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Flour tortillas: an end to my quest

White bread was forbidden in my household as a child. We only ate whole-grain bread, the coarser, tougher and browner the better. I hated it. Especially since all the other kids brought their sandwiches to school on Mrs. Baird’s lily-white bread, so soft it practically melted in your mouth. I felt like such an oddball. But my mother told me that eating white bread was like eating poison, and that half the diseases in the world could be prevented from not eating refined grains. Yes, I realize she was acting out of concern for my health, but it still didn’t make me like whole-wheat bread any better.

There was, however, an exception to the no-white-flour rule: flour tortillas. Unlike today where you can find whole-wheat flour tortillas at the store, when I was young there was only one kind: the thick, tender and chewy flour tortilla made out of white flour. And as Tex-Mex is unthinkable without flour tortillas, there was always an ample supply on hand.

I should prefer corn tortillas over flour—they have more depth of flavor and are a better complement to most Tex-Mex ingredients. But because I once viewed them as something decadent and a chance to partake in something forbidden, I still always opt for flour over corn. Many people say flour tortillas are strictly gringo, but that’s not true. You can find them in Northern Mexico, especially the state of Sonora. But the varieties eaten there are different from the ones I prefer. While the Mexican version is thin, smooth and flat, Texan flour tortillas are thick, soft, puffy and chewy.

Flour tortillas | Homesick Texan
I’ve mentioned before my failed quest to make homemade flour tortillas. And since Whole Foods now sells a decent approximation of a Texas-style flour tortilla, if I squint I can pretend that I’m eating the real thing. But my failure nagged at me, especially after I successfully made corn tortillas. Why couldn’t I do it? I can bake excellent breads, biscuits and pizzas, so why did delicious homemade flour tortillas elude me?

I’m not a quitter, but recently, after a few more wrong-tasting batches, I was ready to give my obsession a rest. It all felt so futile, not to mention the pigeons were starting to take up permanent residence outside my kitchen window as I threw out the crumbs of flour-tortilla failure. But then, when flipping through The Border Cookbook by Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison, I glimpsed a recipe simply called “Texas Flour Tortillas.” I was dubious—it was such a departure from the others I’d read. While every recipe I’d ever made used almost a quarter cup of lard or shortening, this one called for a scant two teaspoons of vegetable oil. Likewise, where I’d always used water for a liquid, this one used milk. So slightly resigned yet slightly curious, I decided I had nothing to lose except some flour, milk and time. If it didn’t work, I could at least tell myself I had tried everything.

So how were they? Let’s just say, I am over the moon with the results—yes, these are the one! They have the proper heft, are malleable and so toothsome I almost ate the entire first batch in one sitting. They are perfect for sopping up beans, wrapping around fajitas, grilling with cheese or just eating warm with butter and salsa.

Flour tortillas | Homesick Texan
Purists may sniff at the recipe and argue that leaven and lack of lard make these inauthentic. Perhaps. But remember, we’re talking Tex-Mex. And in Texas, if you’ve ever had the pleasure of eating flour tortillas hot off the griddle at a restaurant, or bought the fresh ones made by local tortillerias sold at the grocery store, then you will agree: these are the real deal. Oh yes, these are Texas flour tortillas, indeed!

I am so in love with these tortillas that I found myself just staring at them with a silly grin plastered on my face, amazed at what I had made. My friends think I’m a little nuts for my obsession, and maybe I am, but who cares? It may have taken me many years, but at last I have cooked homemade flour tortillas I am pleased and proud to not only eat myself but to share with the world.

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4.84 from 67 votes

Texas flour tortillas

Servings 8 tortillas
Author Adapted by Lisa Fain from The Border Cookbook

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 3/4 cups warm milk

Instructions

  • Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt, and oil. Slowly add the warm milk. Stir until a loose, sticky ball is formed. Knead for 2 minutes on a floured surface. Dough should be firm and soft.
  • Place dough in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap for 20 minutes. After the dough has rested, break off eight sections, roll them into balls in your hands, place on a plate (make sure they aren’t touching) and then cover balls with damp cloth or plastic wrap for 10 minutes. (It’s very important to let the dough rest, otherwise it will be like elastic and won’t roll out to a proper thickness and shape.)
  • After dough has rested again, one at a time place a dough ball on a floured surface, pat it out into a four-inch circle, and then roll with a rolling pin from the center until it’s thin and about 8 inches in diameter. (If you roll out pie crusts you’ll have no problem with this.) Don’t over work the dough, or it’ll be stiff. Keep rolled-out tortillas covered until ready to cook.
  • In a dry iron skillet or comal heated on high, cook the tortilla about thirty seconds on each side. It should start to puff a bit when it’s done. Keep cooked tortillas covered wrapped in a napkin until ready to eat.
  • Can be reheated in a dry iron skillet, over your gas-burner flame or in the oven wrapped in foil. While you probably won’t have any leftovers, you can store in the fridge tightly wrapped in foil or plastic for a day or so.

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4.84 from 67 votes (64 ratings without comment)

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432 Comments

  1. Doug Glassford says:

    I live in San Antonio. These tortillas are just perfect. Thank you.

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      Doug–That’s high praise! I’m delighted that you like them!

  2. Liz Burgin says:

    Can I use a kitchenaid mixer for the kneading? Or will they turn out too tough?

    I have your cookbook by the way 🙂 xoxo from DFW/San Antonio

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      Liz–Your mixer should be fine. The dough comes together pretty quickly so it’s hard to over mix. And thank you for your support!

      1. Liz Burgin says:

        I needed a bit more flour to bring the dough together so after troubleshooting that and mixing again, they did end up a bit tough. They tasted great fresh but when we reheated them later they were stiff. So for anyone else reading this, don’t use the kitchenaid for the full 2 mins of kneading, try maybe 30 seconds and check the consistency before continuing.

        They were so delicious and easy, I will probably make them again today!

        I’m eager to practice and memorize the recipe so I can impress people by saying “oh these? Yeah I just made them from scratch nbd”

        1. Lisa Fain says:

          Liz–Thanks for sharing your experience with the mixer!

    2. Does the fat content of the milk affect this recipe? Whole versus 2% versus Almond Milk,….

      1. Lisa Fain says:

        Kat–Yes, the fat from the dairy does contribute to the overall texture. Using 2% almond milk, they may be more dry. It would be better to use a use a full-fat version of the almond milk.

  3. 5 stars
    Texas girl living in Maui. This is all I ever needed in my life. Other recipes weren’t cutting it and I didn’t know why. Sooooo good.

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      Amanda–Glad to help! Enjoy the tortillas!

  4. Monica Krueger says:

    5 stars
    From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this recipe! I was born and raised in the rgv, and there was nothing like fresh homemade flour tortillas. I haven’t lived in the rgv for over a decade, and left Texas about 4 years ago for upstate NY and I have not come across a good tortilla in literally 4 years. I started looking at recipes online and they were all just ok, but this one is the absolute best. They melt in my mouth and remind me so much of my childhood. I frequently make these with Barbacoa (also found on your website) and I’m glad I can still have the taste and flavors of my past in my new home over a thousand miles away!

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      Monica–That is high praise! I’m so glad you enjoyed the tortillas and barbacoa and they reminded you of home!

  5. I am really looking forward to making these. How long will they keep at room temperature or should I freeze them? Can the dough balls be frozen so I can cook a few at a time?

    1. Lisa Fain says:

      Chris–I’ve never frozen the dough but I reckon it can be frozen. You can also freeze the cooked tortillas, too.