If your budget is bringing beans to the menu, more and more, you may be interested in adding something extra special to the table to "recreate" the basic burrito. Handmade tortillas are really economical, have zero preservatives and taste like heaven! These beauties just require some elbow grease with your rolling pin. Enlisting in the help of a child to do the cooking of the tortilla while you do the rolling makes this project go quickly, almost as quickly as these tortillas will go at your dinner table...
Mix together six cups of flour and two teaspoons of salt in a large bowl.
Note: I have also substituted two of the white flour cups with whole wheat pastry flour with good results.
Note: I have also substituted two of the white flour cups with whole wheat pastry flour with good results.
Add 2/3 cup of oil (I use sunflower oil) to the above mixture (oops, picture shows wrong amount).
Add two cups of warm water and mix until combined.
The water looks cloudy since I used the same glass from above but the less dishes, the happier the cook, I say!
The water looks cloudy since I used the same glass from above but the less dishes, the happier the cook, I say!
At some point you will have to get your hands in there to finish combining the dough.
Do not over-knead.
Do not over-knead.
Dough should resemble something like the above photo.
Pinch off dough balls, approximately 1 3/4 inches in diameter and lay on a floured board.
Cover these little tykes with a dish towel while you are rolling out each one so they stay warm
and don't dry out.
and don't dry out.
Now, press down the dough ball with your palm to try to flatten it into a pancake shape.
Begin rolling the balls out on a well floured board. I am constantly adding flour so the dough won't stick and will roll out easier. At this point, I would flip over this piece, place a sprinkle of flour on the other side and roll out into a circle. Do not be dismayed at your first ones. You will probably make the shape of "Italy" on your first and then slowly work your way up to "Australia". Eventually they will become somewhat circular but it surely doesn't affect the taste, just what you can place inside. Squares are perfectly acceptable in my opinion. You can even play the "name that state" game with your children on your first six (yes, it takes a while to get it right.) This is the hardest part of the whole recipe.
You can see I accidentally stretched the dough as I rolled this specimen out but it doesn't hinder the taste.
Place tortilla in un-greased and pre-heated, hot pan.
When dough starts to bubble like the tortilla above, then it is time to flip.
This side needs only a few seconds before you add to the pile.
I keep my finished ones covered with a dish cloth as we go so they stay warm for dinner
and they don't dry out.
and they don't dry out.
And here they are, ready to be devoured at your next meal.
My original tortilla recipe required shortening which I was trying to avoid and so I found this one which uses oil. I really like how easy it is. The recipe I printed out below makes 24 since the original recipe of 12 wasn't enough around here. Oh and yes, you can freeze them for the future too! Just reheat them over the flame on your stove grate if you want to serve them hot.
Simply download and print. Please let me know if you have any problems printing.
You may want to add this to your Recipe Book!
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