Healthy Tortillas Recipe – Best Homemade Tortillas

Tortillas can be healthy when made at home because it contains a lot less fat or shortening needed to keep them soft compared to most commercially made tortillas. This simple, easy and effortless recipe for healthy tortillas will make soft delicious and soft tortillas perfect to make fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, or wraps and uses ingredients you already have in your pantry.

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one to brag about eating only homemade. Being a working mom, often store-bought tortillas are the only way to go. I always have a package of store-bought tortillas in the house for those times when my Aadi brings friends over out of the blue. But it’s always great to know what you buy and how much of it is good for you. That’s how I keep the balance in our family.

What is the best thing about homemade tortilla as compared to store-bought tortillas

Well with store-bought tortillas, the first of course is that they are not fresh and nothing beats homemade. How long before you do think the store-bought tortillas were made? and how much preservatives must have been used to keep them fresh for these two years of shelf life mentioned on the package?

If you hold the store bought tortilla in your hand and try to break it, it stretches like rubber before it breaks, unlike homemade that just breaks because it’s fresh.  Store-bought is really soft but that’s because it’s loaded with lard or palm oil. Unfortunately, they still taste chewy and most people believe it’s natural. Nope!!

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

Back in the day!!

My mom made amazing tortillas. They would just melt in the mouth delish. She made them the traditional method which usually means 1/4 cup lard for every 2 cups flour! That’s a lot. I know!!

So; I do make flour tortilla as often as my grandmom use to make but minus all that lard. I use olive oil or coconut oil instead. So for every cup of flour, I add one tbsp olive or coconut oil. And If I want to make these even healthier I make Indian Chapati or Whole Wheat Tortillas. Indian chapati for my kids is like a treat. They do not need anything to go with it.  These soft chapatis or whole wheat tortillas just melt in the mouth.

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

The Secret to soft bread, laden bread such as Tortillas or chapatis.

The secret? -The resting time.
Many people don’t realize the power of resting the dough. It can do wonders for your baked goods especially bread.  If you let the gluten rest, you will find your tortillas become soft and you can roll them thinner. If you don’t give it that resting time, what you end up making are thick chewy pancakes. So, take a break. Go get coffee, find something else to do. If you want, use a timer to calm those nerves and let the dough rest.

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

Altering the recipe below.

A good guide with this recipe below so you can make more or fewer tortillas.
For every cup of flour I use –  1 tbsp oil, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 cup hot water.  One cup flour will make about 3 medium or 4 small tortillas.

Recipe –  Easy Homemade Healthy Tortillas – Best Homemade Tortillas (Save)

Tools

• Mixing Bowl
• Rolling Pin
• Griddle/Skillet

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour – 440 grams
• Baking powder – 2 tsp
• Olive, canola or coconut oil – 4 tbsp
• Salt – 1 tsp
• Hot water – 250 ml (1 cup)
• Extra warm water for kneading

Method:

Prepare the Dough 

• Combine flour, baking powder and salt to the bowl.
• Add the oil – combine the oil into the flour well almost coating every grain of flour
• Next, add the hot water and use a fork or spatula to bring the dough together.
• Set it aside to rest until it’s just warm and you are able to knead it.
• Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until soft and spongy.
• Use hands dipped in water to help knead. (ideally, you would not need more flour but if the dough is too wet then add a little dry flour as necessary)
• If you find the dough is too resistant.. rest dough for 5 minutes covered with cling wrap.
• Then knead again and until you have a soft smooth dough.
• Rest the dough for 15 minutes

See this one below is not smooth because it’s not rolled enough, but it needs to rest first.

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

Form Balls  

• After the dough has rested.
• Divide the dough into 20 equal size balls.
  I prefer to divide the dough in half, then half, again half… until I have an approximate size or number I need.
• Roll each into balls and let rest.

Roll the tortillas 

• I use my countertop and a rolling pin to roll the balls.
• Dab each ball with a little flour on both sides.
• Roll on a lightly floured surface
• Roll into an approximately 8 to 10-inch diameter.
• If the dough is resisting and not letting you roll – let it rest. Then try again.

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

Cook the Tortillas

• Heat a griddle, skillet or fry pan on medium-high
• Cook tortilla on each side for 2 minutes flipping only as needed.
• Each tortilla usually takes 3 to 4 minutes, so adjust the heat accordingly.
• Place the cooked tortillas wrapped in a clean kitchen cloth so they stay soft.

The right way to cook tortilla or chapati.

One of the most common problems with laden bread, tortillas, chapati, pita, naan etc is that we flip the bread too fast not letting the dough cook. What happens then is that the dough dries out and you get tough hard tortillas or chapatis when they cool. You want to retain the steam that builds inside the bread to keep these soft. Today, I’m going to show you what how my mom taught me.

