Authentic Chalupa Recipe Puebla de Zaragoza, Mexico

A traditional appetizer most commonly associated with the Mexican state of Puebla and its capital, Puebla de Zaragoza, chalupas are small corn tortillas fried in lard, and topped with a wide array of savory ingredients. The basic list includes red or green salsa (salsa roja and salsa verde), shredded pork, chicken or beef, chopped onion and sometimes even fresh cheese. However, the fillings and toppings may also include chorizo sausages, chilies, potatoes, mushrooms, refried beans, cilantro, and shredded lettuce. The first step when making chalupas is kneading a masa dough made with masa harina (a special kind of flour made of nixtamalized corn), some water, and salt. The dough is then divided and formed into small tortillas up to 10 cm in diameter, or into forms which resemble canoes. After being cooked in a comal, a cast-iron griddle, the tortillas are fried in lard to get a crunchy texture. To assemble, the fillings are spooned and ... Read more