How to make tortillas

Alternate title: What the fuck Old El Paso?

I was 29 and 8.5 months pregnant with Daisy before I got my drivers licence. I know! How stupid! I wasted all of those years of my youth spending money on cabs, cursing public transport and relying on dead shit boyfriends and parents to pick me up from places. I was terrified of driving. The thought of cars and traffic and merging sent me into a spin and paralysed me from conquering my fear. When I was duffed I knew there was no option. I HAD TO DO IT. So with a very patient husband, and a very hormonal but determined mindset, I went and learned how to drive. Living in a small street in Newtown also meant that I learnt to reverse park a car into any small space like it’s nobodies business. I got it, and I was all like “Well how long has THIS been going on?” It was freedom, plain and simple and every single time I hop in a car now I am grateful that I took the plunge.

There’s been a few times that I try something that I thought was hard, only to realise that it wasn’t. At all. My silly thoughts, or fears, or brainwashing from someone making me think that I couldn’t do something that I could all along. I think in cooking, especially, we can suffer from this. Thinking that something is tricky, that could never be done, that’s just easier to buy, when it’s not. This year I conquered bread. I mean HOW EASY. And on the weekend I conquered something that I have always relied on buying: the humble tortilla. My family love tacos. My husband ADORES tacos from his time spent in Mexico and Central America as a young (hot) twenty something year old. I must have been waiting to be picked up by my dead shit boyfriend to do anything that fabulous. I buy taco kits, because they are easy and they get eaten, but on the weekend, I had some time and a vision for tacos that was cheaper, slightly less convenient but a gazillion times healthier and TASTIER. And that vision came true! Hurrah!

I can’t believe how easy these are to make Tortillas (makes about 16-20)

4 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
1.5.cups water
6 tablespoons olive oil

Throw all that stuff above into a bowl and mix. When it’s combined transfer to a floured surface and knead for a minute or so. Divide the mixture into about 16 serves (I reckon this would make about 20 though as you want them quite thin). Roll out thinly (don’t worry about the strange shapes you make, it’s character). Heat a fry pan with a spray of oil and cook for a min or so each side. THAT’S IT. Yep.

T1 T2 T3 T4 T6 T8

I served ours up with a piece of beef that we won at the Pub on Thursday night which I slow cooked for about 4 hours at 150 degrees and that I smothered in spices: paprika, fennel seeds, cumin, cinnamon and a bit of BBQ sauce thrown in for good measure and then shredded to serve. Pork shoulder would be perfect for this too.

Meat

I also made a simple slaw salad which was 1/2 red cabbage and 1/2 wombok cabbage shredded, bunch of coriander and mint, some shallots and a dressing of olive oil, apple cider vinegar, a little brown sugar. A little meat, a little salad wrapped in one of the bad boys and DEAD SET. Delicious!

Salad 2 Salad 3 T9 T10

What’s something that you always thought was hard and then realised it wasn’t so bad after all?

Comments

  1. Carolyn Manning says

    Red wine. And blue cheese – not at the same time. Souffles!

  2. Alli @ ducks on the dam says

    Yummo! I have been searching for a recipe that works. I know use Ruth’s gozleme recipe – without the fillings – instead of roti with curry. Thanks for sharing

  3. GourmetGirlfriend says

    Dude wait till you make them using Masa Harina flour….. I’ll send you some so you can make them. xx

  4. Debbie Freitag says

    I’m new to your blog and am glad I found it! This is going to be cooked up in our house this weekend for sure!

  5. Emma Steendam says

    Holy cow this looks amazing! We just killed some lambs so might try slow roasting a hunk of that. Nom nom nom. My sister makes tortillas every Friday
    night and her family have ‘Mexican fiesta Friday’. The girls (aged 6, 5
    and 2) freaking lose their MINDS for it, I believe there is often a
    sombrero involved. Living out here I do make a lot of things like this,
    more out of necessity because we’re a two hour round trip to fresh bread
    and milk. And none of the nasties that are often in pre-made things
    like that = winning.

    Can’t believe you didn’t drive until your
    late twenties – this blows my mind, growing up in the country I was at
    the VicRoads office bright and early on my 18th birthday. It was either
    that or my horse, no joke, I used to ride my horse through the pine
    forests to get to teenage parties, tie her up and mosey home in the wee
    hours of the morning parents none the wiser πŸ˜‰ Note to you, don’t get
    Daisy a horse.

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      CLASSIC. I know being in the country now that things will be different and cars will be a necessity. I love the idea of riding a horse to places…so romantic!

