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Healthy homemade tortilla corn chips recipe that uses a healthy fat for brief frying to avoid free radicals for a nourishing and digestible treat.
Who doesnโt love tortilla chips? That enjoyable salty crunch is irresistible especially when paired with a healthy salsa for dipping.
The problem is that the modern tortilla chip has strayed from its healthy heritage and become more of a junk food than the nourishing, traditional, food it should be.
Even the tortilla chips served at Chipotle are fried in sunflower oil, an omega-6 vegetable oil that absolutely cannot be heated without the creation of free radicals that damage cell DNA.
Organic tortilla chips from the healthfood store are not a good idea to eat on a regular basis either.
While the corn used is nonGMO in an organic chip, a survey of the popular organic tortilla chip brands indicates that food manufacturers typically use oils (safflower, sunflower, canola) that are not appropriate for high heat frying due to the high concentration of heat-sensitive polyunsaturated fatty acids.
No need to write off tortilla chips, however. Make them the old fashioned way! Then, you can eat them knowing that you are safe from the free radicals in commercial versions.
The video below shares my method for making healthy, no guilt tortilla chips. This approach is fast! There is no need to make the tortilla chips from scratch unless this is something you want to do.
All you have to do is source sprouted or organic tortillas from a local food co-op or healthfood store and fry them for a minute or two in a healthy, heat stable oil.
Be sure to keep an eye on the temperature so that it is as low as possible to avoid the excessive formation of acrylamides.
Best Oil for Frying Tortilla Chips
My favorite oils for frying tortilla chips areย avocado oilย orย expeller pressed coconut oil. Plain, organic corn tortillas work fine also.
However, I prefer sprouted corn tortillas as the sprouting process adds improved digestibility and nutrition to the corn. Major nutrient improvements include additional natural B vitamins and Vitamin C.
Be sure to check the oil temperature with a digital thermometer.
This is because even heat-stable oils can become rancid beyond the smokepoint. ย I keep my frying oil temperature at 350F (177 C) to ensure no creation of free radicals.
Need an option for corn-free tortilla chips? Try these baked sourdough tortilla chips instead.
Homemade Corn Tortilla Chips Recipe
This healthy homemade tortilla chips recipe is nourishing and digestible unlike even the organic ones from the store made with unhealthy vegetable oil.
Ingredients
- 1 package corn tortillas preferably organic and sprouted
- expeller pressed coconut oil
Instructions
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Add about an inch of oil to a medium to large frying pan. Using a frying thermometer, heat the oil to about 350 F (177 C).ย ย
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When the oil is the proper temperature, add one tortilla at a time, frying each side for about minute. The tortilla should be lightly browned but not burned.
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Remove the tortilla from the oil and place on a plate. Continue process until the entire package of sprouted tortillas has been fried.
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When cool to the touch, break each tortilla into quarters. Pair with homemade cilantro salsa and serve.
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Alternatively, you can break the fried tortillas into small pieces and use them as a healthy cold breakfast cereal that tastes just like corn flakes.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Avocado oil is a healthy substitute for coconut oil if desired.
Thanks so much…without knowing I sensed that the tortilla chips from Chipotle were GMO and suggested we stay away from their corn products.
I’ve been thinking about buying more tortilla chips as I have not bought any lately, but
making homemade chips from sprouted tortillas sounds great!
Thank you!
When my fryer started getting low on oil (I don’t remember what I had in there, certainly a mixture including rendered meat fats and probably sunflower oil), I added some coconut oil to get it back up to level. Now anything I fry makes it foam up and overflow! Is this a common thing with coconut oil? It’s clean and filtered. I’m not going to throw out the oil, so I stand there with a soup ladle and start scooping when it gets too high.
What about palm oil from Trop.Traditions?
OK, I’ve been thinking about doing these chips because I absolutely hate the junk available in the stores. When the family talks me into buying some I always go for the organic to at least avoid the GMO corn but they still don’t use any good oils. But after I read your last sentence about using them for corn flakes, that did it! I must try this as my husband will still occasionally buy the garbage cereal (I refuse to eat it!) and if this works maybe he would be less tempted to eat the junk stuff. Worth a try!
Sarah
Why not use tallow or lard from pastured animals? I’ve made our chips for a long time and found coconut oil to taste less tortilla like.
Thanks!
YUM! I’m definitely trying this!
If I use avocado oil or coconut oil, can I save after using for another batch at a later time ?
Yes, just filter the oil before saving it to get any food bits out as having food particles in the oil will reduce the smokepoint and increase the chance of creating free radicals next time you use it.
We do this all the time! Soo yummy with tostado toppings, too!
I like this recipe, it seems better than mine. I put the corn tortilla in salt water for a moment and then break into quarters and lay them on a cookie sheet and bake them until they are crispy but not brown. They crunch but in a chewy, tough kind of way. But it is better than no chips. I will be trying this method soon. Thank you.
You will love this recipe as they are crunchy and not chewy at all. Sprouted tortillas are a bit chewy in my experience, but frying them up eliminates this and adds that enjoyable crunch.
Do you by any chance have a recipe for sprouted whole wheat tortillas? I’ve mad “regular” ones a few times, with flour, water and olive oil (and maybe a little salt) but was wondering if you had a sprouted version. I’m slowly but surely reading more about whole foods, natural and holistic approaches to health, etc. – and I appreciate your website! Thanks!