Flour Tortillas
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ayurvedic Benefits: Grounding for Vata, neutral for Pitta, light for Kapha
Cost: Approximately $2–$3 total
Ingredients
Base
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
¾ cup warm water
Optional Garnish / Serve With
Butter or vegan butter for spreading
Fillings of choice (beans, vegetables, tofu, jackfruit, etc.)
Instructions
1. Make the Dough
In a large bowl, combine:
Flour
Salt
Baking powder
Add oil and warm water slowly. Mix until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
Knead on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Cover with a towel and let rest for 10 minutes to relax the gluten.
2. Form the Tortillas
Divide the dough into 8–10 equal balls.
Roll each ball on a lightly floured surface into a thin, round tortilla (~6–8 inches diameter).
3. Cook the Tortillas
Heat a skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat.
Place tortilla in the dry pan; cook 30–45 seconds until bubbles form and the bottom has light golden spots.
Flip and cook another 30–45 seconds.
Flip one more time briefly to ensure puffing.
Stack tortillas on a plate lined with a towel to keep them soft.
Yield: 8–10 medium tortillas — enough for 3–5 people depending on servings.
Ayurvedic Dosha Notes
Flour tortillas are soft, warm, and lightly oily — easy on digestion and suitable for most doshas.
Vata
Soft and warm → grounding and nourishing
Optional: add a teaspoon of oil while cooking for extra lubrication
Pitta
Mild, neutral → easy on digestion
Keep spice-free for Pitta-friendly tortillas
Kapha
Light but flour can be heavy if eaten in large quantities
Use smaller portions
Pair with lighter fillings like steamed vegetables or beans
Cost Breakdown (Ithaca, NY Prices)
(Based on Wegmans / GreenStar / Trader Joe’s)
Ingredient Estimated Cost All-purpose flour (2 cups / 1 lb)$0.50
Baking powder (½ tsp)$0.05
Salt (½ tsp) negligible
Vegetable or coconut oil (2 tbsp)$0.25
Total: $2–$3
Cost per tortilla: $0.20–$0.30
Cost per serving (2 tortillas/person, 3–5 people): $0.40–$0.60
