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How to Make Authentic Homemade Tortillas

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make authentic homemade tortillas

How to Make Authentic Homemade Tortillas

Guide to making delicious homemade tortillas everyone will love!

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Step 1 of 26
Ingredients: 7 cups of flour, 3 1/2 cups of water, 1 cup of lard, and 4 teaspoons of salt.

Ingredients: 7 cups of flour, 3 1/2 cups of water, 1 cup of lard, and 4 teaspoons of salt.

Step 2 of 26
Put the flour, salt, and lard in a large mixing bowl.

Put the flour, salt, and lard in a large mixing bowl.

Step 3 of 26
Mix and squeeze the lard, flour, and salt. Squeeze?? Yeah, it's the best way to break up the lard...

Mix and squeeze the lard, flour, and salt. Squeeze?? Yeah, it's the best way to break up the lard...

Step 4 of 26
This is what you want the dough to look like before you add the water. Add the water slowly, mix first and then knead. You may need to use less or add more water, just depends on your dough.

This is what you want the dough to look like before you add the water. Add the water slowly, mix first and then knead. You may need to use less or add more water, just depends on your dough.

Step 5 of 26
Kneading....

Kneading....

Step 6 of 26
More kneading... The dough is ready when it doesn't stick to your hands.

More kneading... The dough is ready when it doesn't stick to your hands.

Step 7 of 26
Now the fun part! You want to get a grapefruit size piece of dough, knead it a little in your hands, and make small (golf ball size) dough balls.

Now the fun part! You want to get a grapefruit size piece of dough, knead it a little in your hands, and make small (golf ball size) dough balls.

Step 8 of 26
Here's our technique. Hold the dough in one hand and squeeze out a golf ball size ball. It's harder than it looks. Practice makes perfect!

Here's our technique. Hold the dough in one hand and squeeze out a golf ball size ball. It's harder than it looks. Practice makes perfect!

Step 9 of 26
Just add the dough back into the bowl until all of your dough is formed into balls.

Just add the dough back into the bowl until all of your dough is formed into balls.

Step 10 of 26
Now, put a little lard onto your hands to coat the dough balls. This helps the dough not dry. If you are using a rolling pin ignore steps 11-16. Roll out the thinnest tortillas you can.

Now, put a little lard onto your hands to coat the dough balls. This helps the dough not dry. If you are using a rolling pin ignore steps 11-16. Roll out the thinnest tortillas you can.

Step 11 of 26
This is the tortilladora electrica. It's an electric tortilla smasher that not only smashes the dough, it also cooks it a little.

This is the tortilladora electrica. It's an electric tortilla smasher that not only smashes the dough, it also cooks it a little.

Step 12 of 26
Put a dough ball in the middle...

Put a dough ball in the middle...

Step 13 of 26
Smash the dough, leaving it for a minute to let the dough cool a little.

Smash the dough, leaving it for a minute to let the dough cool a little.

Step 14 of 26
Lay the tortillas on wax paper to let them cool.

Lay the tortillas on wax paper to let them cool.

Step 15 of 26
Here's what they look like when they're cool.

Here's what they look like when they're cool.

Step 16 of 26
Stack them up to prepare for cooking!

Stack them up to prepare for cooking!

Step 17 of 26
Here's the plaquita. Make sure it's nice and hot!

Here's the plaquita. Make sure it's nice and hot!

Step 18 of 26
Put a tortilla on the plaquita. When it starts to bubble on the top, turn it over.

Put a tortilla on the plaquita. When it starts to bubble on the top, turn it over.

Step 19 of 26
You don't want it to look like this.

You don't want it to look like this.

Step 20 of 26
When it gets like this it's ready!

When it gets like this it's ready!

Step 21 of 26
Another example...

Another example...

Step 22 of 26
Lay them on a cookie sheet so they can cool.

Lay them on a cookie sheet so they can cool.

Step 23 of 26
Yummy!

Yummy!

Step 24 of 26
When they're all done, lay them all out to make sure they're cool. If not they will stick together.

When they're all done, lay them all out to make sure they're cool. If not they will stick together.

Step 25 of 26
Stack them up and put them in a ziplock and store them in the fridge.

