This quick recipe for homemade soft tortillas is so easy to make in less than an hour. With no preservatives or additives, these tortillas are better than any store-bought ones.
This recipe has only five ingredients mixed in one bowl and easily cooked in a skillet. We no longer buy tortillas in the store because this recipe is so easy.
Ingredients For Homemade Soft Tortillas
All ingredients in this recipe are easy to find.
- All-purpose flour.
- Baking powder.
- Sea salt.
- Lard.
- Water.
Can Shortening Be Used In Place Of Lard?
Yes, if you prefer using shortening instead of lard. Since these two products have a similar fat content, they are interchangeable in this recipe.
Butter has more water content than lard or shortening, so using butter may affect the results, but we have tried it and it does work in a pinch.
We do not recommend using vegetable oil in this recipe. For a recipe using oil instead of solid fats, try our Easy Flour Tortilla Recipe which uses avocado oil.
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Equipment For Making Tortillas
Very little is needed to make this recipe.
- A large bowl for mixing the dough.
- Measuring cups and spoons.
- Rolling pin.
- A clean tea towel or plastic wrap to cover the dough while it rests. A tea towel works best and can be used to cover the cooked tortillas as well.
- A cast iron pan works best for cooking the tortillas, but a heavy-bottomed frying pan also works. We also make these on our Blackstone Griddle where we can cook the entire recipe in one shot.
Do Tortillas Have To Be Covered After Cooking?
Yes, tortillas should be covered with a tea towel after cooking. This keeps them soft and pliable until ready to use.
The towel creates steam that keeps the tortillas soft for up to 30 minutes.
How Long Do Tortillas Last?
Because these tortillas have no preservatives, they won’t last as long as those that are sold in the store.
This recipe makes only eight tortillas and they should be used immediately.
If you have leftovers, they should be stored wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and use within 24 hours. To soften them, heat them in a microwave for ten seconds.
Homemade Soft Tortillas
Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 Tbsp lard
- 1 cup hot water
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Using hands or a pastry blender, work the lard into the flour, until it is blended in.
- Briskly stir in the hot water until the dough is shaggy.
- Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and fold over on itself 3-4 times. If dough is too sticky, add a little amount of flour.
- Divide dough into 8 equal pieces and roll into balls.
- Place the dough balls on a tray and cover with a tea towel or plastic wrap.
- Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
- At about 25 minutes of resting, heat a cast iron pan or heavy-bottomed frying pan over high heat.
- After resting, roll out each dough ball into a circle as best you can, about ¼-inch thick.
- Place flattened dough into pre-heated pan and cook for about 30-60 seconds or until starts to brown.
- Flip and cook additional 30-45 seconds on second side.
- Transfer tortilla to a plate and cover with a tea towel.
- Repeat with remaining dough.
- Serve immediately for best results.
