Chef John's Flour Tortillas

With a handful of ingredients — flour, salt, baking powder, shortening, and hot water — Chef John's recipe for flour tortillas are tender and flavorful.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 171 Calories

Ingredients

• 0.75 teaspoon salt
• 1.75 cups all-purpose flour
• 0.25 teaspoon baking powder
• 0.5 cup hot water
• 0.25 cup all-purpose flour for dusting
• 0.25 cup vegetable shortening

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Knead until a smooth, soft dough is formed, about 3 minutes. Add more flour if dough is too sticky.

Step 2

Cut dough into eight equal parts; cover until needed. Roll out dough balls by hand or with a tortilla press.

Step 3

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place 1 tortilla in skillet; cook until begins to bubble, about 1 minute. Flip tortilla; cook 1 minute more. Flip again and cook 1 minute more. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

Step 4

Whisk 1 ¾ cups flour, salt, and baking powder together in a large bowl. Cut in vegetable shortening using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Step 5

Form a well in the middle. Mix in hot water, working flour mixture and water together with a fork. Transfer to a cutting board.

Step 6

Flour the cutting board, cover dough with the bowl, and let rest for 15 minutes.