I am having a bit of a foodie week it seems, so here’s the first in the promised series of Expat Essentials – the humble flour tortilla!
We tend to eat quite a lot of spicy food, and tortillas are perfect alongside a big bowl of chilli, to build quesadillas with, and as filled centre pieces in many a lunch-box, so I find they are handy to have around.
Can we get them here? If we are lucky yes… Are they any good? If you like eating something that has a consistency that sways between communion wafer-esque (not that I have eaten that many of them!) or verging on revoltingly slimy (having sweated away in plastic packaging on a supermarket shelf), I guess the answer would be favourable! I also object paying 4/5 Euros odd for something you can make for a matter of pence as well (or rather cents – you can take the girl out of England and all that!…). So a little while ago, I thought I would have a go at making my own – with pretty favourable results (even if I do say so myself!). And here’s how it’s done for those (previously) spoilt mortals (myself included) whose past lives involved produce availability of a massive range… And like a lot of fresh breads, these are best enjoyed within an hour of production. Something that’s never that difficult in this house…
Ingredients:
450g all purpose flour;
1 tsp fine grain salt;
80 ml vegetable/sun-flower/rape-seed oil;
240 ml warm water
Sift the flour and salt into a bowl, add the oil and warm water and knead together to form a soft dough. Leave to rest covered for 15 minutes before dividing into balls (and it’s completely up to you how big/small you make them – the ingredients above made around 32 small tortillas (as you can see) and provided an hour of therapeutic activity on the afternoon of a hung over New Year’s Day!) Roll each ball out on a floured surface. In a dry heavy pan, add a tortilla and fry for 1-2 minutes or until bubbles start to form on the surface. Turn and repeat on the other side. Remove and keep warm in a clean tea-towel whilst you finish the rest.
Since I originally posted warning that this little series would be happening (at some point!), I am happy to report that I now have a “collaborator”! A fellow “German” Expat – Deanna, who blogs at From Castles and Casinos. Deanna also has a passion for travel and food, and can also be found recreating food from home from time to time too… So, to help those of you living away from home with your cravings in the kitchen, we thought this was something we could do together. From now on, most Expat Essentials posts on this blog and her Cooking for Expat Posts will go live on the same day. Do pop over and see what’s cooking in her kitchen too!
Chamisa says
Yummy! Homemade tortillas taste the best (and, I agree that the store-bought ones here are atrocious and only suitable in a pinch). I made some a while back, and the recipe is similar to yours (http://wp.me/p13lg0-vJ). Now I think I need to go make another batch!
bavaria says
Thanks Chamisa! :)
Sara (@mumturnedmom) says
I’d be lost without tortillas, but thankfully living in the US getting decent ones isn’t difficult :)
bavaria says
I bet!! Thank you, hopefully I will be able to help you with something else soon enough! :D
brooke says
Have you been to the Mexican factory in Unterschleissheim? They have very good corn tortillas–and they fry up to be perfect tortilla chips for fresh salsa.
bavaria says
Now you tell me!!! :D I will check it out, but these come in handy when you can’t get there or it is closed! :D
Frau Dietz says
Late to the party as ever ;) …but *such* a brilliant idea, this. Can I just substitute the flour for a gluten-free flour mix, do you think? I mean, I don’t think it’s a life or death scenario without the gluten like it is with e.g. pasta?
bavaria says
I am sure it would work… Hope all is well! Next EE next week! :)
Caroline says
We get through loads of tortillas in this house, but I’d never even considered making my own before. Yours look fab – I will certainly be giving this recipe a try – many thanks!
bavaria says
This may well save you some money then! Thank you Caroline! :)
Rachel Saint says
Wow these look much more appetising than the dry papery ones you buy at Tesco’s. I will definitely be making these next time we have fajitas.
Rachel
http://www.easyenglisheating.blogspot.co.uk
bavaria says
Thank you, the kids like helping to make them too! :)
Sarah@The View From the Table says
These look lovely. We make our own too – I even bought a tortilla press (it’s useless by the way!) We can of course get them easily here but the list of their ingredients is longer than the arm so homemade is the way to go. Especially when they look as good as these..
bavaria says
Thank you Sarah… That is definitely another good reason to go down the homemade route, not many preservatives and nasty things in here! :) PS. I am glad you let me know about the press, I was tempted!!
