Recipe

Frito Pie

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Frito Pie

Photo 1 of 3
by Joseph DeLeo

Frito Pie

Photo 2 of 3
by arielleclementine

Frito Pie

Photo 3 of 3
by Joseph DeLeo

  • This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Fair Food
    This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Chili
  • theediblecomplex's Testing Notes: We loved this Texas-style (no beans, no tomato) chili. The cinnamon and cocoa powder add a nice depth of flavor. The chunks of beef are fall-apart tender, and the semolina gives some thickness...

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  • Chef

    arielleclementine's Notes: Buda (pronounced BYOO-da), Texas is "famous" for a couple small-town festivals: "Red, White, and Buda," where people from around the state gather to race their wiener dogs, and "Budafest...

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Serves 4

  1. Tear the chiles into smaller pieces and toast in a medium-sized dutch oven set over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Transfer toasted chiles to a blender, cover with 1 cup of very hot tap water, and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Blend the chiles and water until smooth.

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  2. Toast the cumin and coriander seeds in the now empty pot for a minute or two, until fragrant, and then grind in a mortar and pestle until finely ground. Add the chile powder, cocoa powder, and kosher salt and stir to combine.

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  3. Add the beef fat (or bacon fat, or oil) to the dutch oven, set over medium heat. Brown the diced beef in two batches, and then remove to sit on a plate.

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  4. Add the onions to the pot and cook for 5 minutes, until soft and caramelized, being sure to scrape up the beef bits on the bottom of the pot. Add the minced garlic and spice blend, and cook for 30 more seconds. Add the browned beef and any accumulated juices, the chile puree, the cinnamon stick, and the bottle of beer. Bring to a boil and then turn the heat to low and simmer for 3 hours.

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  5. Stir in the semolina and season the chili to taste with kosher salt.

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  6. To assemble the Frito Pies, cut open the front of the bags of Fritos, and top each with a few spoonfuls of chili, shredded cheddar cheese, minced onion, and a dollop of sour cream. I hope you like it!

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23 Comments on Frito Pie

Reply

I had a horse when I was little. Frito pie was sold at the barrel-racing competitions. it was the perfect lunch because we could eat it straight from the bag, sitting on our horses.

Henrykiss Reply

what a fantastic story mcs3000! love the image of eating frito pie on horseback!

Profile Reply

Yay! I was hoping you would get a pretty photo!

Henrykiss Reply

oh hooray! thanks, Bevi!!

Mrs Reply

oh baby. yes! i love this recipe.

Shamrock-medal Reply

Love this, AC! Don't know how I missed it the first time around.

Reply

ArielleClementine, I'm from the Midwest and now, living in the Northeast, miss declasse foods like Frito Pie. I just read about it in Andre Dubus's memoir "Townie" and just came across your recipe. Thank you so much and I love the authentic looking photograph.

Lorigoldsby Reply

We call these "walking tacos"

Img_2764 Reply

WAY too clever! Not to mention great. Love the "cut open the front of the bags of Fritos, and top each with a few spoonfuls of chili, shredded cheddar cheese, minced onion, and a dollop of sour cream."

Img_2764 Reply

During the school year, I teach kids' cooking classes in the afternoons, and they would absolutely LOVE this! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Img_2764 Reply

I believe we should probably skip the beer.

Checker Reply

I had one of these at a taco stand just inside the U.S. border at Tijuana, and I have wondered about them ever since. Thanks for the info!

Henrykiss Reply

Haha! Awesome! I'm happy to spread the word about frito pies!

Lobster_001 Reply

Takes me back to elementary school! I think they just didn't want to do dishes, therefore it was served in the bag.

Henrykiss Reply

Aren't Texas school lunches the best? My favorite was a deep fried burrito! I don't think I ate any vegetables in any of my K-12 school lunches :/

Henrykiss Reply

Thanks everybody for the very nice comments!!

Summer_2010_1048 Reply

Love your version!

036 Reply

Hurrah for Frito Chili Pie!!!! The real kind, served in the frito bag.

Mrs Reply

yeah, Texas in da house!

163495_472867398309_651568309_5819416_3677565_n Reply

This sounds wonderful! I'm always on the look out for a great chili recipe. I'll try it soon.

Henrykiss Reply

Thanks mama :)

Ha-0010 Reply

This was so yummy, Yeti!! Best frito pie I ever ate. And I've eaten A LOT of frito pies.

Oldies_joemare_bd Reply

Very nice, I haven't had frito's since Iwas a child, Sounds really good.

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