Homemade Tortillas

• Taquitos can be made with homemade tortillas or a prepackaged, store-bought version. Homemade tortillas include flour, salt, lard, vegetable oil and water. Each one is rolled flat and then cooked for approximately 45 seconds on each side. Once cooked, each tortilla is ready for filling. Keep the cooked tortillas covered to keep them from drying out.

Making Taquitos

• When making taquitos, it is important to not overfill them. Spoon a small amount of filling onto the tortilla, then spread it evenly across the tortilla leaving a 1-inch margin around the edges. Roll the tortilla tightly and continue until you’ve finished assembling them all. Fill them all with the same filling or use a variety of fillings.

Cooking Taquitos

• Taquitos are crispy, not soft like a burrito. To achieve the crunchy texture, bake or fry them. If you choose to bake the taquitos, brush them with oil or butter and line them up on a baking sheet. Bake them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for eight to 12 minutes. If you choose to fry them, cover the bottom of a large frying pan with oil. Fry the taquitos for five minutes on each side over medium heat, or until they are golden and crispy.

Freezing

• Taquitos store well in the freezer if you would like to make them ahead of time and freeze them for later. If you choose to freeze them, you still need to cook your homemade tortillas prior to assembly. Thaw taquitos in the refrigerator overnight and bake them in the oven to warm them thoroughly and to crisp up the outer tortilla. Serve taquitos sprinkled with cheese if you desire. Condiments such as sour cream, guacamole and salsa work well as dips.