3yearsandhome says
They look yummy! I learnt to make flat breads on a recent baking course. I can be found gorging myself on dips most nights now.
bavaria says
I am jealous of the dips… Actually that’s an idea! Hummous!! :D Thank you, hope all is good xx
Mari says
Now there’s something I have never considered making before and you make it look so easy too PLUS you provide us with another blog to read which is all food and travel. #heaven
bavaria says
Thanks Mari! :) xx
Becky says
ooh big tortilla fan here- will give this a go!
bavaria says
Thanks Becky! :)
Boo Roo and Tigger Too says
I never thought about making my own Tortilla’s before, they sound quite easy to do so and probably taste a lot better than shop bought.
bavaria says
They aren’t half bad! Thank you! :)
Katy Hill says
LOVE this idea. May have to try myself as we’re big on tortillas. I’m guessing you could substitute with wholemeal flour? My fave quick recipe with tortillas is: Put one on a chopping board, criss cross with a pizza cutter till you have strips, drizzle with olive oil, pepper and chilli flakes if you’re feeling crazy – bake until crisp (about 10 mins!) Super quick and impressive if you have inpromptu friends over! ;-) x
bavaria says
That sounds amazing! Will definitely be trying that! And I am sure you could substitute the plain flour with wholemeal too! Thanks Katy! :) x
Louisa says
It never entered my head to try and make these (don’t know why), but now I’ll give it a go!
bavaria says
Thanks Louisa, they are especially good with a chilli! :)
Actually Mummy... says
And… I bet yours are now even better than our originals! Such a pain when you can’t get your favourite stuff.
bavaria says
Thank you… I think the thing I miss at home is the range of choice of things, not just one variety of stuff if you are lucky! :D
Kirsty says
I love spicy food and forget that we are so lucky to have spices and speciality breads readily available that taste delicious. I am really surprised you can’t get them but at least you can make them. They are so cheap to make I feel I must try these, rather than spend quite a few pence in the shops!
bavaria says
Thanks Kirsty… We can get them, but there’s just one brand, and they are not great. At all! :D I personally think they are nicer fresh anyway! :)
otilia says
Oh yes. Tortillas! Need them! Thank you for the recipe!
bavaria says
Thanks Otilia! :)
Grenglish says
My mouth is watering looking at that scone! I am gluten free so have started making a lot more from scratch myself recently. I love the idea of the tortillas! We eat a lot of chilli and these look delicious and quite simple to make. I guess it would just be a case of switching to gluten free flour and seeing how they turn out :-)
bavaria says
I am sure they would work with gluten free! Thank you! :)
Liz Burton says
It must be so hard to be missing something from home and not be able to get it. This is such a great idea for a series.
bavaria says
Thank you Liz! :)
maggy, red ted art says
Oooh yummy. I fancy some now!
bavaria says
Thanks Maggy! :)
Mum of One says
They look great. But, man I feel for you not being able to just go out and buy this stuff. I think this series will be a wonder for your Expat compadres x
bavaria says
Thank you JB… :) x
Mary says
Oh I shall definitely be trying these. We can get packaged tortillas in our local supermarket (and do!) but they really aren’t that great. You make this sound so simple I will just have to give it a go and see if I can improve on the sweaty, plasticky variety!!
bavaria says
I think Asturia sounds a lot like Bavaria… You can find some stuff, but sometimes, just sometimes, it isn’t always top notch! :) Thank you xx
Trish says
Yes, lovely tortillas but I can’t get past the massive scone…..
bavaria says
They too are somewhere on the blog! Thanks Trish! :) xx
Midlife Singlemum says
Excellent – I’ve bookmarked this page! Thank you.
bavaria says
Thanks Rachel! :)
Deanna says
Emma this is awesome! It seems pretty easy too and I HATE the ones you buy here! They aren’t that great and they are expensive like you said. Where/how do you store them?
My post is up too and I’m looking forward to our partnership in whatever way that looks like!
bavaria says
Thanks Deanna! :) They are pretty easy, but I think they are best made fresh. If we had any left over, I would probably just make tortilla chips with them! :D Looking forward to collaborating with you! :)