  6. pizza dough!!!!! love pizza so much! was completely crazy shit scared of yeast!!! then stumbled onto the natural yoghurt and SR flour recipe!!!! GOB SMACKINGLY FLIPPIN TOO EASY!!

  7. MeganBlandford says

    Oh I’m going to try these – thanks! I always thought roast chicken would be hard without it being all dry and stringy. SO EASY though! These days I just cut one in half, throw a few herbs and sliced lemon on, chuck it in the oven for 30-40 mins and it’s delicious every time. No need to buy those ones from the supermarket that god knows what they have on them or how long they’ve been sitting there.

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      Exactly! They try and trick us but it’s EASY. And cheaper. And a gazillion times yummier! Well done on the chook front – a classic!

  8. Kylie Gemmell says

    Love your blog Beth. Also found Gourmet Girlfired via your blog. The thought of GG sending you white powdery stuff (all be it flour)in the mail just made me giggle.
    Sure nothing could possibly go wrong with that scenario…

  9. musingsofamartin says

    YES. A thousand times YES. Not a hint of preservative (that makes my kids anxious) in sight!
    Thank you.
    That is all.

  10. Reannon Hope says

    Bloody hell Beth! Way to make a hungry breast feeding muma STAAAAAAARVING! Tacos are on the menu tonight but as its a footy training night I’m going for convienevce . I will totally give these a go one weekend though πŸ™‚
    I too got my license when heavily (39 weeks!) pregnant with baby number 1. Some days I still think ” look at me driving like a BOSS!” & it’s been over 13 years!

  11. Maryandlil says

    See, there you did it again!!! I am now going to have to have home made tortillas on the menu this week. Thanks!! xxx

  12. Lisa Mckenzie says

    Wow i would have thought these hard,goes to show i am wrong so wrong and these look better than the bought ones,i don’t like mince type tacos but i think i could handle this sort,thankyou for the idea.I was 19 when i got my license and thought that was old!!!

  13. Lilyfieldlife says

    hi Beth, we make our own also and if you buy Jimmy’s Attaflour in coles (or woolies??) remember that guy off masterchef , you can make great naan bread. It is so easy and quick and at least you know what goes into it. Your wrap looks delicious. I’m going to have to buy some red cabbage now. Fiona

  14. MotherDownUnder says

    I make yogurt now. So easy! And so cheap!
    Can you freeze these bad boy tortillas?
    I have a chicken tortilla soup on the stove right now…and I can’t help but think it would have been better with homemade tortillas! Next time!

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      Next time indeed! I reckon you could for sure – make a big batch and whack the extras in the freezer. I have been REALLY impressed with your yoghurt efforts!

  15. ahoy.jenni says

    I’m trying to do the paleo diet and its so hard when I see recipes like this!
    I’ll have to make tortillas with coconut four ! Wonder how that will go…

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      What is this paleo business I keep reading about? No gluten I suppose? Good luck!

      • ahoy.jenni says

        That’s right..no gluten no wheat no rice no pasta (get the picture?) Its a pre-agriculture diet meaning pre-before we started growing wheat and grains, its how cave man ate and lived! Its great, I feel so much better on it, loads more energy and I am in my 40-lates with two young kids and I run circles around my younger friends! I follow the Primal Diet (lifestyle) and I love it. Kids are gluten free, but I still feed them rice and pasta. Anyway google it…check it out!

    • GourmetGirlfriend says

      you can make them with Masa Harina- it is Maize flour – i am pretty sure it fis with Paleo!!

      • ahoy.jenni says

        Thanks GG. I’ll check it out….I know coco flour and quinoa flour are OK for paleo. Somehow I didn’t think maize fitted the caveman diet but I will investigate…

  16. I set myself a challenge this year to become a better cook and you know what? I’m doing it. Frittatas, paellas, roasts, soups, mayo – you name it – I’ve given it a red hot go. And the funny thing is, it’s not half as hard as I thought it would be. Tortillas – I’m coming for you..
    Claire xo

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      Good on you Claire! That’s a challenge that will be with you for life…well bloody done!

  17. Cotton & Wood says

    I will first admit I have never commented on any website before, although I feel I have to because you seriously make this look so easy, that I simply can’t NOT give it a go! I’ve just recently conquered shortcrust pastry (also much easier than I thought) so feeling rather ‘cooking cocky’ and ready for my next kitchen challenge! Fingers crossed. Thanks so much for sharing. Nicki xo

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      I need to get onto pastry too…I’m sure I will be able to do it! Good luck with this…I’m sure you will enjoy it!

