Homemade flour tortillas are a staple in many Tex-Mex kitchens. A homemade flour tortilla, like freshly baked bread, tastes much better than a store-bought one and is tasty served either hot or cold. Homemade flour tortillas can be used for snacking, baking and creating many other Mexican food delights. Mixing the ingredients in a Kitchenaid stand mixer makes creating fresh homemade tortillas a breeze.
Affix the bread hook attachment to the Kitchenaid stand mixer.
Place 3 cups of flour into the Kitchenaid stand mixer. Add the salt and baking powder. Mix well on low speed.
Add the shortening or lard to the flour mixture, and mix on low speed until little beads form in the mixing bowl. Lard is the more authentic choice for flour tortillas.
Add 1/4 cup of warm water and mix on medium for another minute or until a dough ball forms. Do not use extremely hot water when mixing. If the dough becomes sticky, add a little more flour.
Remove the dough from the Kitchenaid and place it on a floured work space.
Knead the dough by hand for three minutes.
Divide the dough into 12 small balls and let the dough rest for at least 10 minutes.
Warm a griddle or skillet over a medium high heat. Check the temperature by drizzling water onto the cooking surface. If the water balls and evaporates, the surface is hot enough.
Use a rolling pin to roll out each of the dough balls into small thin circles.
Spray the griddle with nonstick spray and lay the uncooked tortilla directly onto the griddle. This process works best using your hands instead of a spatula.
Allow the tortilla to cook on one side until the tortilla begins to inflate, and then turn the tortilla over. Cook for an additional 30 to 45 seconds. Remove the tortilla to a plate that has been covered with a paper towel or to a tortilla warmer. Place a towel over the fresh tortillas to keep them warm.
Tips
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Spread butter onto fresh tortillas and roll them up for a tasty snack.
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Cut fresh tortillas into sections of four, and bake at 350 degrees for baked tortilla chips.
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Fry fresh tortillas and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Serve with honey.