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Flour Tortillas

F L O U R T O R T I L L A S !

Soft, pillowy, and homemade — these flour tortillas are the kind that make you wonder why you ever bought the store-bought kind. With a short ingredient list and a quick rest, you’ll have fresh, warm tortillas ready to wrap just about anything worth eating.

ItemAmount
all-purpose flour346g (2½ cups)
fine sea salt6g (1 tsp)
baking powder6g (1½ tsp)
lard, vegetable shortening, or vegetable oil33g (3 tbsp)
warm water (120°F / 49°C)189ml (¾ cup + 1 tbsp)
Items
large mixing bowl
whisk
scale or measuring cups/spoons
rolling pin or tortilla press
cast iron skillet
tortilla warmer or two clean towels
  1. Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the fat and work it in with your hands until the mixture resembles a coarse, cornmeal-like texture.

  2. Add water: Gradually pour in the warm water and mix until the dough comes together into a shaggy mass.

  3. Knead: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and cohesive.

  4. Rest and divide: Cover the dough and let it rest for 10 minutes. Divide into 16 even pieces (~35g each) and roll each into a ball.

  5. Roll out: Flatten each ball to about ⅛-inch thickness using a rolling pin or tortilla press.

  6. Cook: Heat a dry cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook each tortilla until it begins to puff and the underside has light char spots, then flip and cook the other side until done.

  7. Store: Stack finished tortillas in a tortilla warmer or wrapped in two clean towels to keep them soft and warm until ready to serve.