Flour Tortillas
Flour tortillas are a mainstay of Tex-Mex cooking. You can see them rolling hot off the tortilla machines into baskets at many of the Tex-Mex restaurant chains (a show that kids love to watch), perfect for fajitas and juicy meats. One of my favorite ways to enjoy a flour tortilla is possible in Santa Fe only in August and September during the chile harvest. I’ll peel and seed a fire-roasted fresh green chile, roll it, still steaming, in a warm fresh flour tortilla, and eat it up. Such a simple treat, yet so memorable. These tortillas are very easy to make and so much fresher and lighter than any you can buy at the store. I’ve used bleached all-purpose flour for this recipe rather than bread flour. All-purpose flour has less gluten, so the dough is easier to roll out into thin tortillas that stay flat without shrinking back. As an alternative to making the dough from scratch, you can try Quaker Harina Preparada para Tortillas, a mix that contains all the ingredients in dry form that you need to make flour tortillas, including the fat. Just add water to prepare the dough. Some Hispanic markets stock it, or look for an online source.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 8 (5 1/2-inch) flour tortillas
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
To make the dough, in the work bowl of a food processor, add the flour and the vegetable shortening. Process 10 to 15 seconds to blend. With the machine running, add the warm salt water in a quick stream and process until a solid ball of moist, slightly sticky dough. If you think it needs more liquid, mix in 2 to 3 more tablespoons of warm water; the dough must be moist enough to roll out. Knead the dough a few times, then place it in a large bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rest for at least 1 1/2 hours. Or place the dough in a large self-sealing plastic bag and let it rest in the refrigerator for the same amount of time.
Step 2
Dust the work surface with a small amount of flour. Divide the dough into 8 balls of equal size, set them out on the work surface, and cover with a damp towel.
Step 3
To shape the tortillas, with a narrow wooden rolling pin or dowel, roll out each ball into 5 1/2-inch rounds that are about 1/4 inch thick. Try not to blend in any extra flour, as that will make the tortillas tough. Keep the tortillas covered, and don’t stack them.
Step 4
To cook the tortillas, heat a dry heavy nonstick griddle or skillet over medium heat. Flip a tortilla onto the hot cooking surface and cook it until puffy and blistered with brown spots, about 1 1/2 minutes. Flip it over and cook another 1 1/2 minutes. Hold the tortillas in a basket covered with a warm towel. To reheat, cook briefly on both sides in a griddle or skillet over medium heat.
