# How do I make a tortilla? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-tortilla/205768 "2003-10-05T23:04:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-tortilla/205768/21 "2003-10-06T20:28:59Z")
Masa, lard, a little lime juice and salt. Work together until the dough is as soft as a baby’s butt. Make dough balls the size of my fist. If you don’t have or don’t want to use a tortilla press, use a rolling pin or a rolling stick. Cook in dry cast iron skillet or on dry griddle. (The “size of my fist” is “normal.” Hope that helps! 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-tortilla/205768/22 "2003-10-06T20:31:47Z")
I made flour tortillas all the time with an electric press. In fact, I had more problems making the corn tortillas than the flour ones. You can also make tortilla-like products out of a crepe batter, but they need to be fried instead of eaten soft. But they’re sure light and flaky when made that way! Come to think of it, they have corn meal in them, so I guess that’s not going to work for you. ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-tortilla/205768/23 "2003-10-06T20:35:05Z")
I make tortillas about once every other week. My recipe is all in my head but drachilix’s post is very similar. If you want your tortillas to be softer after you cook them on the skillet use boiling water instead of tap water. Yes it burns your hands. Yes it hurts. But the end results are worth it. You will find that after eating doughy tortillas (blech) or hockey puck tortillas (blech) that the boiling water is a small price to pay for perfection. Also, if I want a more authentic flavour I will use bacon drippings or lard in place of the vegetable shortening. Since I value my health, I don’t do that often. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-tortilla/205768/24 "2003-10-10T22:39:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by greck \* > \*\*I can’t believe someone actually wrote down the recipe. > > My mom and every mom I’ve ever known just kind of knew how to make them. > She described it to me a few times "you get some warm water, almost hot but not too hot, some flour, about that much. You put some manteca, a little salt (the salt is measured by cupping your left hand tightly and pouring ‘just enough’ in it)… > > then I stop paying attention then wait till she’s done a few so I can steal one (dodging the swatting hand) and put butter on it cause they smell soooo good. > > I think writing down the recipe might be a sin or something, you should go to confession. > > are tortillas necessarily catholic? \*\* Tortillas aren’t catholic, they’re pre-columbian. But the guilt in eating something so good is. Try some of that brown sugar that comes in a cone shape on the warm, buttered, fresh tortilla. You gotta grate it. tho. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-a-tortilla/205768.md?page=1)