Cafe Rio's Tortilla Recipe: Take Taco Night to the Next Level

If you are into Mexican cuisine, you are bound to have tortillas at some point. While store-bought tortillas will do the job, why not make them at home? Cafe Rio’s tortilla recipe is here to help.

Making a flour tortilla should be a simple task, and Cafe Rio’s tortilla recipe is prepared with that in mind. With a short ingredients list and simple instructions, half an hour of your time is enough to make this recipe. Let’s take a look.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Pro Tips
• Cafe Rio's Tortilla Recipe
• Comments

Ingredients

• Flour — 3 cups
• Baking powder — 2 tsp.
• Salt — 1 ½ tsp.
• Shortening — 3 tbsp.
• Water — ¾ cup

Instructions

1. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and shortening in a mixing bowl.

2. Mix until smooth.

3. Then, add the water and mix until the dough is thick.

4. Transfer the dough to a working surface and knead until smooth.

5. Cover and let it rest for an hour.

6. Then, divide the dough into equal pieces, about 5-6 pieces.

7. Shape each piece into a ball, and roll it into a tortilla. They should be thin and round.

8. Place one of the pieces into a skillet. Cook for a minute per side for a tender, soft tortilla.

Substitutions

• Flour — This recipe calls for all-purpose flour, and it works fairly well. Still, you can replace it with masa harina. That way, you will have a delicious corn tortilla, even though it is not Cafe Rio’s original recipe.

• Shortening — We recommend sticking to shortening when following Cafe Rio’s tortilla recipe. We experimented with butter instead. While you will be missing out on the rich flavor that comes with shortening, butter will get the job done, as well.

• Baking powder — As you well know, baking powder and baking soda are not the same, and they can’t be used interchangeably. Still, a quarter tablespoon of baking soda and half a tablespoon of lemon juice is enough to replace baking powder.

Variations

• Sparkling flour tortillas — There are lots of ways to sparkle some life into this recipe. One of the easiest ways to do that is by adding a pinch of sugar, along with a teaspoon of cinnamon to the mix. While this one might not be for you if you’d like a classic flour tortilla, we’d strongly recommend giving this one a try.

• Cilantro flour tortillas — Is there anything that can’t be improved by the addition of green chili and cilantro? Dice some green chiles and add them to the mix, along with cilantro. We weren’t disappointed with this one, and you won’t be either.

• Cheesy flour tortillas — Cafe Rio’s tortilla recipe might be anything but a cheesy one, but ironically, shredded cheese will fit like a glove to your flour tortillas. While mozzarella cheese would be the best, parmesan cheese will do the job as well.

Equipment

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Mixing bowl

• Skillet

• Rolling pin

• Knife

Storage

• Room temperature — You can safely store your homemade flour tortillas at room temperature for a day in a dark, cool place

• Refrigerating — After a day, or maybe even half a day, we recommend transferring them to an airtight container. Stored in your fridge, they will last for a week.

• Freezing — Wrap each piece of tortilla individually and place them in a freezer bag. Once stored in your freezer, they will last for two months.

Pro Tips

• Soft or crunchy? — Although Cafe Rio’s tortilla recipe is prepared to make soft flour tortillas, that doesn’t have to be the case. If you’d like to have your flour tortillas crunchy, cook them longer. Ninety seconds per side will be enough.

• Rest the dough — It is clearly stated in Cafe Rio’s tortilla recipe that you should rest the dough for an hour before shaping it. This will give the ingredients some much-needed time to come together, resulting in a much better dough.

• Serve well — Cafe Rio’s tortilla recipe makes a great dish, but tortillas are made to be paired with other foods. Fill your flour tortillas with chicken, beef, or avocado. Serve with French fries, or simply add them to your soup.