Tortillas, the round flatbreads from Mexico, are a great wrap option for tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. The fun part about all these foods is that you can stuff your tortillas with almost any ingredients, including the most delicious vegan ingredients.
Maize was originally used to make these unleavened breads, but after wheat came to the Americas, it became the primary source of flour. The basic tortilla recipe uses flour (corn or wheat), salt, and water, all vegan ingredients. However, some tortilla makers use fat and sometimes sugar to enhance the texture and flavor of tortillas.
These last two ingredients may make tortillas non-vegan. Firstly, some makers may use lard, an animal-derived fat, while others use palm oil with questionable farming methods. Animal products are used to process white sugar, often used in tortillas, making sugar non-vegan for some. Finally, ready-made tortillas contain other additives like enzymes, glycerine, monoglyceride, and diglyceride, which are sometimes animal-based.
Luckily, most tortilla brands, whether making tortilla wraps or chips, now use vegetable fats and plant-based additives, ensuring they suit you and your plant-based diet. However, some vegans avoid enzymes, even if plant-based.
Here are the best vegan tortillas for your delicious plant-based wrap options:
Delicious Vegan Tortillas
Whether made with wheat or corn, tortillas are an excellent food utensil. Just load them with your favorite filling, and you can enjoy them at mealtimes or as a snack. Sometimes, different corn varieties are used to give tortillas exciting colors, and today, there are even tortillas made with alternative flours such as almonds, chickpea, coconut, spelt, and tapioca flour. You can also use spinach (recipe from Ela vegan), flaxseed, sweet potato, and black beans to make your tortillas. Remember that you want a flexible tortilla that’s easy to wrap around your favorite fillings.
The best vegan tortillas are not necessarily homemade. There are several delicious shop-bought ones. However, if you want to make yours from scratch, try this recipe for wheat tortillas using all-purpose flour from Loving it Vegan.
Top-rated Vegan Tortillas
Most of the top-rated vegan tortillas contain wheat or corn. Corn tortillas contain only corn flour, salt, and water. When using wheat flour, tortilla makers replace the traditional lard with vegetable oil. Here are some of the best vegan tortillas that you can buy ready-made:
- Chipotle Corn and Flour Tortillas.
- Old El Paso Corn and Flour Wraps.
- Taco Bell Tortillas
- Tesco Own Brand Tortillas
- Amaizin Organic Tortillas
- La Tortilla Factory
- Whole Food 365 Brand Tortillas
- Food For Life Tortillas
- Rudi’s Gluten-Free Tortillas
- Angelic Bakehouse Vegan Tortillas
- Mission Tortillas ( however, some have white flour or enzymes, making them a problem for vegans)
Thanks to these options, all you have to worry about is choosing the vegan tortilla you prefer, your favorite fillings, and the perfect size for what you want to prepare. As a guideline, a 10-inch wrap is ideal for a burrito, an 8-inch for a soft taco, and a 6-inch for a fajita.
Easy Homemade Vegan Tortillas
Tortillas are easy to make, requiring just four ingredients and some water. They also take less than two minutes each in a heated pan. The secret to the perfect homemade tortillas is to keep them soft after cooking. Stack them on a clean kitchen towel, allowing the steam from the warm tortillas to maintain their soft, elastic texture.
Vegan Tortillas (Makes 12 medium tortillas)
Make this batch of tortillas for a meal or store them in the refrigerator or freezer for later use.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ t. salt
- ½ t. baking powder (optional)
- ¼ cup sunflower or other neutral oil
- ¾ cup warm water
Instructions
- Measure out the flour, baking powder (if using), and salt in a large bowl and mix with a spoon.
- Stir in the sunflower oil until a crumbly mixture forms.
- Slowly stir in water until the dough forms a soft ball.
- Place the dough onto your lightly floured countertop and knead until smooth. It should feel soft but not sticky. If it’s sticking to your hands or counter or feels sticky when touched, knead in about ½ tablespoon of flour. Continue doing this until it isn’t sticky.
