What's new
By:
Filters
Cooking Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Home made tortillas

O

oldbay

Guest
Thought I venture onward in my Mexican cooking since I did so well with the tamale experiment :)

The Ca Sa Me corn meal has a recipe on the side for tortillas. I was thinking of making them since it looks rather simple to do. There's no yeast, rising, punching, just mix, squish, and fry.

So the question is: Is there a difference in homemade tortillas like the one the exists for homemade breads? So should I make my own, or buy them in the store for a dollar?
 
I'd say you don't know unless you try it! Let us know.
 
I have made homemade tortillas before, but they weren't so great.

I just get mine at Taco Cabana. Theirs are super thick and soft and delicious.

Funny story, one time I was having dinner guests and serving Mexican food, so I went to TC for some tortillas. I asked for three dozen. The girl said to me, "Will this be for here or to go?"

I wanted to say, "It's for here, and can you also bring me some butter and a diet coke?"
 
I've made them using this recipe - and I liked them -I know everyone's taste is different - but I like them

HOMEMADE FLOUR TORTILLAS

3 tbsp. shortening
1 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
3/4 c. water

Sift dry ingredients together in a bowl. Cut in shortening. Add water to make dough. Take handful of dough and roll out on a lightly floured board, as thin as you can. Bake on a lightly greased griddle. Turn to brown.
 
I tried the recipe on the bag, and cut it in half as trial run. The bag says to roll the tortillas between layers of wax pepper or plastic wrap. I used the plastic wrap method, and the first few tortillas were awful.

The last couple were okay, but I still wasn't able to get them to be round like the store bought ones. So I get to ask a question here which is:
Is the roundness of todays tortillas just a result of machinery or were tortilla rolled by hand into perfect circles?
 
Mrs Chipotle - I had a similar experience with a fast food place called Roy Rogers. I stopped by one night to pick up some fried chicken for a quick and easy dinner. I asked for a 10 piece dinner with coleslaw and mashed potatoes and the guy asked if it was for here or to go. I'm sure he must of been joking and I was tempted to say here and then go and sit down.
 
oldbay - thanks to presses they come out perfectly round - without the aid of a tortilla press they will not be perfectly round -

a friend of mine uses her pizzelle maker (because of the round shape) to start the "roundness" and then she rolls them from there - of course the pizzelle maker in not plugged in and she places the dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap so that the dough doesn't stick to the machine!

Another friend rolls and uses an inverted plate or bowl and cuts the perfect round shape (that doesn't make sense to me!)

I just roll - my circles are close enough for me - LOL

but the best part is - you can make BIG ones for taco salads, etc.!! and instead of deep frying them into a bowl shape - just lay over a stainless bowl (placed on a baking sheet) and bake at 350* until crisp and holds its "bowl" shape - saves work and calores/fat!! then fill with lettuce, tomatoes, chicken or beef, black olives, Cheddar, etc!
 
but the best part is - you can make BIG ones for taco salads, etc.!! and instead of deep frying them into a bowl shape - just lay over a stainless bowl (placed on a baking sheet) and bake at 350* until crisp and holds its "bowl" shape - saves work and calores/fat!! then fill with lettuce, tomatoes, chicken or beef, black olives, Cheddar, etc!
Click to expand...
That's a great idea! I am going to try that! That would be super cute for parties and stuff.
 
I've been tempted to attempt making my own tortillas since we go through a TON of them. I'm just not sure if they're worth all of the effort. I'm curious if you guys think the homemade ones are better than store bought? If so, are they good enough to justify the time in the kitchen?
 
Out of necessity this payday, I have to make my own tortillas. I'm trying to cut down on groceries as much as possible & I'm pretty sure I can make 20 tortillas for less than $2, which is what they cost around here. We can go through about 60 tortillas in 2 weeks because we all snack on them. My computer is in the kitchen next to the fridge & I'm guilty of reaching into the fridge, pulling out a tortilla & tearing it into quarters to eat while I'm surfing.
 
We go through a ton of tortillas too. They're a little on the pricey side if you use a lot, so I've found a few ways around the prices. :) I'll let you in on my secrets :p

At least once a month I go to www.missionfoods.com (contact us, then coupon request). I'll request coupons in my name, hubby's name and son's name. I can usually get 6 coupons for a free Mission brand product up to $1.99. This has saved me TONS and allowed me to build up a bit of a supply.

Watch target.com 's coupon generator. A few weeks ago they had coupons for $1 off a market pantry Mexican item. You can use as many as you want. It made tortillas about 50 cents a package and salsa close to 30 cents a jar. Once again, I stocked up.

I ran into our local IGA not long ago for something they had on sale and found they're tortillas were on sale too (not advertised). Mission flour tortillas were 75 cents each and corn ones were only 50 cents (I use corn tortillas to make my own chips). I bought all they had since they were less than half price.

I probably have a dozen packages of tortillas in the freezer right now.
 
I just looked through and found this coupon for the $1 off Market Pantry Mexican item at Target through December 29, 2006.

Remember, you can print as many as you'd like. I think I had 20 last time I went in. :p
 
You can make tortillas for alot cheaper than buying them from the store. I think that you just have to make sure that you aren't making huge tortillas. I love homemade tortillas. There is nothing better than having a warm tortilla with butter or even warm salsa.
 
Are you talking about flour or corn tortillas? I love to eat grilled chicken with salsa on fresh corn tortillas and can't think that they would taste the same on flour tortillas. The corn tortillas themselves are tasty and have a delicious match to to salsa and chicken and sour cream. There is a Mexican Pollo Primo restaurant near me that I copied their serving ideas from but it's not fancy. Grilled chicken seasoned with Goya Sazon, salsa, rice, and sour cream served in corn tortilla.
 
Medako, thanks for the suggestions but we don't have a Target or IGA near us. As far as I know, the closest Target would be in Oklahoma City & that's over an hour's drive. But I am going to Mission Foods & getting those coupons you mentioned.

Cinnamon, I've tried corn tortillas, they just don't taste right to my family. Plus the ones I bought had a tendency to tear when I rolled them for enchiladas or burritos.
 
Our nearest target is an hour away too (Tulsa)....kinda stinks, but hubby works there and we go about once a month on the weekends, so I'm able to stock up once in a while (goin' tomorrow, actually)
 
I personally wouldn't be brave enough to try it. But, hey, if you're brave enough...go for it! I would have some store-bought on hand just in case though.
 
I went ahead and bought some just in case... And I'm glad I did. While I was in the hospital after delivery (baby girl, 8lbs 2oz, 21 inches long, perfectly healthy), my husband ate all of them for dinner instead of going to my mom's & eating dinner with our other girls. So I guess I have to make tortillas tomorrow while our girls nap.
 
Congratulations on your new precious bundle of joy!!! So glad mom and baby are doing well!! Many blessings to you all!
 
You had a good sized baby! Congrats!:) Good luck on making the tortillas.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top