Best Homemade Soft Vegan Flour Tortillas
on Jan 18, 2023
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Homemade Vegan Flour Tortillas are so soft and fluffy – a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional Mexican tortillas. This easy recipe is made with only 5 simple ingredients, and can be done completely by hand. They’re healthier and taste so much better than the packaged stuff.
Summer is around the corner, and I’m making lots of meals using wraps and tortillas. They are a great base to many Mexican dishes including tacos, burritos, nachos, enchiladas and tostadas.
I’ve tried many flour tortilla recipes, and this is the easiest one with the best result!
The secret to the super soft texture is to use hot water (not boiling). The first time I made them I couldn’t believe how soft and tasty these vegan tortillas are, and it’s made without lard or butter!
How to Make Vegan Tortillas from Scratch
This recipe calls for 5 simple ingredients: all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, vegetable oil, and hot water. You can whisk everything in a bowl by hand if you don’t have a mixer.
Make the dough: Start by combining flour, salt, baking powder, and oil and mix well. Then pour in hot water and knead it into a soft dough.
Divide the dough: Cut the dough into 16 equal portions and roll each into a small ball. Let them rest for 15 minutes, and roll each one out into thin disks.
Cook the tortillas: Cook the thin disks in a hot iron skillet one by one. Cook for about 30-60 seconds and you’ll see bubbles forming on the surface, flip it and cook the other side. It takes about 1-2 minutes to cook each tortilla.
Difference Between Vegan Tortillas and Regular Flour Tortillas
Traditional flour tortilla recipe uses lard, and the vegan tortillas use vegetable oil. I have tested different types of fat, and find no significant difference in terms of texture or taste. So I highly recommend making this vegan version as it’s so much healthier.
Do I Have to Use Baking Powder to Make Flour Tortillas?
No, you don’t have to. Some flour tortilla recipes call for baking powder, and some don’t. It’s a leavening agent that makes your tortillas puffy with air bubbles.
I usually use it as it produces tortillas with a better texture, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can still make flour tortillas without baking powder.
Ways to Use Flour Tortillas
You can use them to accompany many Mexican dishes such as burritos and tacos. Add some vegan fillings such as spinach for a completely vegetarian or vegan meal. You can also make them into Tortilla Chips, or use them as wraps or in tortilla soup.
How Long Do Homemade Tortillas Last?
It’s best to eat these vegan tortillas the same day. They can be left at room temperature for about 12 hours, and you’ll need to store them in an airtight container or ziptop bag in the refrigerator and they can last for 4-5 days. Alternatively, wrap them in foil, place in a ziptop bag, and they can last up to 6 months in the freezer.
Tips for Making airy and Fluffy Tortillas
- Using hot water is key. Hot water is the secret for the super soft texture, as it allows for a higher ratio of liquid to be used, resulting a very tender dough. The water needs to be hot, but not boiling for the best results.
- Mix the ingredients well and knead the dough properly. Then take enough time to let the dough rest. This is important for making your tortillas light and fluffy.
- Adjust the heat while cooking tortillas. Heat up the skillet before adding the raw tortilla, otherwise, it could stick to the pan. Depending on the thickness of your tortilla, it can take 30-60 seconds to cook each side. Slightly increase the heat if your tortilla doesn’t form bubbles on the surface after 1 minute. Turn the heat down slightly if black spots form in less than 20 seconds or they become too crisp.
More Vegan Recipes You’ll Love
Homemade Soft Vegan Flour Tortillas Recipe (+Video)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus a little extra for sprinkling
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup hot water, not boiling water
Instructions
- Make the dough: In a large mixing bowl add all-purpose flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix well.
- Make a well in the center, and add oil, and stir until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Pour in hot water and stir to combine. Knead it for about 2 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. (If you press your finger on the dough and it springs back and is no longer sticky, your dough is ready.
- Divide and flatten the dough: Transfer the dough to a well-flour surface, and divide it into 16 equal portions.
- Roll each piece into a small ball, and let them rest for about 15 minutes (and up to one hour).
- After resting, press down the ball with your palm. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll each piece into a circle about 6 inches in diameter or until it is very thin.
- Cook the tortillas: Place a cast iron skillet on medium-high heat. When it’s very hot, place one piece of uncooked tortillas into the skillet. Cook for 30-60 seconds or until bubbles start to form on the surface. (Before placing the tortilla in the skillet, shake off any excess flour. If there is any flour left in your skillet, wipe it out between cooking tortillas.)
- Flip it and you should see golden brown spots on the surface. Cook the other side for about 30-60 seconds. (If it takes longer for you to see bubbles or brown spots, increase the heat accordingly)
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Don’t stack uncooked tortillas or they may stick to each other and become soggy.
- Wrap cooked tortillas in damp paper towels so they won’t dry out.
- To Reheat Tortillas: You can easily microwave them in 30-second intervals until they are warmed through. Alternatively, you can heat it up in a skillet for a few minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
Editor note: Originally published Jan 9, 2020 and updated June 11, 2020.
These came out exactly as described above! I’m so happy I came across this easy, healthy and delicious recipe, been looking for a no-yeast flour tortilla for a while now!
Great to hear you like the recipe. Thanks for letting me know!
Can I use my cast iron dutch oven?
Hi Marianne, yes you can. Just make sure to heat up your cast iron dutch oven first.
Can you use olive oil instead of vegetable oil?
Hi Regina, olive oil works well with this recipe. Let me know how your tortilla turns out!
Can I use oat flour or whole wheat flour?
Hi Angie, if you use whole wheat flour (or oat flour), you’ll need to use a mixture of 2 ½ cups whole wheat flour and ½ cup all-purpose flour. Other ingredients are the same. Hope this helps. Izzy
HI – What is the approximate measurement of the tortillas per the recipe? I am thinking I want to do 8 rather than 16.
Thanks!
Penny
Here are what you’ll need for 8:
1.5 cups all-purpose flour plus a little extra for sprinkling
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup hot water not boiling water
Thanks for the reply Izzy! I was more interested in the dimensions of the tortillas. If I do 16,, are they about 6″ in diameter? And if I do 8, are the about 10-12″ in diameter?
Hi there,
These look incredible! If I wanted to make burrito size tortilla’s, how many slices should I cut from the initial dough ball?
What can you use if you don’t have cast iron pans? Will non stick or stainless steel pans work?
Hi Susan, you can use non-stick skillet. Make sure the pan is very hot before adding the tortillas. Hope this helps. Izzy
What can you use if you don’t have cast iron cookware? Can non stick or stainless steel be used?
These look perfect! I have arthritis and kneading dough makes my hands ache. Can I use my kitchenaid dough hook? How long do I run it?