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Why oh why has it taken me so long to make my own tortilla shells at home? My friend Meredith came over today and we made a batch – and they were so good.
Besides being delicious, I think these rank as one of the cheapest foods ever.
The tortilla shells that you buy in the store are cheap enough. About 15 to 20 cents each. But when you make them at home, they cost about 5 cents each. Plus, you’re avoiding preservatives and artificial ingredients. It’s a win-win situation.
Don’t be intimidated by this recipe. It’s quite easy. No yeast or kneading required. Just mix the dough, let it rest for 30 minutes, roll it out, and cook in a dry skillet until done. I made my homemade tortillas with coconut oil, and they were delicious. See notes below for other acceptable oils.
These cheap tortillas will serve as the base of many a meal. Here are some ideas for how to use them:
- Tortilla shell pizzas
- Homemade tortilla chips
- Fish tacos
- Breakfast burritos (with scrambled eggs, black beans, cheese, and salsa)
- Quesadillas (with cheese, bacon, and scallions)
- Make a tortilla shell toppings bar (pictured below) with refried beans, cheese, chopped green chilies, chopped tomatoes, and other ingredients
Looking for even more ideas for what to do with your ultra-cheap tortilla shells? Check out this book: 101 Things to Do with a TortillaImage may be NSFW.
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Clik here to view.Homemade Flour Tortillas Recipe
Yield: 12 tortillas
Cook Time: 2 to 3 minutes per tortilla
Upon researching this recipe, I found that people have used a variety of different oils to make homemade tortilla shells. I used coconut oil because that's what I had available. Other recipes suggested using canola oil, vegetable oil, and even lard.
Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 cup hot waterDirections:
In large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder. Add oil and mix with your hand until the mixture becomes crumbly. Add water and continue to mix until the dough forms a ball - just a minute or two. Cover dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Cut dough into 12 even pieces. Coat each dough ball with a bit of flour. On a clean floured surface, roll each dough ball into a flat thin round, about 8 inches across.
Heat a dry skillet or non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook each tortilla round on one side until it begins to brown and blister. Turn over and heat the other side until brown. Stack tortillas on a plate and serve warm.
