest recipe: All you need is flour, salt, baking powder, pork lard and hot water.
Being Mexican, I was always taught to like corn tortillas more than flour tortillas. I went to Mexican cooking school at the Escuela de Gastronomía Mexicana in Mexico city, and this was their recipe. It doesn't get more authentic than this!
If you love this recipe, feel free to check out my homemade gorditas recipe.
Jump to:
- What are flour tortillas made of?
- Are flour tortillas Mexican?
- Why you will love this recipe
- Flour Tortilla Ingredients
- Do I need a tortilla press to make flour tortillas?
- How to make Flour Tortillas from Scratch
- Why don't my flour tortillas puff up when cooking?
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storage
- Top tip
- Authentic Flour Tortilla Recipe
- Food safety
What are flour tortillas made of?
Traditionally, flour tortillas consists of whole wheat flour, pork lard, baking powder, salt and hot water. It is very simple and foolproof to make this recipe. It is very similar to roti in India.
Are flour tortillas Mexican?
Yes, they are. Most people believe it was an americanized invention from corn tortillas, but they actually started in the north of Mexico. Wheat never existed in Mexico until the colonization of the Spanish. Wheat became widespread and this invention was made in the northern Mexican states of Sinaloa, Sonora and Chihuahua where the territory is more suited to growing wheat than corn.
Why you will love this recipe
Full of flavor: I recommend using pork lard for this recipe because it will give it so much flavor. Contrary to popular belief, pork lard is actually a healthy fat and lowers your cholesterol levels. Everything in moderation of course.
Kid Friendly: I have never met a kid that does not like flour tortillas. I totally recommend making a big batch for your next Taco Tuesday.
Great for any Weather: I love having flour tortillas in the summer and winter months.
Flour Tortilla Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
- Flour
- Salt
- Baking powder
- Pork lard
- Hot water
See recipe card for quantities for this Authentic Flour Tortilla Recipe.
Do I need a tortilla press to make flour tortillas?
It is actually traditional to use a rolling pin for this recipe instead of a tortilla press. If you want true round circles, you can use one. I personally like the rustic look of using a rolling pin.
How to make Flour Tortillas from Scratch
See my video below for the process as well.
Whisk flour, salt and baking powder. Add pork lard and mix with your hand. Slowly add the hot water and mix until the dough comes together.
Place on a lightly floured surface and knead a few minutes until smooth and elastic. If you have a Kitchenaid mixer, you can combine everything and use the dough hook the mix. Shape a small amount of dough into a golf ball. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Let the dough balls rest for 20 minutes.
Using a floured rolling pin and a floured surface, toll the ball into a thin round tortilla.
Place the tortilla on a hot cast iron or skillet, around medium high heat, and cook until bubbly and golden, about 2 minutes. Flip and do the same on the other side. Keep flipping until the middle is throughly cooked. Repeat with the rest.
Hint: If the flour is too wet, add flour. If it is too dry, add hot water.
Why don't my flour tortillas puff up when cooking?
If the temperature is too low or the tortillas are too thick, they won't puff up. Aim to roll the tortilla as thin as possible to get the perfect flour tortilla. In Mexico, they say when you cook a tortilla and it puffs up, you're next in line to get married.
Substitutions
Flour: Traditionally, this uses whole wheat flour. You can use whole wheat or all purpose flour. If you are keto or gluten free, you can even use equal parts almond flour.
Pork Lard: I recommend using pork lard because it gives the flour so much flavor. If you have dietary restrictions or you are vegetarian or vegan, you can use vegetable shortening instead.
Variations
Cooking is a chance to be creative! Have fun with it and feel free to make your own variation.
- Deluxe - top the tortilla with some delicious shrimp or carnitas and your favorite hot sauce.
- Kid friendly - This is as kid friendly as it gets. Feel free to serve most dishes with a side of flour tortilla.
Check out my Chipotle Rice in the Instant Pot.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Stone bakeware takes longer to heat up than metal pans, and also retain heat for longer, which could make the recipe more watery, or burnt on the outsides.
I love using a cast iron skillet for making flour tortillas. You can use a tortilla press for this, but it is more traditional to use a rolling pin.
Storage
This Authentic Flour Tortilla Recipe will be good in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
You can freeze the dough before cooking for up to three months.
Top tip
If the dough is too wet, add more flour. If it is too dry, add hot water.
Print
Authentic Flour Tortilla Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
I bet you are wondering how to make an Authentic Flour Tortilla Recipe from scratch? This is the simplest recipe: All you need is flour, salt, baking powder, pork lard and hot water.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons pork lard or vegetable shortening
- 1 ½ cups of hot water
Instructions
- Whisk flour, salt and baking powder. Add pork lard and mix with your hand. Slowly add the hot water and mix until the dough comes together. Place on a lightly floured surface and knead a few minutes until smooth and elastic. If you have a Kitchenaid mixer, you can combine everything using the dough hook the mix.
- Shape a small amount of dough into a golf ball. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Let the dough balls rest for 20 minutes.
- Using a floured rolling pin and a floured surface, toll the ball into a thin round tortilla.
- Place the tortilla on a hot cast iron or skillet, around medium high heat, and cook until bubbly and golden, about 2 minutes. Flip and do the same on the other side. Keep flipping until the middle is throughly cooked. Repeat with the rest.
Notes
- If dough is too dry, add water. If its too sticky, add flour.
- You can form all of the tortillas and place on a parchment paper and continue with the rest before heating them up.
- You can freeze the uncooked tortillas for up to 3 months
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sides
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 42
- Sodium: 26.2 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Protein: 1.1 g
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
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