Tortilla

Strange But Good: 8 New Things to Do with Tortillas

June 25, 2015

To quesadillas, and beyond! Here are 8 new and exciting ways to use tortillas. 

Chilaquiles

You bought that bag of tortillas (or made a batch yourself, you go-getter, you) because you were excited about upcoming taco night or dreaming of a unabashedly gooey quesadilla. And we're certainly not ones to knock taco night nor the quesadilla—in fact, we're big fans of both.

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But tortillas aren't just for tacos and quesadillas! Tortillas—both corn and flour—are blank, starchy canvases, and there's a lot more to the medium than salsa and beans (love them though we do).

Try something new with these 8 ideas from our editors and our Hotline:

  1. Warm one in a dry skillet, then spread with nut butter and sprinkle cinnamon and raisins. Or, leave the tortilla untoasted and roll it up.

  2. The "guerrilla churro": Melt butter in a hot skillet, lay down your tortilla, brush with a little more melted butter, and then sprinkle on cinnamon and sugar. Roll and eat. 

  3. Place peanut butter, chocolate chips, and banana slices inside a tortilla, wrap in aluminum foil, grill over a camp fire, and sing Kumbaya.

  4. Make tortilla crêpes, à la Kenny ShopsinSoak the tortillas in a mixture of egg, cream, and a little maple syrup, then fry them up in butter, and serve with Nutella, lemon and powdered sugar, or fresh fruit.

  5. Sub a tortilla for a hot dog bun: Good for those who favor the less bready. Sam tells us that at Butchertown Hall in Nashville, they serve kielbasa served with tortillas, no buns necessary.

  6. Salad bowls or individual nacho servings: Make little slits in the tortillas, from the outside towards the center, then press them into the wells of a muffin tin. To make bowls for taco salad, bake until crisp; to make individual nachos, fill the tortillas with with refried beans, black beans, and cheese, then cook until cheese is bubbling and tortillas have hardened. (h/t Panfusine)

  7. "Lazy chips and guac": Char a tortilla over the stove then stuff a large chunk of avocado inside. Add lime if you're only a little lazy. 

  8. In the style of Taiwanese street food: Beat together a couple of eggs, season with your favorite spices, then heat some oil in a 10- or 12-inch skillet and pour in the eggs. Gently push the tortilla down on top of the eggs (some egg might overflow onto the tortilla, which is okay). Let the egg cook until it is almost set, then flip the tortilla and brown the other side. Serve hot with Tabasco or your favorite condiment. (h/t Garlic Fiend)

Do you have something to add to the list? Share with us in the comments below!

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • Chris Glenn
    Chris Glenn
  • AlineSK
    AlineSK
  • Pat E. in SLO
    Pat E. in SLO
  • Kim McReynolds
    Kim McReynolds
  • Hector Villagrana
    Hector Villagrana
Writing and cooking in Brooklyn.

11 Comments

Chris G. April 7, 2017
ghainskom:
Thanks so much for getting back to me! I must admit that I've never had Chilaquiles! I have copied and saved a number of recipes but never made them! I got to get my "Stuff" in one bag and make them/try them!!
Thanks
Chris
 
Chris G. April 7, 2017
Caroline:
I kept hoping I would find some link/recipe for the dish in the cast iron fry pan with this article, or at least a mention of what it is and what's in it? looks really yummy! like something I might want to make?
Chris
 
ghainskom April 7, 2017
https://food52.com/recipes/33004-red-chilaquiles-with-fried-eggs
 
AlineSK September 6, 2015
What about chalupas and chilaquiles?
 
Pat E. June 26, 2015
Cut corn tortilla into wedges. Fry and set aside. Warm homemade or canned green enchilada sauce...maybe with a small can of tomato sauce ...or not. Add the cripy tortillas back in. You can add leftover cooked chicken and/or cooked beans if you want it extra hearty. Bring back to simmer, crack eggs over the top and cover to cook to your liking. Garnish with farmers, feta, or queso fresco cheese, chopped onion, avocado, chopped chilies, cilantro, squirt of lime...whatever you like and have on hand. Scoop out and enjoy. Breakfast of champions...and my rendition of chilaquiles.
 
Kim M. June 26, 2015
Tortilla chips. Cut them up and bake - plain - on a wire rack for 5-6 minutes at 375F for great chips for nachos.
 
Hector V. June 26, 2015
#1 applies only to flour tortillas because an u toasted corn tortilla will a) break if you roll it, and b) taste horrible!
 
ghainskom June 25, 2015
Tortilla pizza. Sub tortilla for pizza dough...

 
scott.finkelstein.5 June 25, 2015
Cut up the tortillas and cook into a tortilla in place of the potato.
 
AntoniaJames June 25, 2015
Steam in the microwave with a damp paper towel (or cook up a batch and keep in a tightly lidded tortilla box), spread with almond butter (or peanut butter, or sunflower seed butter) and your favorite fruit preserves, or maple syrup; roll up and eat out of hand. ;o)
 
Kerry G. June 25, 2015
"Breakfast tortilla": Spread tortilla with almond butter, layer one side with thinly sliced apple. Fold in half and pan fry in some butter until both sides are golden brown and the apples have softened. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup. YUM.