Both of my husband’s parents grew up around San Diego. My father-in-law comes from Escondido, and my mother-in-law grew up in Chula Vista. Even though my in-laws live near us now, my husband still has lots of family in Southern California–aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, nieces, nephews, even a spry, 99 year-old grandma. Any time the family gets together down San Diego way, there’s an unspoken rule that we must get taquitos from El Indio in Mission Hills. It’s been a family tradition since my mother-in-law was little, when Grandpa Speedy discovered a little hole-in-the-wall mexican restaurant with an abuelita sitting just inside the door making tortillas by hand. He was smitten by their taquitos, and passed the love on to his descendants. The last time we were there, we discovered another addicting El Indio treat, not-so-subtly placed in big bags near the cash register: Buñuelo Chips. Buñuelo Chips aren’t exactly fancy. They’re just fried flour tortillas dredged in cinnamon sugar. But boy howdy, are they fantastic! We ate several bags of them plain, but they’re also amazing tucked into an ice cream sundae or nestled next to fresh fruit.
Cinnamon-Sugar Buñuelo Chips
inspired by the ones sold at El Indio
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
vegetable oil
6 small, fajita-sized tortillas
In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon until well-mixed; set aside. Fill a heavy, 12″ skillet with enough oil to cover the bottom to a depth of about 1/4″ and put over medium heat. Stack tortillas up and, with a pair of kitchen shears, cut them into 6 wedges. Dip the tip of a tortilla wedge in the oil and see if it bubbles. If it does, the oil is hot enough to get started. Working in batches of 6 chips at a time, fry chips until golden on the bottom (about 1 minute), then flip and continue frying until golden on both sides (about another minute). If the chips are getting too dark too quickly, you can either turn the heat down a little or reduce the frying time. Once golden on both sides, remove chips with a pair of tongs onto a plate covered with a paper towel. When all tortilla wedges have been fried and have cooled enough to handle, place them in a gallon-sized ziplock bag. Add 1/3 cup cinnamon sugar, seal, and gently move back and forth until all chips are evenly coated with cinnamon sugar. Pour into a bowl and eat! These will actually keep for at least 2 days if left uncovered, but I’d be shocked if you had any left over for that long!
Just got around to going through my links from Alt Summit for Everyone. This recipe looks amazing! I will have to try it soon.
xoxo,
Delaney
Hi Delaney! Wasn’t Alt for Everyone fantastic?! Thanks for saying hi!
These Cinnamon Sugar Bunuelo Chips look so amazing! Had to stop by and pin while I was here 🙂
Shauna @ The Best Blog Recipes
Thanks Shauna! They’re so easy and so addicting!
These look so good. I think my husband (born in Chula Vista, raised in Escondido! :0) ) will like them a lot.
Wow! You’re husband is like my MIL and FIL rolled into one! 😉
Growing up in California I had my first peanut butter and jelly rolled in a warm tortilla at a friend’s house after school. Her mom would also fry tortillas and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top for a snack! Thank you for the sweet memories!
Served with ice cream would be marvelous!
Hi Deb! That sounds like a delicious PBJ! And they were fantastic with ice cream–really amazing!
These look COMPLETELY delicious!! YUMMY!! Pinned!
Thanks Jess! I have a hard time not eating the whole batch!
Those bunuelo chips look really amazing. I even can smell the taste on my tongue while reading the recipe. Must try them soon. And I think it would be a good idea to pair them with caramel ice-cream and strawberries. Mmmmh!
That does sound like a delicious pairing!
These bunuelo chips are wonderful. My grandchildren love them.
I buy a frozen box of Birdseye Strawberries, it’s quick and it’s easy for me, semi defrost in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes and throw them in for a very short spin in the blender.
Then serve the bunuelo chips on a platter around a bowl of the strawberries and some homemade whipped cream (a little dollop to top it off).
What a great idea! I’ll keep that in mind next time I make them!