Tortillas are fun things to eat and make. Like many other things on this site, tortillas are peasant food, in this case from Latin America. To make authentic tortillas, take a large flat stone, heat in a wooden fire on a starlit night, remove from the fire, then take a ball of flour which is mixed with water, flatten between the palms of your hands, then lay on the hot stone to cook for a few minutes. This urban version gives you/your children the opportunity to play with four and water and eat the results.
Tortillas can be used to wrap roast vegetables, strips of chicken or beef and even salad. In short a good excuse to eat with your fingers.
Time: 30-45 minutes
Ingredients (10 - 15 tortillas)
1 1/2 lb (750 gm) Flour
3/4 pint (400 ml) Water
Equipment
15 inch heavy bottomed frying pan, rolling pin.
Method
Mix the flour and water into a stiff dough (paste might be a better description). Place a heavy bottomed frying pan over a low heat for a few minutes, the surface of the pan will be used to cook the tortillas. Using well floured, hands, work surface and rolling pin, take a golf ball sized lump of dough, form into a ball, then roll flat and thin, say, into a 8 to 10 inch square. Using a spatula and/or hands, transfer the tortilla to the frying pan, leave for a couple of minutes and then turn over and do the other side. Take care that the pan does not get too hot and use plenty of flour on your hands to prevent getting gummed up with wallpaper paste. Keep the finished tortillas warm in the oven.
Comment
A tex-mex meal can be made up of tortillas, fried mixed beans and grilled chicken strips.
Page Created: 31st March 2001