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Frito pie
Place of origin	United States
Main ingredients	Chili con carne, cheese, corn chips (Fritos)
	Media: Frito pie;

Frito pie is a dish popular in the Midwestern, Southeastern, and Southwestern United States, whose basic ingredients are chili, cheese, and corn chips (traditionally Fritos, hence the name). Additions can include salsa, refried beans, sour cream, onion, rice, or jalapeños. There are many variations and alternative names used by region. Frito pie can be prepared in a casserole dish, but an alternate preparation can be in a single-serve Fritos-type corn chip bag with various ingredients as toppings.

History

The exact origin of the frito pie is not completely clear.^[1]^[2]

The oldest known recipe using Fritos brand corn chips with chili was published in Texas in 1949.^[3] The recipe may have been invented by Daisy Doolin, the mother of Frito Company founder Charles Elmer Doolin and the first person to use Fritos as an ingredient in cooking, or by Mary Livingston, Doolin's executive secretary. The Frito-Lay company attributes the recipe to Nell Morris, who joined Frito-Lay in the 1950s and helped develop an official cookbook which included the Frito pie.^[3]

Charles Doolin and his Frito Company were early investors in Disneyland, which opened Casa de Fritos restaurant in Disneyland in 1955. "Frito Chili Pie" appears on the 1950s menu.^[4]

Another story claims that true frito pie originated only in the 1960s with Teresa Hernández, who worked at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Santa Fe, New Mexico.^[2] Her frito pie used homemade red chili con carne with cheddar cheese and onions, and was served in the bag, which was thicker in the 1960s than it is now.^[3]

Preparation

Frito pie is a simple dish: at its most basic, it is Fritos corn chips with beef chili as a topping. It was historically served right inside the chip bag, which is split down the middle; toppings typically include shredded cheese and chopped raw onion, and may also include additional items like sour cream, tomatoes, and jalapeños.^[5]

Variations

Frito boats and walking tacos

Frito pies are sometimes referred to by the name walking taco or Frito boat, and can be made in a small, single-serving bag of corn chips, with chili, taco meat, chickpeas, pork rinds, pepitas, and many other varied ingredients, poured over the top. The combination can be finished with grated cheese, onions, jalapeños, lettuce, and sour cream, known as a Frito boat or walking taco in the Midwestern United States. In the Ohio Valley, this preparation is also commonly called taco-in-a-bag. In the Midwest, "Walking taco", is the more widespread term.^[6] In many parts of Southern California, they are known as "pepper bellies."^{[citation needed]} Frito pies are popular at sports venues, fundraisers, bingos, open houses, state fairs, and with street vendors.^[7]

Tostilocos/Dorilocos

In Mexico, a version of the dish is known as tostilocos or dorilocos ("crazy chips"). Consists of a bag of Tostitos (plain) or Doritos (usually nacho-cheese flavored) topped with cueritos, chopped vegetables like shredded carrot, cucumber, jícama, lime juice, Valentina hot sauce, chamoy, Tajín chili powder, salt, and "Japanese peanuts".^[8] The term Tostiloco comes from Tijuana, and is found in California.^[9] Another term is Doriloco, after Doritos.

The "walking taco" variation
Tostiloco ingredients and preparation
Frito pie from a Five and Dime (formerly Woolworth’s) in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Frito pie with jalapeño, red onion, aged cheddar and Parmigiano Reggiano

References

^ Harris, Joyce (13 June 2007). "The allure of Frito Pie". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 16 June 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
^ ^a ^b "10 more foods that make America great: Frito pie". Today.com. July 7, 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-04.
^ ^a ^b ^c Doolin, Kaleta (2011-01-01). Fritos Pie: Stories, Recipes, and More. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 109–110. ISBN 9781603442572.
^ Decaro, Dave (25 March 2012). "Davelandblog: TPE: Casa de Fritos". Retrieved 24 January 2019.
^ "Frito Pie - Texas Monthly". Texas Monthly. 2012-09-01. Retrieved 2016-05-29.
^ "Midwest Facts". 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-20.
^ Popik, Barry (28 November 2007). "Walking Taco". The Big Apple. Barry Popik. Retrieved 21 October 2010.
^ San Diego Magazine. p. 104. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
^ Edge, John T. (20 March 2012). "Tostilocos, Tijuana Street Food, Hits the Mainstream". Retrieved 24 January 2019 – via NYTimes.com.