If you've never had a real, homemade tortilla... you seriously don't know what you're missing! About a year ago that was me... before I tried my boyfriend Patrick's grandma's (Lala) homemade tortillas. Once you taste a homemade one, store bought ones just don't cut it anymore. Don't get me wrong, you can still get a pretty awesome tasting burrito out of packaged tortillas, but the legit kind just makes the whole thing taste 100% better. They are good just on their own, straight off the stove with butter, or even with just beans and cheese. So today I had the privilege of learning how to make flour tortillas from Patrick's Mum, she makes it look really easy...I guess i'll have to practise, practise, practise!This recipe makes about 20 medium sized tortillas.
What you need:
Ingredients:
-4 cups of flour + about a tablespoon extra for dusting-1/2 tablespoon salt
-1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
-2 cups of warm water
Equipment:
-Kitchen aid/mixer
-Cast Iron Grill (you can just use a pan but they don't taste as good)
-Flat tortilla smasher (I don't know what they are actually called,but anything flat that you can squish them with is fine)
How to make them:
1. Prepare your space. This first step sounds simple, but it is really important. You want to get everything ready before you start on your dough...if you leave your dough sitting there while you prep your space and get your head together, it will dry out and will be harder to roll later on.
2. Next place your cast iron grill on the stove on high. This is so the grill is really hot! The hotter it is, the better they cook.
4. Next heat up your water, I just put ours in the microwave for about 2 minutes. You don't want it to be too hot otherwise your dough will be too sticky.5. If you have a dough hook, attach that to the kitchen aid. Start your mixer on low speed, with the flour/oil/baking powder/salt. Slowly add water to the bowl as it mixes. The reason why you add it slowly is so it can evenly mix, if you add it all at the same time your dough will be too sticky. Mix on low for about 5minutes until its all mixed well.
6. Take the dough out of the bowl and place it on your prepared cutting/pastry board. Roughly shape the dough in a ball. Rub it with a bit of olive oil. Place a tea-towel over it and leave for about 5minutes.
*Make sure to not over-work the dough!! It will crack and become dry.
*Also...make sure you always keep the dough under a tea-towel so it doesn't dry up.
8. Once you have separated and rolled out each piece you're ready to roll! ha...ha. Get it? Sorry guys it had to be said.
9. Start with your first tortilla dough ball. The first few are really hard to get, but it will get easier! Place the dough ball on your rolling tray/cutting board. Rub a but of flour on your rolling pin and board so it doesn't stick. Roll outwards. Try not to think too much about it, the more your work it, the harder it gets. If you want to get your tortilla round, just focus on the wonky parts and roll outwards. Roll it for a bit, the flip it over until its as thin as you can get it.
10. Place your first tortilla on the cast iron. Leave it there for about 5seconds and flip it immediately so it doesn't burn, the first time its on the heat it will cook really quick. after the first 5 seconds, you can leave it on the heat for 10 seconds, then flip again. Your tortilla should look cooked after about 4 flips. take it off and place it on a paper-towel to start your pile!