Stack them up and put them in a ziplock and store them in the fridge.

Step 26 of 26

Remember, it's always important to eat a few tortillas with butter while you're cooking, just to make sure they taste good :) I hope you enjoyed this "how to," and the tortillas!

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18 Comments
Supplies
Embed

7 Cups Flour

3 ½ Cups Water

1 Cup Lard

4 Teaspoons Salt

Large Mixing Bowl

Tortilla Press or Rolling Pin

Plaquita/hot plate/ skillet/etc...

Liz Holt

Thnx!

Liz Holt 4 months ago

Melisa Polisi

Liz Holt. There is another guide for tortillas that don't use lard. I made the recipe and they taste delicious

Melisa Polisi 7 months ago

Liz Holt

Can crisco shortening be used in place of lard?

Liz Holt 7 months ago

Linda O.

Lard is shortening, like a Crisco type. It's similar to butter, but white.

Linda O. 8 months ago

Alexandria Duran

It's a shortening made from pig fat.

(author) 8 months ago

Lini D

Rendered animal fat

Lini D 8 months ago

Melisa Polisi

What's lard?

Melisa Polisi 8 months ago

Linda O.

Nice tutorial. I enjoyed it!

Linda O. 10 months ago

Alexandria Duran

A rolling pin works perfect!

(author) last year

Ruth Vernon

What if a person don't own one of those presser machines

Ruth Vernon last year

Lini D

Deceptively simple! Do you have a vegetarian solution to the lard 'problem'? Vegetable shortening? What we have in the UK is called "Trex" and that what I use for my lard substitutions.

Lini D last year

Liz P

👍

Liz P last year

Brenda Hernandez

So good :) I am going to look for the electric tortilladora

Brenda Hernandez last year

Shaun Pies

Damn this was going to be my next guide. Great guide none the less. Almost exactly how I do it.

Shaun Pies last year

Alexandria Duran

Mary- I think it's the best part! :) Gustav- a rolling pin and cast iron skillet will work just as good. Denise- I don't have a recipe for corn tortillas :( I will ask my Nana , though.

(author) last year

Mary Cornejo Clark

You are so right--you must taste test a few with butter! : )

Mary Cornejo Clark last year

Gustav S

Very nice indeed. Love the tortiiadora electrica and the plaqita. Will have to try without any of them somehow.

Gustav S last year

Denise Danker

Nice guide! Do you have any recipes for making corn tortillas? Or can I substitute the white flour in this recipe with Mesa instead? Thanks!

Denise Danker last year

Brenda Hernandez

Yes same here :) enjoy your flour tortillas :)

Brenda Hernandez last year

Karma Scapillato

And I figured they won't taste the same but lard isn't a household item and I just hate buying something for one time use and wasting the rest.

Karma Scapillato last year

Karma Scapillato

Okay thanks! Il try that :)

Karma Scapillato last year

Brenda Hernandez

@ Karma Scapillato : My mom uses vegetable oil because she has diabetes and they are good to me :) you can still try see if you like them :)

Brenda Hernandez last year

Alexandria Duran

You can use any type of shortening (vegetable oil, butter etc) but they won't taste the same...

(author) last year

Karma Scapillato

Is there anything I can use instead of lard

Karma Scapillato last year

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Juan Gutierrez

es buena esta maquina tortilladora electrica.

Juan Gutierrez last week

Gustav S

Shall search, love the name..

Gustav S last year

Alexandria Duran

Good question. This is my Nana's, and she bought it in Mexico years ago. I'm looking to buy one soon. Have you tried to search for one online??

(author) last year

Gustav S

So this will be the problem, where to find a tortilladora electrica;/

Gustav S last year

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Alexandria Duran

No reason for the aluminum foil, just a preference in my house. No, it will not. They should still cook the same.

(author) 2 weeks ago

Jonnie Poepoe

Is there a reason for the aluminum foil? And also, if I use something other than a plaquita will it affect the cooking?

Jonnie Poepoe 3 weeks ago

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Brenda Hernandez

Yes ! They are so good fresh made and with a little butter yummy now I will make mine Thanks :)

Brenda Hernandez last year

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