Recipe for "texmex-chalupa"

NAME

     TEXMEX-CHALUPA - Tex-Mex style tostada
     You will need to first make a batch  of  frijoles  refritos.
     This dish is more properly known in Mexico as tostadas.

INGREDIENTS (Makes 12 chalupas)

               vegetable oil
     12        corn tortillas (the thinner the better)
     1.5 kg    frijoles refritos
     250 g     sharp cheddar cheese, grated
     1         large tomato, chopped
     300 g     shredded lettuce

PROCEDURE

          (1)  In a small skillet, heat about 1 cm  of  vegetable
               oil.   Test the oil for proper temperature by put-
               ting in a small piece of tortilla.  When  the  oil
               reaches   the  temperature  where  it  immediately
               begins to bubble frantically over the tortilla  as
               soon  as  it  is  put  in the oil and the tortilla
               piece becomes crisp quite quickly, you  are  ready
               to  cook  the  chalupa  shells.  This is important
               because  there  is  nothing  worse  than  a  soggy
               chalupa shell which results from the oil not being
               hot enough.
          (2)  Fry tortillas completely flat on both sides  until
               very  crisp.   Drain and keep warm on a newspaper-
               covered cookie sheet in a warm oven.
          (3)  Spread about a 1/2-cm-thick layer of refried beans
               on  each  fried  tortilla.   Top  with  a generous
               amount of grated sharp Cheddar cheese  and  15  ml
               chopped onion.
          (4)  Place assembled chalupas on  a  cookie  sheet  and
               brown  under  broiler  until  cheese melts.  Watch
               them carefully under the broiler - they  can  burn
               quite quickly.
          (5)  Top with shredded lettuce and tomato, and serve.

RATING

     Difficulty:  easy  to  moderate.   Time:  15  minutes,  plus
     preparation  time  of frijoles refritos.  Precision: no need
     to measure.

CONTRIBUTOR

     Pamela McGarvey
     UCLA Comprhensive Epilepsy Program, Los Angeles, Calif., USA
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