Tortilla Breakfast Strata with Sausage and Green Chiles opens in a new tab
When it comes to tortillas, many people have yet to venture much beyond standard wraps and Mexican food. That’s why I’m eager to share non-traditional ways to enjoy tortillas with recipes such as this brunch-perfect Tortilla Breakfast Strata with Sausage and Green Chiles opens in a new tab and this Apple and Cheddar Whole Wheat Quesadillas opens in a new tab recipe.
Although originally made from corn (a.k.a. maize), tortillas can also be made from white flour, whole wheat flour, spelt flour, sprouted grains (including sprouted corn) or gluten-free flour blends. Some tortillas get their color from spinach, beets or red bell peppers. Whatever your preference, corn and flour tortillas are often interchangeable in recipes. When possible, look for flour tortillas with whole or sprouted grains.
Get Cooking!
I hope you’ll try some of these fun ideas and recipes:
Chipotle Mushroom and Goat Cheese Queso opens in a new tab is wonderful spooned into warmed tortillas.
Use tortillas in place of bread for toast or an open-faced sandwich. Simply crisp a tortilla in the oven, and spread with butter, cream cheese, guacamole, bean dip, nut butter, jam or honey.
Make tortilla wraps with egg, tuna or chicken salad.
Roll hot dogs, sausages, tofu or tempeh “sticks” with veggies into hot tortillas.
Wrap chili or stew into tortillas. Serve with a leafy green salad.
Chipotle Mushroom and Goat Cheese Queso opens in a new tab
Make a tortilla pizza: Crisp a tortilla in the oven, top with pasta sauce, grated cheese and toppings such as mushrooms, onions and olives; broil or bake to melt the cheese. Hearty Arugula Pizzas opens in a new tab use whole grain tortillas for a fast, flavorful, plant-based meal. Or make a pizza quesadilla with cheese, sauce and veggies in a whole grain flour tortilla.
Cut tortillas into strips. Toss with a dash of high-heat oil such as sunflower or canola; bake at 400 degrees F for 5-7 minutes or until crispy. Use as a topper for salads, slaws, soups, stews or chilis.
Make scrambled egg soft tacos or wraps for breakfast. Add veggies, lean sausage, turkey bacon or cheese. Or make Crab and Bacon Breakfast Tacos opens in a new tab or these Tofu Breakfast Tacos opens in a new tab.
Spread hummus or cream cheese on a tortilla, top with a tossed salad and legumes (such as navy beans or chickpeas), then wrap it up.
Spread warm tortillas with butter and roll them up. Enjoy in place of a dinner roll.
Experiment with different styles of healthy tacos. Some ideas include Mushroom, Chard and Caramelized Onion Tacos opens in a new tab, Grilled Paiche Tacos with Pickled Veggies opens in a new tab and Breakfast Tacos with Sweet Potato Hash opens in a new tab.
Stuff a tortilla with stew or chili and serve with a leafy green salad.
Make a dessert! Stuff warmed tortillas with berries, whipped cream, ice cream, non-dairy frozen dessert, lemon curd, sliced fresh apples, pears or stone fruit. Try our Pear Dessert Burritos opens in a new tab.
Hearty Arugula Pizzas opens in a new tab
Recently, I made homemade tortillas from a combination of quinoa and spelt flour. They were delicious! I enjoyed them for many meals — with scrambled eggs at breakfast, Anasazi beans at lunch and tuna salad at dinner. If you make homemade tortillas, vary the flour to include some whole grain varieties.
Do you have unique ideas for using tortillas? What about a favorite recipe? Let me know.
