In Tlaxiaco, Mexico, the city’s handmade tortilla producers are fighting to keep tradition alive. If you ever find yourself in that part of the world, they’re the ones to buy your tortillas from. Made from heirloom corn and cooked over an open fire, their quality is far superior to that of the tortillería shops that have sprung up all over the city.
But what if you live in say, Cape Town, South Africa? Your vegan bean burrito craving‘s not going to wait for you to finalize your travel plans. So what do you do?
You make your own vegan tortillas from scratch, that’s what. It’s ridiculously easy and the result forms the basis for a host of Mexican favorites, including burritos, tacos, enchilados, nachosand quesadillas.
Traditionally, tortillas are made from masa harina (corn), but you can use other flours too. In northern Mexico, where wheat has been cultivated for 400 years, sonoran-style flour tortillas are common.
Vegan Tortillas that Anyone Can Make
Each of the tortilla recipes below uses a different flour. While they may vary in taste, texture and consistency, they’re all simple to make and require only a few ingredients. Remember, you don’t need a tortilla press to create perfectly round tortillas. Use a pot lid or better yet, go rustic.
1. Corn Tortillas (No Salt + Vegan Filling)
Krista Lee’s one-ingredient corn tortilla recipe is about as simple as it gets. All you need are masa harina and water. The trick, she says, is in rolling out the dough to the perfect thickness and cooking it for exactly 50 seconds on either side.
2. Corn Tortillas (With Arrowroot Powder)
These vegan corn tortillas are also made with masa harina, however Jill has added arrowroot powder to make the dough more elastic. Purists might balk at the idea, but I’m all for a little help in the kitchen. Even if it does mean tampering with tradition.
3. 4-Ingredient Spinach Tortillas
Lacey uses spinach and spelt flour to liven up her tortilla recipe. They’re slightly more work, since you have to cook and puree the spinach before making the dough. They’re still super easy, though. Plus, they’re green. How cool!
She also has recipes for sweet potato tortillas and cauliflower tortillas. While they both look yummy, the cauliflower option isn’t as straightforward. It is gluten-free and extremely low in calories, so maybe it’s worth the extra effort?
4. Gluten-free Vegan Tortillas with Chickpea Flour
Chickpea flour, herbs, salt and water are all you need to whip up a batch of these gluten-free vegan tortillas. If you prefer something sweet, Claudia suggests swapping out the herbs and salt with cinnamon or cacao powder.
I’m not sure how well that’ll work with the strong flavor of the chickpea flour, but it’s always a good idea to keep an open mind in the kitchen.
5. Cheap & Easy Flour Tortillas
If you’re a kitchen newbie, this is the perfect recipe to hone your tortilla-making skills. Wheat flour is more elastic and therefore more forgiving to work with. If you’re not gluten intolerant (or a purist), you’re going to love how easy these flour tortillas are.
Mouthwatering Tortilla Fillings
Now that you have your pile of tortillas at hand, all that’s left to do is fill them with whatever deliciousness your taste buds demand. Typical filling ingredients include vegan ground beef, refried beans, rice, salsa, fresh veggies (lettuce, onion, peppers, etc.) and avocado.
But really, it’s a matter of taste. If there’s something you’d like to add, go for it. It’s your burrito, after all. Nobody’s judging. If you’re in need of inspiration, these recipes will help you get started.
1. 3. Better Than Chipotle Vegan Burrito
Better than chipotle? Really? Yip, these babies promise a flavor punch bar none. Packed with key traditional Mexican ingredients—we’re talking brown rice, refried pinto beans serrano peppers, organic corn, guacamole, hot sauce and more— don’t be surprised if your friends keep inviting themselves for dinner.
2. BBQ Tempeh Vegan Burrito
Super simple to put together and boasting a deliciously smoky flavor thanks to the BBQ tempeh, this vegan burrito from the The Stingy Vegan gets its crunch from an array of fresh vegetables. Diced jalapeño, cilantro and the juice of half a lime enhance the taste party happening in your mouth.
Vegan Burrito with Homemade Salsa
Ania from The Lazy Cat Kitchen is all about ‘from scratch’ with this vegan burrito. If you’re new to the kitchen or in a hurry, you can go the store-bought route. But, the way I see it, you went to the trouble of making your own tortillas, why not fill them with homemade ingredients?
Learning to make your own tortillas will open you up to a whole new world. When you’re bored of burritos, try your hand at nachos or quesadillas. Heck, you could even go all out and have a vegan taco party. (Talk about a great way to impress your friends.)
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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