This Is How You Make Frito Pie

This Is How You Make Frito Pie irondostar on Flickr
Andres Fernandez•

Fritos ("little fried things") were once just a popular Mexican beach snack before the Doolin family discovered the corn chip in a San Antonio gas station and made them the focal point of a now classic southern dish. In the 1930s, Charles Elmer Doolin and his mother, Daisy Dean Doolin, took their discovery and created the Frito Pie, a comfort food topping the corn chip with chili, cheese and sour cream.

In 1982, Petro's Chili and Chips popularized the walking taco at the World Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee and now, Morgan's Barbecue is bringing the dish up north to New York City. Chef Andres Fernandez's frito pie is served old-school style in a slit-open Fritos bag, smothered with Texas red chili and topped with white onion, cheddar cheese, sour cream, scallions and Morgan's signature slow-smoked brisket.

This Is How You Make Frito Pie
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Prep Time
20
minutes
Cook Time
1
hour
Servings
0
servings
Ingredients
  • 5 pounds boneless beef chuck
  • 1 onion
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 large fresh jalapeño
  • 1 can beer
  • 2 tablespoons cumin
  • 5 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 4 tablespoons New Mexico ground red chilies
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons corn tortilla flour
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 1 bag (10.25 ounces) Fritos corn chips
  • 16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 white onion
Directions
  1. Start by browning the meat. This should be done in small batches to avoid steaming it. Take the meat out of the pan and place aside once you're done.
  2. In the same pan you used to sear the meat, add the onions, garlic and jalapeno and cook until translucent.
  3. Add the cumin, paprika, ground chile, pepper and brown sugar and slightly toast in the pan, about 30 seconds.
  4. Deglaze the pan with beer, vinegar and beef stock. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes.
  5. Place the meat into the broth and cook until tender.
  6. In a bowl, add the corn flour and some of the broth from the chili and mix until you have an even paste.
  7. Add the paste to the chili and bring it to a boil one more time.  Season with salt to taste.
  8. Place a small bag of Fritos on its side.
  9. Slit open the “top.”
  10. Spoon Texas red chili on top.
  11. Garnish with chopped white onion, cheddar cheese and sour cream.
  12. Serve immediately.
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