      • Shortcrust pastry was one of my fears too Nicki…I was kind’ve forced into it recently as the stuff in the freezer had a questionable use-by date and it turns out it wasn’t that scary after all πŸ™‚ I will admit that tortillas from scratch were also sharing a spot on the same list of culinary fears…but I might have to give this a go Beth! P.S. the recipe that helped me overcome my pastry fears was Donna Hay’s Chocolate Espresso Brulee Tarts if you feel like a sugar hit! http://petitpixeldesign.com/blog/20137/chocolate-espresso-brle-tarts

  18. crazyspeedylove says

    Each Christmas there are 20 of us that get together for Santa to visit the kids – and we did this 2yrs ago….but frig me yours looks delish. xx .. p/s do you tend to win a lot at your pub? Seems it! x

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      Ha! No, first win at the meat tray raffle but yes, the battle of the banger a few weeks ago we did!

  19. Once you have the homemade you can never go back, can you?
    I’ll help you with pastry.

  20. Oh wow!! I’m sitting here drooling, that looked so delicious! Hot cross buns were my thing this year that I thought would be hard but really weren’t. Next I’m determined to give profiteroles a go … I think there’s something about your 30s that just makes things seem less scary and so you are more willing to give them a try – have actually be thinking about this a lot lately. I think it comes from the fact that I gave birth to two kids dammit, I can give anything a go, right?!! Keep the food sharing coming Beth – LOVE it! x

  21. SHUT.UP.

  22. Each year I set myself a goal of mastering a cooking skill I’m scared of. A couple of years ago it was bread, then pastry. It’s funny you know, normally the things I’m scared to cook in the kitchen are things that FORCE me to slow down. Curious.

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      That is SO interesting…those are true for me too. And when I stop, and take the time, I love it.

  23. just had to share – made your tortillas last night beth! of course they were fabulous, but as we contemplated dessert we were inspired by the “dessert calzone” so we made some “dessert tortillas”!!! wrapped some blueberries, raspberries and a chunk of butter in a tortilla then cooked in butter in the fry pan!!!

    • BabyMacBlogBeth says

      I’m so glad you enjoyed them and Leanne…those dessert ones sound AMAZING. Thanks for the inspiration!

  24. Emily Furlong says

    I kind of knicked this recipe/idea… I didn’t make the tortillas though. BUT I did slow cook some DELICIOUS asian pulled pork and O…M…G…. CRAZY! So my next mission is to man up and make the tortillas too!

  25. It’s not just old el pasco, I feel like Taco Bill has something to answer for here. This looks freaking amazing! I cannot believe tortillas are that easy to make… I’m going to make all sorts of friends with this recipe/meal combination.

  26. Hi Beth,

    I stumbled across your tortilla recipe and O…M…G they are the bomb!!!

    I blogged about it today and linked in your recipe, hope thats ok πŸ™‚

    http://agluttonouswife.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/tortillas-ole.html

    Warm regards,
    Jan
    http://www.agluttonouswife.blogspot.com

  27. bbeingcool says

    Gonna make these when I am ‘back on my feet’… I have made naan breads and pita bread which are soooooo delicious! Next on my list- Tortillas! You are the shazizzle!

  28. Help me – I made them, had 2 frypans going to cook a bunch quickly, got them off the heat when cooked and put them on a tray covered with foil to keep warm while I kept cooking. By the time I had finished cooking them all the foil ones were hard (no longer pliable). So we had tortilla sandwiches – which were delicious – but I would have much rather folded them. Where did I go wrong?

    • Hmmm…I can only think that they were too thick? Maybe try and roll a little thinner and see of google have any ideas on how to keep them soft – maybe some baking paper inside the foil? Good luck!

Trackbacks

  1. […] my Mum sent me a text message with a photo of some tortillas that she had made from scratch from my blog post a few months ago. She was so excited, but not as excited as I was. There isn’t anything much […]

  2. […] To serve warm your tortillas (you can make your own if you like they are DELICIOUS) add on some salsa, and then top with pork and crackle. I also add […]

  3. […] β™₯ Monday – Leftover Bolognese with Rice β™₯ Tuesday – Fish Tacos with homemade tortillas β™₯ Wednesday -Leftover Beef Curry with Mashed Potato β™₯ Thursday -Lily’s Spaghetti β™₯ […]

Leave a Reply to GourmetGirlfriend Cancel reply

*