Sourdough Tortillas
Homemade sourdough tortillas are soft, chewy, and easy to make with your sourdough discard. Taco night will never be the same once you've tried homemade tortillas!
We love sharing easy, basic recipes that you can make with your sourdough discard. Everyday recipes like sourdough pasta, sourdough pancakes, sourdough crackers, and sourdough pizza crust are just a few that have become reader favorites.
These amazing tortillas are quick and easy to put together and can be cooked right away or fermented in the fridge for up to 2 days.
They are soft, and chewy and can be used to make tacos, gyros, or sandwich wraps.
What you'll need
- all-purpose flour
- sourdough starter discard
- salt/baking powder
- coconut oil or olive oil
Step-by-step instructions
This is by far one of the easiest sourdough tortillas recipes to make, so, let's dive straight into the details!
Step 1: Add the dry ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and use your hands to incorporate the coconut oil into the flour until it has a fine, sandy texture. Add the water and sourdough discard and mix with your hands until there are no dry bits in the bowl left. The dough will be stiff.
Cover and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Cut the dough into 16 pieces. (Each piece should weigh about 44g.) Pinch the dough together, turn it over, and gently shape it into a smooth ball. Place the dough balls on a baking sheet, cover them, and let them rest for 30 minutes.
Alternatively, you can let the dough ferment in the fridge, covered, for up to 2 days before cooking.
Step 3: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. Brush with oil if the skillet is not well seasoned. Working with one dough ball at a time, use a rolling pin to roll it into a 6" circle. (Keep the other dough covered until ready to roll out.)
Step 4: Cook the tortilla on the first side until it starts to bubble and turn golden brown. Flip it over and cook until golden brown. Stack the cooked tortillas covered in a kitchen towel to stay warm while you cook the remaining tortillas.
How to store
- To store: Store the cooked tortillas at room temperature, wrapped in a towel, bread bowl liner, or bread bag for up to 2 days.
- To freeze: Allow the tortillas to cool completely. Stack the tortillas with a layer of wax paper between each one and place the stack into a freezer-safe container. Keep frozen for up to 3 months.
- To reheat: Allow the tortillas to thaw and reheat in a skillet on the stovetop.
Simple sourdough discard recipes
There are so many amazing recipes you can make with your sourdough discard. Check out one of these tried and true recipes for your family!
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Sourdough Tortilla Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- ¾ cup (180 g) water
- ½ cup (125 g) sourdough starter discard
- 3 cups + 2 tablespoons (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons (7 g) fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons (30 g) coconut oil (or olive oil)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix the water and sourdough starter discard together in a small bowl and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the flour, salt and baking powder. Add the coconut oil and use your hands to work it into the flour mixture. (It will have a fine, sandy consistency.)
- Pour the water/sourdough starter mixture into the dry ingredients and combine with your hands until there are no dry bits left in the bowl. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes on the counter. (The dough will be stiff.)
- Divide the dough into 16 pieces and roll each one into a ball. Place the dough balls on a parchment lined baking sheet, cover with a towel, and allow the dough to relax for 30 minutes. (Alternately, you can place the dough in the fridge, covered, to ferment until you are ready to cook them.)
- Preheat a cast iron skillet over a medium-low heat until it is very hot. Working with one dough ball at a time, use a rolling pin to roll it into a thin round, about 6" in diameter. Use flour as needed to prevent sticking.
- Carefully lay the dough on the hot skillet and allow it to cook until bubbles start to form on top and the bottom is slightly charred. Flip it over and continue cooking on the other side until cooked through.
- Repeat with the remaining dough balls, keeping cooked tortillas wrapped in a kitchen towel to stay warm until ready to serve.
NOTES
- This recipe makes 16 taco-sized tortillas or 8 burrito-sized tortillas.
- To store: Store the cooked tortillas at room temperature, wrapped in a towel, bread bowl liner or bread bag for up to 2 days.
- To freeze: Allow the tortillas to cool completely. Stack the tortillas with a layer of wax paper between each one and place the stack into a freezer-safe container. Keep frozen for up to 3 months.
- To reheat: Allow the tortillas to thaw and reheat in a skillet on the stovetop.
- The original recipe used vegetable shortening and has been changed to coconut oil.
Do you think I can freeze the individual tortilla dough balls and cook them later? Thanks!
Yes
I did the overnight ferment in the fridge (Thursday evening) then made them Friday morning, and they are delicious. I'm making another batch tonight.
I just made these, doubled the recipe and used olive oil, and they came out fantastic!!!
Can you use a tortilla press with this recipe. I used a recipe without the sourdough discard recently and when pressed, they shrunk up significantly when removed from the paper after pressing? I wish I would have tried these instead!
Hi Lori, you may experience this with this recipe as they could shrink due to the gluten tightening back up after the press is released. I like to use a rolling pin to roll them out.
By far the best sourdough tortilla recipe I have tried!
Our Taco Tuesday has upped its game!
Thank you!
Hi! I just mixed the ingredients and let rest for 30 min and the dough is extremely wet. I followed exact measurements. What am I missing?
Thanks!
Hi Chana, did you use a scale to measure your ingredients?
These are the BEST! Another recipe was flat. These are the fluffy tortillas we love.
My notes of what I did different which worked for me:
- I used softened salted butter instead of oil
- I did not roll into balls but put the dough in fridge overnight to ferment
- I used a Lodge cast iron comal on my induction plate and found that 375° setting worked best for me but you have to keep an eye on tortilla to not burn them as they cook faster this way. (So have your next tortilla rolled out 🙂 )
- I warmed up/rolled each ball of dough in my hands before rolling out (as dough was cold from fridge)
Husband-approved so this is the recipe for LIFE! Thank you!
Do you let them ferment in the fridge before or after shaping?
Love this recipe! Thanks!
Hi Cara, you can shape them beforehand or just put the bowl of dough in the fridge and divide and shape as needed.
I’m out of coconut oil
What do you think of substituting Tallow?
Yes thats fine.
Delicious Easy to make. Actually better than other recipes I have used. I like that they don't fall apart when wrapping around the ingredients. Would love to know how to make without sour dough starter though!