Mexican Chalupa Food

HOMEMADE MEXICAN CHALUPAS RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy-duty shallow skillet such as a cast-iron skillet on medium heat.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt, and shortening. Use a fork to mix the ingredients together. Pour the milk into the dry ingredients. Use a wooden spoon to mix ingredients in with the milk to form a ball of dough.
• Turn dough onto a floured surface and roll until smooth. Mold the dough into a loaf about 8 inches. Divide the dough in half, then into fourths. See the picture above. Roll each individual section into a ball and roll out the small ball of dough into a round circle about 4-5 inches wide.
• Use tongs and carefully dip half of the chalupa dough into the hot oil. Once that half of the dough has begun to fry up but not quite brown, flip the chalupa bread with the other half of the dough frying in the oil. This is if you want to try to have the chalupas have the dip on the bottom for your fillings. If it doesn't matter to you, just fry on both sides for 2 minutes until golden brown and remove from oil onto cooling rack lined with paper towels.
• Fill your chalupas with beef seasoned with taco seasoning, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and a dollop of sour cream. Top with taco sauce if desired.

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CHALUPAS

Steps:

• In a heavy bottomed medium skillet (that a whole flat tortilla can fit into) add about 1/4" of canola oil. Set over a medium to medium high heat. When the oil is hot, but not smoking, rest a tortilla on the oil (it will float- like a boat) and let it cook for about a minute, until bubbling. Spoon 2 tablespoons of salsa into the center of the tortilla and gently spread it around, but not quite to the edge. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes or until the tortilla edges and bottom are crisp. It's ok, if a little hot oil touches the salsa.
• Transfer the chalupa to a tray lined with paper towels to drain. Continue in this method with the rest of the tortillas.
• Divide the chicken or pork and queso fresco over the chalupas. Garnish with cilantro and extra salsa verde if desired.

TACO BELL CHALUPA COPYCAT

Steps:

• To make Indian Fry Bread Mix dry ingredients together.
• Cut in shortening; then add milk.
• Shape dough into a long cylinder; cut into 8 equal parts.
• Flour hands, then work the pieces into 6" tortillas.
• Fry in oil until golden brown.
• To Make filling Mix dried onion with water in a small bowl and let stand for five minutes.
• Combine ground beef, flour, chili powder, paprika, and salt.
• Mix well.
• Add onions and water.
• Mix again.
• In a skillet, cook beef mixture until browned.
• Stir often while cooking so no large chunks form; it should be more like a paste.
• Remove from heat and keep warm.
• Build Chalupas starting with meat, then sour cream, lettuce cheese, and tomatoes in that order.
• Top with hot sauce or salsa if desired.

CHALUPAS

Steps:

• Place beans and enough water to cover in a 3-qt. saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat; let stand for 1 hour. Drain beans and discard liquid. , In a 3-qt. slow cooker, combine the 3-1/2 cups water, onion, chilies, garlic, chili powder, salt, cumin and oregano. Add roast and beans. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours. Reduce heat to low and cook 6 hours longer or until pork is very tender. , Remove roast and shred with a fork. Drain beans, reserving cooking liquid in a saucepan. Combine beans and meat; set aside. Skim and discard fat from cooking liquid; bring to a boil. Boil, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes or until reduced to 1-1/2 cups. Add meat and bean mixture; heat through. , To serve, spoon meat mixture over corn chips; top with green onions, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes and salsa.

TEXAS-STYLE CHALUPAS (TOSTADAS)

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Spoon refried beans into a small microwave-safe bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons water. Microwave on high until hot and spreadable, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, about 5 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Stir salsa into beef and cook until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spread tostada shells onto a baking sheet. Spoon 2 tablespoons of refried beans onto middle of each tostada and spread outward. Cover with cooked beef mixture and top with shredded cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, about 7 minutes.

CHALUPAS WITH CHORIZO

Steps:

• For crust:
• Spray three 12-cup mini muffin pans with nonstick spray. Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine masa, flour, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in processor; using on/off turns, process to blend. Add butter. Add shortening by rounded teaspoonfuls. Using on/off turns, process until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 1/4 cup warm water and process just until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dry.
• Transfer dough to work surface; form into ball. Roll scant tablespoonful dough between palms into 1-inch round. Flatten into disk, then press onto bottom and up sides of 1 muffin cup, keeping top edge of dough inside cup (do not form any overhang). Repeat with remaining dough.
• Bake crusts until dry to touch and easy to remove from cups, about 35 minutes. Cool on rack. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store at room temperature in airtight container.
• For filling and garnish:
• Heat oil in heavy medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Add chorizo and cook until browned and crumbly, breaking up sausage with wooden spoon or fork, about 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water and tomato paste. Stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm filling before continuing.
• Divide filling among crusts (about 1 teaspoon each). Spoon 1/2 teaspoon tomato salsa atop half of chalupas and 1/2 teaspoon salsa verde atop remaining chalupas. Garnish with avocado and cilantro leaves.
• Also known as masa harina; available at many supermarkets and at Latin markets.

PORK CHALUPAS

Steps:

• Place the roast inside a slow cooker coated with cooking spray. In a separate bowl, stir together the beans, 2 cans of the chile peppers, chili powder, cumin, salt, oregano, and garlic powder. Pour the whole mixture over the roast, and add enough water so that the roast is mostly covered. Jiggle the roast a little to get some of the liquid underneath.
• Cover, and cook on Low for 8 to 9 hours. Check after about 5 hours to make sure the beans have not absorbed all of the liquid. Add more water if necessary 1 cup at a time. Use just enough to keep the beans from drying out.
• When the roast is fork-tender, remove it from the slow cooker, and place on a cutting board. Remove any bone and fat, then shred with forks. Return to the slow cooker, and stir in the remaining can of green chilies. Heat through, and serve with flour tortillas and your favorite toppings.

CHALUPAS

Steps:

• Place pork roast in large stockpot. Add pintos, tomatoes, chiles, onion, garlic, oregano, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and lower to a gentle simmer. Cover and slowly cook 3 hours; remove meat and set aside to cool. Continue cooking uncovered until beans are tender, another 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, remove cooled meat from bone, and shred or pull off in bite-size pieces. Discard bone and fat. Return to pot and cook 1 hour longer. Stir often and add more water when necessary to thin slightly. (Chalupas should have the consistency of stew).
• Serve hot in bowls, with corn chips on the bottom, a ladle of chalupas, and pile on condiments of your choice. It will store well in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

CHICKEN CHALUPAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Prepare the Tomato Salsa Cruda. Season the chicken and chayote with salt and pepper, place them in a baking dish, and roast for 30 to 35 minutes. Cool and remove the skin and bones from the chicken and tear into small strips. Cut the chayote into bite-size chunks. Toss the chicken and chayote with the Tomato Salsa Cruda and set aside.
• To assemble the chalupas, place two crisp tortillas on each plate, overlapping them. Place the lettuce on top of the tortillas, then mound the chicken and chayote mixture on the lettuce. Garnish with the Cotija cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.
• In a bowl, place the tomatoes, chilies, onion, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Store in a covered container, in the refrigerator, no more than 1 day.

PORK CHALUPAS

Steps:

• Combine pork roast, pinto beans, green chiles, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper and water in slow cooker.
• Cook on low for 4 hours.
• Remove roast and pull meat apart, removing any bones or fat.
• Return pork to slow cooker and continue cooking for 2 to 4 more hours, adding more water if necessary.
• Place corn chips on serving plates.
• Spoon pork mixture over chips and serve with desired optional toppings.