Fine Cookings Flour Tortillas Recipes

FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, salt and sugar in a medium bowl. Add the shortening or oil and mix until mealy. Stir in 3/4 cup water to form a dough. Turn it out onto a surface and knead, adding more flour if needed, until a smooth, slightly sticky dough is formed, 5 to 7 minutes. Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a towel and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. (Full disclosure: When we're hungry, we skip this step. But letting the dough rest does make it easier to roll these out.)
• Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Divide the dough into 8 equal parts and roll them out on a lightly-floured surface until they're really thin, keeping the remaining dough balls covered. I like a 1/16- or 1/8-inch thickness but wouldn't turn down a 3/16-inch-thick one. Cook them in the skillet on both sides until they're just starting to show some brown spots, 45 seconds to 1 minute per side. Keep warm in a towel until ready to serve.

HOMEMADE FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Steam the tortillas: If you are eating them right away, wrap them in a cloth napkin and let them steam for 5 to 10 minutes. If you are planning to store them to reheat later, turn a plastic zip-top bag inside out. Place the hot stack of tortillas in the bag, close the bag without sealing it, and let cool. When cool, remove the tortillas, turn the bag right side out, and slip the stack inside the bag and seal it. The droplets of steam will now be on the outside of the bag and you can pat them dry with a dishtowel.
• Store the tortillas: Store the well-sealed bag in the refrigerator for up to four days, or freeze for up to two months.
• Reheat the tortillas: Just before serving, heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place each tortilla on the hot pan, and cook for 10 to 12 seconds on each side, or until hot. You can also reheat them in a microwave for 15 to 20 seconds.

HOMEMADE FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder together in a mixing bowl. Mix in the lard with your fingers until the flour resembles cornmeal. Add the water and mix until the dough comes together; place on a lightly floured surface and knead a few minutes until smooth and elastic. Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball.
• Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Use a well-floured rolling pin to roll a dough ball into a thin, round tortilla. Place into the hot skillet, and cook until bubbly and golden; flip and continue cooking until golden on the other side. Place the cooked tortilla in a tortilla warmer; continue rolling and cooking the remaining dough.

FINE COOKING'S FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• In medium bowl, stir flour, salt & baking powder. Add shortening or lard and cut into the flour with dough blender or 2 table knives until mixture resembles coarse corn meal. Stir in 2/3 cup warm water with a fork until a shaggy dough forms.
• Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead until smooth & soft, 3 to 4 minutes, reflouring the surface as necessary. After kneading, the dough shouldn't be very sticky.
• Portion dough into 8 equal pieces, about 2 oz. each, and shape each piece into a ball. Cover dough balls loosely with plastic and let rest on counter for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• When ready to cook tortillas, heat large (11- to 12-inch) dry cast iron skillet or griddle over medium heat until hot. Working with one ball of dough at a time and keeping remaining dough balls covered, and using just enough flour to prevent sticking, roll dough into a 9- to 10-inch round shape. If not as circular as you'd like, don't worry--the tortillas will still taste great.
• Peel dough off of counter and lay it in the skillet or griddle. Cook until tortilla bubbles & puffs and the bottom browns in spots, 45 to 60 seconds. If any gigantic bubbles form, pierce them so the tortilla will cook evenly when flipped.
• Flip tortilla with spatula and cook until second side gets brown in spots & any raw-looking areas become opaque, another 45 to 60 seconds. (If tortillas begin to brown too quickly or burn in spots, reduce heat to medium low.).
• Transfer tortilla to clean dishtowel and cover to keep warm. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking & covering each tortilla after it has cooked.
• To use frozen dough balls, allow them to thaw & warm to room temperature. For best results, don't let them sit out more than 30 to 60 minutes after warming to room temperature.
• To reheat several frozen tortillas, wrap them in foil & heat in 350 degree F oven about 10 minutes or until warm & pliable. To reheat an individual frozen tortilla, let it thaw and then rewarm on skillet or griddle.