The Best Fried Tortilla Strips
These fried tortilla strips are the crispiest, crunchiest little snack perfect for topping soups, stews, or chili. Opt for extra thin tortillas for the best results, which fry up perfectly crisp in less than one minute.
Servings: 24 corn tortillas
Calories: 216kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups peanut oil or more if using a larger sauce pan
- 24 yellow corn tortillas extra thin
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of peanut oil to a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. You could also use a larger saucepan, like a Dutch oven, but you’ll want to add more oil so you have a shallow amount of oil to fry in (at least ¾-1 inch deep).2 cups peanut oil
- Cut the entire package of corn tortillas into strips. Cut in half first, then cut into ½ inch strips. Cut the longer center pieces in half again.24 yellow corn tortillas
- Add two layers of paper towels to a large baking sheet. Set aside.
- Using a candy thermometer, watch until the oil reaches 340 degrees Fahrenheit. You also don’t want the temperature to climb too quickly, so if it gets to 340 rapidly, remove from heat and adjust until you achieve a more consistent heat that hovers between 340-350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add a handful of tortillas strips to the oil and monitor for 45-55 seconds. Swirl with the spider strainer, testing for crispness.
- Remove cooked tortilla strips from hot oil, placing on paper towels. Salt immediately.salt
- Let the oil return to 340-350 degrees Fahrenheit, then fry another handful for around 45 seconds. Repeat until all corn tortilla strips are cooked.
Notes
“Feel” for doneness. A good indicator of doneness is using the spider strainer to “feel” for crispness. The tortilla strips turn rigid when done, after around 45-55 seconds of fry time. If you give the strips a swirl and they are no longer pliable, pull them from the oil.
Fry quickly at the right temperature. Heat the peanut oil to 340-350 degrees Fahrenheit before adding in a handful of tortilla strips. You want to aim for a layer of strips in the pan so they can spread out and cook separately; you don't want to crowd them too much. And watch them closely as they cook up in less than a minute. Always wait for your oil to return to temperature before frying additional batches.
*Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using an online nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
Calories: 216kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.3mg