This is part 1 of a 2-part series in honor of my mom and grandmother’s birthdays, which are next week.
First up are my grandma’s tortillas.
If you’ve never had homemade flour tortillas then you’re in for a treat. They melt in your mouth!
So tender and flavorful; they taste nothing like the store package variety.
The dough comes together easily, but it does take some effort in the rolling out.
Many hands make work light! When my siblings and I were young, my grandma had a rolling pin made for each of us out of an old broom handle.
We would all help roll out tortillas and we each got to eat the first one we rolled.
We would watch as it cooked on the comal, knowing that it was a good one if it puffed up.
Then we would eat it piping hot and slathered in butter.
Tortillas are generally cooked on a comal, which is a round, flat, cast iron griddle.
My family uses old wood-burning cook-stove lids.
If neither of those is available, any cast iron pan will do.
As young’uns our tortillas were not perfectly round, but practice makes perfect!
The technique is important in order to produce soft, fluffy tortillas.
Starting from the middle of your dough ball, roll one stroke down and one stroke up with a light but firm touch.
Turn the tortilla 90 degrees clockwise and repeat the process.
I’ve tried to explain the steps as best I can, but my grandma’s “recipe” was based on feeling and sight–no tools or utensils besides hands–not exactly standardized measurements!
Feel free to comment or email if you have any questions. 🙂 kitchengidget@gmail.com
Homemade Flour Tortillas (Tortillas de Harina)

Homemade Flour Tortillas
Homemade flour tortillas that literally melt in your mouth.
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 6 tablespoons lard
- 3/4 to 1 cup warm water
Instructions
Combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in lard until it resembles fine crumbs. Mixture should lightly hold together when squeezed. Add the warm water, starting with ¾ cup, and mix until it comes together forming a smooth but not sticky dough.
Divide the dough into 14-16 balls. Knead and shape until smooth. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for at least 10 minutes. On a floured surface, roll out tortillas. Starting from the middle of dough ball, roll one stroke down and one stroke up with a light but firm touch. Turn the tortilla 90 degrees clockwise and roll one stroke down, one stroke up and turn again. Repeat the process until you reach the desired thickness, about 1/8 of an inch or less.
Cook on a griddle that has been preheated over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 seconds on one side until tiny bubbles appear. Flip tortilla and cook about 30 seconds. Tortilla should puff up. Flip again and cook for about 15 seconds. Lower heat if tortillas are too brown. Continue until all tortillas have been cooked. Keep cooked tortillas warm by wrapping in a towel.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 129Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 326mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 2g
Nutritional information provided is an estimate only. Please consult the labels of ingredients you use for more accurate results.
Betty
Wednesday 1st of March 2023
Vegetable oil is to hard to roll out. Lard or bacon fat works best. Your recipe worked for me
Pam
Wednesday 5th of October 2022
I made 2 batches the first one I kneaded for about 12 to 15 minutes and the second batch just for 8 minutes but both batches came out a little chewy?? Is it the kneading or the cooking that causes the problem?
Rebekah
Tuesday 11th of October 2022
Hi Pam, that sounds like they might have been over-kneaded. They only need to be kneaded until smooth. Or possibly too much flour? Was the dough stiff or soft? Did they puff up when cooked?
Elaine
Saturday 1st of October 2022
These look so good, can't wait to try them!!! I love your site your recipes look delish!!
Geri Zapata
Wednesday 10th of November 2021
I have tried so many different recipes on making tortillas and at my age they should come tasteful, NOPE, my younger sister cruise can make such great tortillas and she 65 years old. I will tried your recipe wish me luck. Geri Zapata
Jan
Sunday 24th of October 2021
My Gma was a little Spanish woman and she made her flour tortillas almost every day. And measured everything in her hand, always used lard, never oil. She lived to be 98. Nobody in the family can make them like hers! I did learn to make my dough in the food processor! And yes measuring is tricky. Thank You for sharing your recipe, I’ll give it a try!