In my younger years, I worked in a couple of fast-food restaurants. My first job was at McDonald’s. I have also worked at Subway and Taco Bell. Fast-food workers are not always viewed positively, but as a teenager, you will look forward to the free meal you receive during your shift. While working in all three restaurants, I tried everything I could on the menus.
What is a Chalupa?
Chalupas, which are typically made in Mexico using masa and are usually flat, are commonly made. Then, they are topped with a variety of toppings, including:
- Shredded Chicken
- Cheese: Queso Crumbled Cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Pepperjack Cheese
- Avocado
- Pico De Gallo
- Refried Beans
- Salsa
- Sour cream
- Black Beans
- Hot Sauce
In America, this Mexican dish is interpreted differently. Indian Fry Bread is a thicker version of the bread we are used to. I have never had a traditional Chalupa, but I’m sure it tastes as good as this recipe.
How to make Chalupa Shells
Chalupas were delicious, but the bread was my favorite part. If you think about it, it’s like a donut but without the glaze. It’s just fried dough, like a donut. It would be so logical to me why I love them. You know what? Making the chalupa is easy, and you only need a few ingredients.
You only need a few things
- Flour
- Milk
- Salt
- Shortening
- Baking powder
All these ingredients can be mixed into a dough ball to form the chalupa base. Divide the dough into eight equal pieces, then shape it into a circle.
You place half the dough into a heavy skillet (cast-iron pan) and fry it for about one minute. You flip the dough over and let the other side fry. This should result in a nicely curved chalupa. You will get some of them right, but you’ll get some. Then you can fill your chalupas with the taco fillings you prefer, such as steak, ground beef, chicken, or lettuce. The chalupas can be filled with anything you like. You can be as creative as you want with this Homemade Mexican Chalupas recipe. You can cook the chalupa, then serve it with different toppings. This is my favorite chalupa. This Copycat Taco Bell Chalupa Recipe is one of my personal favorites. I only post a few copycat recipes, but this recipe comes close to the original version. This recipe is as delicious as the ones I ate. This recipe is almost as good as the chalupas at Taco Bell.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp. Baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 1 oz. shortening
- One c. milk
- Canola oil for frying
- 1 pound ground beef, cooked
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Lettuce
- Diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Taco sauce
Instructions
-
- Heat the oil in a heavy-duty shallow pan, such as a skillet made of cast iron, on medium heat.
- Add the shortening, baking powder, and salt to a large bowl. Mix the ingredients with a fork. Pour the milk over the dry ingredients. Mix the elements with the milk using a wooden teaspoon to form a dough ball.
- Roll the dough until it is smooth. Form the dough into an 8-inch loaf. Divide the dough into half and then fourths. Look at the image above. Roll each section into a small ball, then roll it into a circle of about 4-5 inches in diameter.
- Tongs are used to dip half of the chalupa into the hot oil carefully. Flip the chalupas once the first half of the bread has started to brown but is not yet fully fried. If you want the filling to be on the bottom of the chalupas, this is how to do it. You can fry both sides of the chalupas for 2 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oil and place on a cooling rack lined with a paper towel.
- Fill your chalupas with beef seasoned with taco spice, lettuce, cheese, and tomatoes. Add a little sour cream to finish. If desired, top with taco seasoning.
