There’s something magical about the first bite of a homemade flour tortilla. The warm, soft dough, still slightly steaming from the skillet, is transformed into pure comfort with a swipe of melted butter. Each tortilla holds within it the essence of generations, crafted with care and perfected through time.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ cup lard or vegetable shortening
- 1 to 1 ¼ cups warm water
- Melted butter for brushing
Instructions:
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Incorporate the fat: Add the lard or vegetable shortening into the flour mixture and work it in using your fingers until the mixture becomes crumbly.
- Add warm water: Slowly pour in the warm water, stirring with a spoon until a dough forms. Start with 1 cup and add more water as needed.
- Knead: Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes, until it’s smooth and elastic.
- Rest the dough: Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, roll them into balls, and cover them with a towel. Let them rest for 20-30 minutes.
- Roll out tortillas: Roll each dough ball into a thin circle (about 6-8 inches in diameter), using a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface.
- Cook tortillas: Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Cook each tortilla for about 30 seconds on each side, or until they bubble and form golden brown spots.
- Brush with butter: As soon as the tortillas come off the skillet, brush them generously with warm melted butter.
