Get Creative With Your Homemade Tortillas And Incorporate Some Fresh Herbs
Tortillas are healthy, endlessly versatile, and delicious. Looking to cut down on carbs? They're a great alternative to conventional bread. Eager to switch up your lunchbox? Try a wrap instead of a sandwich. Just hoping to enjoy something tasty? Tortillas easily fit the bill. Of course, you can snag some tortillas for a decent price at your local grocery store. Most modern supermarkets even offer a variety of options: Tortillas infused with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, or spinach are all common sights nowadays. But if you're feeling really adventurous, you can also make your own tortillas.
This might seem intimidating, especially if you've never done it before. But with the right ingredients and instructions, whipping up a batch of delicious homemade tortillas can be downright easy. The basic recipe for tortillas typically involves flour or corn meal, baking powder, salt, oil, and warm water — all ingredients you're likely to already have. But if you really want to kick your tortilla-making skills up a notch, consider adding fresh herbs to the mix. Such additions bring a whole new world of flavor to the humble tortilla, and open the door to many exciting recipe possibilities.
Taking your tortillas to the next level
Basic tortillas are always a treat, but spicing them up with herbs makes them even more memorable. All you have to do is make a basic tortilla dough, knead it, and then get creative by adding in new herbs. A wide variety of herbs work brilliantly here, with cilantro, oregano, parsley and basil offering especially delectable flavors. They bring a lovely pop of color to the otherwise pale tortilla, which looks gorgeous on a bright plate. You can also add spices like curry powder, paprika, or even cinnamon — the latter could make for an excellent dessert tortilla. And that's just the beginning. Ingredients like chopped spinach, minced garlic, or crushed tomatoes can give your tortillas unforgettably bold flavor. You can even add edible flowers into the mix.
Want to really wow your taste buds? Consider adding both herbs and vegetables to your tortillas to create a truly unique flavor profile. For example, cilantro, lime juice, and spinach can give your tortillas a wonderfully bright flavor, with just the right kick of sourness. What's more, adding in all these new ingredients will change your tortillas' color. A pale green tortilla is just the thing for spring.
Using herb-infused tortillas
Once they're done cooking, there are many different ways to use your delicious tortillas. The most popular uses are, of course, tacos and burritos. Don't forget about quesadillas and enchiladas, though — herb-studded tortillas work just as well with them. Consider pairing savory beef with a cilantro-filled tortilla, or well-seasoned chicken with basil — these herbs bring just the right note of brightness to such heavy proteins. Tortillas also make great wraps. Ditch the bread in your sandwich and fill an Italian herb-infused tortilla with your favorite ingredients, such as salami and tomatoes. You can also cut up your tortillas and bake them in the oven to make homemade tortilla chips. Tortillas that have been infused with lime juice and chopped garlic would make especially great chips for homemade guacamole.
If you make dessert tortillas, you're in for a treat. Believe it or not, you can use them as a pie crust. Simply fill the tortilla with apple pie filling, roll it up, and fry it. And that's not the only off-kilter use of these tortillas. Want a lower-carb pizza? Tortillas flecked with basil or oregano make a great pizza crust. All you have to do is top them with sauce, cheese, and your favorite toppings, then bake them in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly. The possibilities for infused tortillas are endless — and delicious.