Tortilla Chip Veggie Burger - © minimalistbaker com

It’s National Tortilla Chip Day! Grab A Bag Or Make Your Own…

Yes, it’s National Tortilla Chip Day. Though this ‘holiday’ is celebrated every day in Mexico California, Texas, New Mexico and other places that live, breathe and worship Corn Tortillas. Is there anything more perfect than a crispy, thin triangle of fried Masa, still warm and lightly Salted?

Tortilla Chip Salmon Cakes - © averiecooks.comTortilla Chip Salmon Cakes: There’s much more to the
iconic Tortilla Chip than meets the eye…

Ah! The Tortilla Chip… The icon of Tex-Mex and Northern Mexican food. What more can one say? Lots, it turns out. So here we go..

A definition

First, let’s make clear the distinct difference between Corn Chips and Tortilla Chips. It’s a matter of language and culture, as well as style and substance. Confused even more? Allow me…

In my estimation, the Tortilla Chip is the only real Corn Chip, though the inferior pretender, the Fritos-style ‘Corn Chip’, has been running wild across they marketplace for decades, now. The Difference? Wikipedia says:

Corn chips are a snack food made from cornmeal fried in oil or baked, usually in the shape of a small noodle or scoop. Corn chips are thick, rigid and very crunchy. Corn chips have the strong aroma and flavor of roasted corn, and are often heavily seasoned with salt.

“A tortilla chip is a snack food made from corn tortillas, which are cut into triangles and then fried—or baked (alternatively they may be discs pressed out of Corn Masa then fried or baked). Corn tortillas are made of corn, vegetable oil, salt and water.”

Got it? And always remember, ‘Corn Chips’ may also contain contaminants including Wheat Flour, Sugar and Food Colouring. The genuine Corn Chip aficionado demands, ever and always, the true, noble Tortilla Chip.

A little history…

Tortilla Chips were first mass produced in the U.S. in Los Angeles in the 1940s, but their heritage is much richer than that, harkening back to Mexico where similar items such as as totopos and tostadas have been enjoyed for hundreds of years.

Those initial commercially made Chips were the brainchild of Mexican Restaurant and Tortilla Factory owner Rebecca Webb Carranza, who decided to recycle the misshapen, rejected Tortillas from her Tortilla machine into Snack Chips which she sold for a dime a bag. People immediately went nuts over them.

For her contribution to American Life, Carranza was honoured with the Golden Tortilla award in 1994.

In 2003, Texas declared Tortilla Chips and Salsa the state’s official snack.

What we do with them

After plain old basic dipping in Sauces, the application Tortilla Chips are most closely associated with is, of course, Nachos. There is a National Nachos Day (November 6), separate and apart from today’s celebration. I marked that occasion some time ago with a separate ‘Nachos’ post. But there is much more to these Classic Corny gems…

Chilaquiles: Like Lasagna, but you layer a Chili-like Ground Beef and Tomato Mixture with Tortilla Chips rather than noodles and bake until bubbly. This 5 Star recipe is a classic example.

Cassulata: At least that’s the name I wrote down at the time I first encountered this quirky but irresistible cross between Lasagne, Mac & Cheese and Chicken Pot Pie. Here’s my recipe

Tortilla Chip Fritata: Use them as the base for any Fritata you fancy.

Tortilla Chip ‘Quichalata’: My invention! Use Tortilla Chips in place of a regular Short Pie Crust for a Quiche with Tex-Mex flare.

Beef Tortilla Chip Taco Pie: Really a casserole, but nevertheless… Just use this great recipe and substitute Tortilla Chips for Corn Tortillas.

Ultimate Taco Salad: This recipe gets 5 Stars wherever it shows up – with or without the custom Dressing! Try layering your fave Taco Salad ingredients over a bed of whole or very coarsely crushed Tortilla Chips… Have extra Chips on hand for use as scoops!

Tortilla Chip Veggie Burger: Tortilla Chips form the base and binder for this refreshingly different Veggie Burger Pattie. You’ve never tasted a Burger like this one before!

Tortilla Chip Southwestern Salmon Cakes: (See photo, top of page.) This recipe is kind of fancy and, again, includes a custom Dressing which I consider optional. I make my own freestyle Yogurt-based Creamy Basil dressing for anything Salmon. Just substitute Real Tortilla Chips for the Fritos the recipe calls for and go top town!

Crush Finely: Use them like Crushed Potato Chips or Bread Crumbs to coat any fried food that’s begging for a Tex-Mex touch.

Crush Coarsely: Sprinkle over Chili, Soups, Stews and other dishes that would otherwise have to suffer with a simple cracker.

Leave ’em Whole: Sort out the flattest ones and use them in place of Baguette slices or Melba Toast or whatever as bases for Hors d’Oeuvres or other Cocktail Bites.

Now you have no excuse…

… Not to go all out celebrating Tortilla Chip Day!

~ Maggie J.