The next time you make tortillas – try this method of cooking. You will have soft delicious tortillas.

• Make sure the pan is hot.
• Place the tortilla on the pan
• Once you see little bubbles like this – usually should take no more than 40 to 50 seconds.

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

• First Flip – Turn it over – give it about 2 minutes to cook on the other side. You will see the tortilla is getting a little puffy.
• Second Flip –  Turn it back on the first side – This will take another minute or so
• The time help the dough puff by gently pressing the sides that are not touching the pan. This will help cook those spots that are raised up.

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

• Third Flip – This is it..  as long as you see no raw dough, a few specks of black freckles.
• The tortilla is done. Usually about 3 to 4 minutes each.
• If you roll an even tortilla you will find they puff up at the last flip. Don’t worry if they don’t puff up they are still the same.

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

Storing the Tortillas.

• As soon as you take the tortillas off the griddle place it in between the layers of a clean kitchen towel.
• The steam in the tortillas will help keep them soft and warm.
• If you leave them out and open they tend to dry and become tough.

Reheating Tortillas.

• To reheat Tortillas – just place them in between two damp (not wet) clean paper hand towels in the microwave.
• Usually takes 30 seconds in my microwave – yours will be more or less.
• The damp paper towel help restore some of that moisture into the tortillas and makes them almost fresh again.

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

Healthy Tortillas, Homemade Tortillas Recipe, Healthy Homemade Tortillas, How to make perfect tortillas

Easy Homemade Healthy Flour Tortilla Recipe

Tortillas can be healthy when made at home because it contains a lot less fat or shortening needed to keep them soft compared to most commercially made tortillas. This simple, easy and effortless recipe will make soft delicious tortillas perfect to make fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, or wraps and uses ingredients you already have in your pantry.

Print

Course Breakfast, brunch, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Mexican

Keyword Healthy Flour Tortilla, Homemade Flour Tortilla

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 20 Tortillas

Calories 116 kcal

Author Veena Azmanov

Ingredients - Choose (Metric or US Customary) below

• 440 grams All-purpose flour
• 2 tsp Baking powder
• 4 tbsp Olive oil canola or coconut oil
• 1 tsp Salt
• 250 ml Hot water
• Extra warm water for kneading

Metric - US customary

Instructions

Prepare the Dough 

1. Combine flour, baking powder and salt to the bowl.
2. Add the oil - combine the oil into the flour well almost coating every grain of flour
3. Next, add the hot water and use a fork or spatula to bring the dough together.
4. Set it aside to rest until it's just warm and you are able to knead it. 
5. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until soft and spongy.
6. Use hands dipped in water to help knead. (ideally, you would not need more flour but if the dough is too wet then add a little dry flour as necessary) 
7. If you find the dough is too resistant.. rest dough for 5 minutes covered with cling wrap.
8. Then knead again and until you have a soft smooth dough.
9. Rest the dough for 15 minutes

Form Balls  

1. After the dough has rested.
2. Divide the dough into 20 equal size balls.I prefer to divide the dough in half, then half, again half... until I have an approximate size or number I need.
3. Roll each into balls and let rest.

Roll the tortillas 

1. I use my countertop and a rolling pin to roll the balls.
2. Dab each ball with a little flour on both sides.
3. Roll on a lightly floured surface
4. Roll into an approximately 8 to 10-inch diameter.
5. If the dough is resisting and not letting you roll - let it rest. Then try again

Cook the Tortillas

1. Heat a griddle, skillet or fry pan on medium-high
2. Cook tortilla on each side for 2 minutes flipping only as needed. 
3. Each tortilla usually takes 3 to 4 minutes, so adjust the heat accordingly. 
4. Place the cooked tortillas wrapped in a clean kitchen cloth so they stay soft. 
5.  

Nutrition Facts

Easy Homemade Healthy Flour Tortilla Recipe

Amount Per Serving (46 g)

Calories 116 Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 3g 5%

Saturated Fat 0.2g 1%

Trans Fat 0g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2.8g

Monounsaturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 118mg 5%

Potassium 0mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates 19.3g 6%

Dietary Fiber 0.7g 3%

Sugars 0.1g

Protein 2.6g 5%

Vitamin A 0%

Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 0%

Iron 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Do you love baking homemade bread? I do enjoy it very much too!

Feel free to check out my – Slice of Bread – Homemade Bread Collections
or see my Recipe Index for a collection of all recipes on this blog

Best Bread Recipes, Bread Recipes, Homemade Bread – how to make bread at home, Veena Azmanov bread