- Divide the dough into 12 pieces. Roll the pieces into individual balls and flatten them into disks, returning each to the mixing bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow them to rest for 20 minutes.
- Next, roll each disk as thin as possible on the counter, which you have floured lightly with a rolling pin. You want the dough to look almost see-through.
- Once you have rolled them all, warm a dry, non-stick pan over medium-high heat.
- Once heated, cook each tortilla for about 30 seconds per side. It will form bubbles and golden brown spots when ready.
- Lower the heat if the spots become too dark in 30 seconds.
- Once each tortilla is ready, stack them on top of each other on a kitchen towel to keep them warm and soft.
- Serve your fresh flour tortillas with your favorite fillings.
Healthy Vegan Tortilla Options
Corn tortillas are better than those containing flour when looking for a healthy vegan tortilla option. According to WebMD, corn tortillas contain whole grains, have fewer calories, sodium, and carbs, and are gluten-free. They also have more fiber. Corn tortillas are white, yellow, or blue, depending on the corn used. Blue corn tortillas are the healthiest, followed by yellow corn with its natural beta-carotene content.
Flour tortillas lack fiber and have more calories and fat, so they should be eaten in moderation. However, flour does make a fluffier tortilla, making it easier to hold toppings, and they contain more iron and calcium than those made with corn.
Corn or gluten-free flour tortillas are the best vegan tortillas for those who want a gluten-free tortilla. You can also make tortillas with other flours, including spelt, rye, einkorn, whole wheat, and buckwheat. Other popular flours include rice, potato, tapioca, and chickpea. Here are some recipes for making perfect tortillas with some alternative flour. These recipes from Chainbaker use butter, but you can reduce the amount by 0.7 oz when replacing it with vegetable oil to make them vegan.
Flavorful Vegan Tortilla Recipes
Whatever your favorite filling, you can use vegan tortillas to create delicious vegan tacos, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, and quesadillas. You can also use the best vegan tortillas for dipping into guacamole, hummus, baba ganoush, etc.
Discover a world of exciting things to make with tortillas, including fillings and tortilla chips, from Yummly. These include the deliciously meaty Portobello Fajitas, Tortilla Chips with Salsa Verde, BBQ Chickpea Wraps, Mexican Quinoa Wraps, and the hearty Black Bean Chipotle with Fresh Salsa.
Discovering the Best Vegan Tortillas
Even if you prefer to make tortillas yourself, you may sometimes have to buy ready-made to save some time. Discovering the best vegan tortillas will make it easier to prepare delicious meals when busy.
Whichever tortilla you prefer, the best brand will probably be the one that offers more tortilla options for creating perfect savory delights like wraps, tacos, and quesadillas or serving with dips. Remember, you can also create exciting desserts with tortillas by enveloping them around caramelized fruits, vegan whipped cream, or dusting sugar and cinnamon.
Some of the best brands of tortillas to try for their authentic flavor and texture include Guerrero, La Banderita, La Tortilla Factory, Mi Rancho, and Maria & Ricardo’s. You can find some of these in the frozen foods section of your store, which you can warm up before using.
The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Tortillas
Now that you know your best vegan tortilla options, whether buying bought or ready-made, here’s the ultimate guide to making tortillas at home.
Successful tortillas require:
- Warm water, but never boiling
- A dry, heated pan that will sear your tortillas in 30 seconds.
- If your tortillas are not puffing up and ready in 30 seconds on the first side, your pan is not hot enough.
- Turn down the heat if your pan is smoking and browning the tortillas too fast.
- Store your leftover tortillas in an airtight bag or container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to three months. Reheat before using.
Enjoying Vegan Tortillas: Tips and Tricks
Try these tips and tricks for enjoying the best vegan tortillas:
- While all-purpose flour works well for traditional tortillas, you can get creative with different types of flour, such as whole wheat, spelt, almond, or chickpea flour, to add different flavors and textures.
