Homemade Tortillas

Flour Tortillas

4 cups flour

½ cup shortening, melted butter, or oil (or combination of any)

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

1 1/3 cup warm water

Mix flour, shortening, baking powder, salt, and sugar.  Gradually stir in water until crumbly dough forms.  Work with hands until dough holds together.  Don’t add any additional ingredients until you have kneaded the dough thoroughly (then adding in very small increments).  On a floured board, shape into a ball and knead until smooth.  Divide dough into 12-18 equal parts; roll into a ball and let stand for 15 minutes.  Use a rolling pin to flatten into 6-8 inch circles.  They should be fairly thin.

Cook on ungreased griddle on medium heat (about 350°).  When it starts to bubble, flip it over.  Store covered under a tea towel or tortilla to allow the steam to soften them.  Store in a sealed container if storing for future use.  If they become hard, place a damp towel over the tortilla, either before warming in the microwave or on the stovetop.

Whole Wheat Tortillas

Use the above recipe, substituting half of the flour for whole wheat flour, preferably whole wheat bread flour, or finely ground soft wheat berries.  Additional water may be needed, as well as 1 additional Tbsp. of shortening or oil.  One tip to keep whole wheat tortillas pliable is to not roll them too thin.