One Hot Homemade Tortilla Recipe

Tortilla comes from a Spanish word which means “little torta” or “little cake.”  It is generally originated in Spain and known as a part of Mexican food.  Before the production of tortillas was hand press or hand patting, but in the emergence of modernized technologies a tortilla making equipment had been invented.

When I hear the word “tortilla” only two words enter my mind. One is omelette, an egg mixture dish and the other is flat thin bread or cake made out of flour. Several tortillas all over the world had been created and differ slightly.   

The typical Spanish tortilla is done through beaten eggs mixed with different ingredients such as sliced potatoes, bell peppers, onions, chives and more.  While a Mexican tortilla is made from maize or wheat flour, depending on the thickness and texture of the tortilla.  Their difference is that Mexican maize tortilla are those that are associated with Mexican dishes such as Tacos, tostadas and flautas whereas a Mexican wheat tortilla is best identified in making burritos. 

Wheat tortillas are initially low in fat and but good source of iron, thiamine and B vitamins while maize tortilla provide low sodium content food with calcium, potassium and fiber.   But both are very low in cholesterol, too.

From the time when it had become a popular Mexican mainstream food, people had become more innovative in creating a homemade tortilla recipe or pre-ordered dish that would set it off from the rest. With the increasing demand for tortillas in the country of Mexico, it essentially becomes part of the Mexican cuisine.  But nothing beats the homemade tortilla recipe with many flavours and varieties at your wishes.  Homemade tortilla recipe is best found in small towns, because factories are common in the cities and villages.

A simple yet out of this world homemade tortilla recipe goes something like this. First thing is to familiarize with the basic ingredients namely, the following:

o   1 ½ cups All Purpose Flour (add extra for the kneading of the bread)

o   1 teaspoon salt

o   1 teaspoon Baking powder

o   3 tablespoon Butter, at room temperature

o   2/3 cup warm water

o   Pinch of chili flakes or chili powder

Directions:

1.       In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients

2.       Lightly blend in the butter, mix well.

3.       Form a hole in the middle and slowly add in the water, incorporate well until you have soft dough.

4.       Knead the dough manually or you can use the rolling pin. Pour flour once in awhile to avoid it from sticking to the pin.

5.       Seal off the dough with a wax paper and let it rest for about ten minutes.

6.       Divide the dough into 12 sections and roll out each into thin pancake shape. Again, flour much often to allow the dough to expand or until it reached it’s the desire thinness.

7.       Heat up a non-stick pan over low heat, then cook the tortilla and flip it over to cook the other side for about two minutes on each side.

8.       To reheat tortilla, wrap it in aluminum foil and bake it in the oven for five minutes.

With a homemade tortilla recipe at hand, take out any leftovers from the fridge (either pork, beef or chicken) then chopped off a little cucumber, lettuce or any fresh green veggie, onions and bell peppers.  Place it in the middle of the tortillas and add some mayonnaise and mustard to zest up the taste. Then roll it up to form a cone. Now you have a BURRITO! Hmmmmm, isn’t that hot!