- Add herbs, spices, vegetables, or nutritional yeast to the dough for extra flavor. For example, add chopped fresh cilantro, minced garlic, smoked paprika, ground cumin, cauliflower, sweet potato, or spinach for a tasty twist.
- To enhance the taste and texture of your tortillas, choose high-quality ingredients such as organic flour, sea salt, and extra virgin olive oil.
- Adjust the size and thickness of your tortillas based on your preference and the type of dish you’re making. For example, make smaller tortillas for tacos or larger ones for burritos.
- Warm tortillas are more pliable and flavorful. Keep your tortillas warm before serving by wrapping them in a clean kitchen towel.
- Experiment with different fillings and toppings for exciting vegan dishes like beans, tofu, grilled vegetables, salsa, guacamole, vegan cheese, or any other ingredients you enjoy.
- For added flavor and texture, grill or toast your tortillas before filling them by heating them on a heated, dry skillet or grill pan for about 30 seconds on each side until lightly charred.
- Don’t limit yourself to round tortillas. Shape them into squares, triangles, or cut shapes using cookie cutters for a unique presentation.
- Save time by making a large batch of tortillas to freeze for up to three months. Stack the cooled tortillas with parchment paper between them in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze.
- Use leftover tortillas to make homemade chips, breakfast wraps, or even dessert quesadillas by filling them with fruits and chocolate.
The Best Vegan Tortillas: Your Guide to Delicious, Plant-Based Wraps
Tortillas are a staple in Mexican cuisine and have become a favorite worldwide for their versatility and ease of use in dishes like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Traditionally made from corn and later adapted to include wheat flour, tortillas are usually vegan-friendly, containing just flour, water, and salt. However, some commercial varieties might include non-vegan ingredients such as lard or additives derived from animals, making it important for vegans to choose wisely.
Essential Ingredients in Vegan Tortillas
- Flour Types: Corn and wheat are the most common, but for a twist, you can try almond, chickpea, or spelt flour.
- Fats: For a healthier choice, choose vegetable oils or unsaturated fats like olive or avocado oil instead of traditional lard.
- Additives: Be cautious of enzymes, glycerine, and monoglycerides which might be sourced from animals. Look for brands that explicitly use plant-based alternatives.
Where to Find Vegan Tortillas
Many brands have embraced vegan-friendly production methods, using vegetable fats and ensuring any additives are plant-based. Here’s a list of some highly recommended vegan tortillas available in stores:
- Chipotle Corn and Flour Tortillas
- Old El Paso Corn and Flour Wraps
- Taco Bell Tortillas
- Tesco Own Brand Tortillas
- Amaizin Organic Tortillas
- La Tortilla Factory
- Whole Food 365 Brand Tortillas
- Food For Life Tortillas
- Rudi’s Gluten-Free Tortillas
- Angelic Bakehouse Vegan Tortillas
These options allow you to enjoy a variety of dishes without compromising your ethical eating principles.
Creative Uses for Vegan Tortillas
- Wrap it up: Fill them with a rainbow of vegetables, beans, and plant-based proteins like tofu or tempeh.
- Dessert Tacos: Use tortillas to make dessert tacos filled with fruits, vegan chocolate, and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
- Homemade Chips: For a healthy snack, cut tortillas into wedges, season, and bake or air-fry until crispy.
Tips for Perfect Tortillas Every Time
- Keep it warm: After cooking, stack tortillas under a clean kitchen towel to keep them soft and pliable.
- Experiment: Add herbs or spices to the dough for extra flavor, such as cilantro or paprika.
- Storage: Leftover tortillas can be stored in the fridge for up to a week or frozen for longer storage. Warm them up before using to restore flexibility.
Vegan tortillas are an excellent way to enjoy all your favorite wraps and dishes without any animal products. Whether you buy or make them at home, they offer endless possibilities for delicious and ethical eating. Enjoy exploring the various flavors and combinations that vegan tortillas can offer!
